Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee approves rule change banning AEA, NEA contributions for certain candidates
On Saturday, the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee voted to pass a rule change barring candidates for State Board of Education, county school superintendent, and county board of education from accepting donations from either the National Education Association (NEA) or its Alabama affiliate, the Alabama Education Association (AEA). The rule change, which does not retroactively apply to past election cycles, will apply to the 2024 elections. The rule change was sponsored by Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. “One of my goals with this Standing Rule Amendment is making sure our school board and superintendent candidates are not dependent on any special interest group,” said Wahl. “With that in mind, I have already committed that the Party will step in and replace any funding lost should it become necessary. The Alabama Republican Party is in an extremely strong position financially, and we will have our candidate’s backs.” Since Wahl was the author of the proposed bylaws change, he handed over his Chairman’s gavel to Alabama Republican Party Vice Chair Joan Reynolds for this debate while leading efforts on the floor to pass his bylaws change. The Wahl amendment was weakened somewhat in an agreed-on change when the words “and coordinate with” were removed. This effectively means that the candidate could still coordinate with AEA efforts to smear their opponent on an issue such as a school tax increase that both support. The original wording would have made both activities grounds for removal from the ballot. Hale County Commissioner Don Wallace offered an amendment to the rule change that would have also applied to candidates for the Alabama Legislature. State Representative Ron Bolton (R-Northport) objected to Wallace’s amendment and asked that it be tabled. State Auditor Andrew Sorrell said there would be time to consider extending this to other offices in future meetings, but with the 2024 election cycle beginning this fall, this was a time sensitive matter. Sorrell is the Bylaws Committee Chairman for the Alabama Republican Party and the State Auditor. Wallace replied that the State Legislature just passed the largest school budget in state history and voted down school choice legislation, and were likely to consider an even bigger $10 billion education budget next year. Wahl said Governor Kay Ivey has pledged that the state will pass one of the strongest school choice laws in the nation next session. The members of the executive voted to take consideration of the Wallace amendment. They also voted to table a second amendment which would have applied to all Republican candidates – no matter what the office. Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Chris Brown made the argument that while he advises all of his clients and candidates never to take AEA dollars, the GOP has disqualified candidates from the ballot for several different reasons, and by putting this in the bylaws, it could make those efforts to disqualify future candidates more difficult. He then introduced a resolution to table the Wahl bylaws change. In what appeared to be a stunning rebuke of Chairman Wahl, the Executive Committee voted to table the proposed bylaws change. The State Executive Committee then moved on and passed a number of other bylaws changes – including making the bylaws and rules committees permanent committees and establishing that the state executive committee will pick the delegates to the Republican National Convention. After the other bylaws changes had passed, Sorrell said that in respect for all of the hard work that Chairman Wahl put into his AEA bylaws change, he asked the Committee to reconsider its earlier vote. The Committee then voted to pass the bylaws change. “The Party is strongly committed to protecting our children from indoctrination in the classroom by left-wing groups like the NEA and its affiliated organizations,” Wahl explained. “Parents should decide what their children learn about divisive concepts, not education unions that have lost touch with the values of the American people. Transgender ideology and other woke policies have no place in our schools, period. So many of our parents and local teachers want to see change in our education system, but how can we expect our superintendents and school board members to stand up against teaching these woke concepts if they are afraid of the money and financial power coming from liberal unions responsible for pushing this type of curriculum? It’s a blatant conflict of interest and something that needs to be addressed. Our elected school representatives must be responsible to Alabama parents, not special interest groups. This will stop this conflict of interest and is no different than the state’s prohibition on members of the Alabama Public Service Commission accepting donations from the utilities they regulate. The bottom line is it’s time to get woke agendas out of our curriculum and out of our classrooms.” This rule change only applies to Republicans. The AEA may still donate to candidates for school board, superintendent, or State Board of Education, but candidates who accept AEA contributions will have to run as Democrats or as independents. Republican state legislators, as well as statewide and county officeholders (outside of the school boards and school superintendents), may still take AEA and NEA contributions. The roughly 475 members Alabama Republican State Executive Committee is the largest state committee in the country. All 67 counties are represented on the state executive committee. It meets at least twice a year, holding meetings in both the summer and the winter. All 67 counties have a county Republican Party where members of that county party elect a chairman. The 67 county chairmen all are members of the state executive committee. There are members of the state executive committee elected by the Republican primary voters of each county. Additionally, the state party awards counties bonus members based on its GOP election performance. The bonus member spots are then filled by the members of the county parties (in most cases, the county party executive committee). To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The Alabama Republican Party passes resolutions and elects officers
The Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee held its Winter Meeting in Birmingham on Saturday. The ALGOP elected officers and passed resolutions urging legislators to adopt these policy positions. John Wahl was elected to a second term as Chairman. Wahl is a butterfly farmer in Limestone County. “It is an honor for me to represent you, not just you, the Republican executive committee, but you, the Republican primary voters,” Wahl said. “I am incredibly humbled by the support of my fellow committee members and the trust they have put in me. I look forward to working with them, as well as our County Parties and Auxiliary organizations, to promote and defend our Conservative values.” Joan Reynolds of Shelby County was elected Vice Chair. Reynolds is the founder and head of the Mighty Alabama Strike Force, a group that campaigns door-to-door for Republican candidates in swing states. “I would like to thank the members of the ALGOP Executive Committee for the confidence they have shown in me by electing me as Vice Chairman,” Vice Chair Reynolds stated. “I have worked with our chairman for two years as Finance Chair and feel that together we can accomplish great things for the state.” Carol Jahns of Autauga County was elected Secretary. “I am honored and respectively thank the State Executive Committee members providing me the opportunity to continue to serve as your ALGOP Secretary,” Jahns said. “I am confident that supporting each other and staying true to our platform principles are the keys to the Alabama Republican Party’s future victories.” Sallie Bryant of Jefferson County was re-elected as Treasurer. Bill Harris of Autauga County was elected Regional Vice Chairman, Congressional Districts 1 and 2. Renee Gentle Powers of Chilton County was elected Regional Vice Chairman of Congressional Districts 3, 6, and 7. Josh Dodd of Lauderdale County was elected as Regional Vice Chairman, Congressional Districts 4 and 5. State Rep. Matt Simpson of Baldwin County was elected as the Congressional District 1 Chairman. William Rayburn of Crenshaw County was elected as Congressional District 2 Chairman. State Sen. Lance Bell of St. Clair County was elected Congressional District 3 Chairman. Bonnie Sachs of Winston County was elected as Congressional District 4 Chairman. Former Congressman Mo Brooks of Madison County was elected Congressional District 5 Chairman. Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Chris Brown was elected as the Congressional District 6 Chairman. Pierce Boyd of Sumter County was elected as Congressional District 7 Chairman. All those elected on Saturday will serve a two-year term. They will also sit on the 21-member ALGOP Steering Committee that directs Republican business throughout the year. The Alabama Republican State Executive Committee also passed three resolutions: • A measure calling on the Alabama Legislature and Governor Kay Ivey to correct the state’s so-called “Good Time” law by passing legislation sponsored by State Sen. April Weaver and State Rep. Russell Bedsole. • A measure to abolish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracies and policies in public institutions. • A measure calling for an improved working relationship between the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Republican Party. The Alabama Republican Party maintained its supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and won every statewide elected office: including Governor, U.S. Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor, Public Service Commission, Alabama Supreme Court Justice, and picked up 50 new county and local seats across the state; while contributing to Republicans winning back control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “The Alabama Republican Party has had an amazing two years, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together during my second term,” Wahl said. The 400+ member ALGOP State Executive Committee is the governing body of the Alabama Republican Party. Its members are elected every four years and meet twice a year at the Winter Meeting and the Summer Meeting. The Summer Meeting will be in August at Montgomery’s Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. The Winter Meeting will return to Birmingham in 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Republican Party holds winter meeting
The Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee held its Winter Meeting in Birmingham on Saturday. Chairman John Wahl was elected to a second term. Joan Reynolds was elected as vice chairman. “It is an honor for me to represent you, not just you, the Republican executive committee, but you, the Republican primary voters,” Wahl said. “In the last election cycle, we picked up 50 seats across the state,” Wahl said. “Many of those were rural and minority seats.” The Alabama Republican Party actively promoted Republican candidates outside of the state. The GOP took control of the U.S. House of Representatives; but failed to retake the Senate. “Alabama volunteers knocked on 85,000 doors in swing districts and swing states,” Wahl said. “We fired Nancy Pelosi.” “I am incredibly humbled by the support of my fellow committee members and the trust they have put in me,” Wahl said in a statement. “I look forward to working with them, as well as our County Parties and Auxiliary organizations, to promote and defend our Conservative values. The Alabama Republican Party has had an amazing two years, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together during my second term.” “I would also like to thank so many of my friends and family for their support. It’s not always easy being in the spotlight, and I am blessed to have so many people standing by my side,” Wahl said. “I especially want to thank the ALGOP staff for their hard work. They help make my vision a reality, and I am grateful for what they do.” Vice Chairman John Skipper did not seek re-election due to health issues. Joan Reynolds, who previously chaired the Shelby County Republican Party, was elected vice chair over Pat Wilson, who represented the fourth and fifth congressional districts on the steering committee, and True the Vote activist Greg Phillips. Phillips’ last-minute pursuit of the position was particularly surprising as he was not a member of the executive committee. “I appreciate you for putting your faith in me as Vice Chair,” said Reynolds. “Alabama is probably the number one state in the country for standing up to woke policies to our kids,” Wahl added. “We don’t back down, and we stand up for our principles.” “Liberals are the ones who will use the power of government to force you to be injected with something even if it is against your will. Those are the radicals,” Wahl said. Florida Governor and possible presidential contender Ron DeSantis will be a guest of the Alabama GOP in Hoover on March 9. “Ron DeSantis has taught us: don’t be afraid to be a bold conservative,” Wahl said. ALGOP Treasurer Sallie Bryant said the party only has $783,513.28 in cash following the midterms. “A lot of money is coming in for our dinner on March 9,” Wahl said. “I am very confident that we will have over a million dollars by the time of the event.” Reynolds said, “We have already sold 416 individual tickets, 90 sponsorship tables, 137 other tables, and have raised $530,000. We currently have 1,300 people coming. The 440-member Republican Party State Executive Committee meets twice a year – February for the Winter Meeting and August for the Summer Meeting. The Summer Meeting will be held in Montgomery at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. The Alabama Republican Presidential Primary will be on March 4, 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mighty Alabama Strike Force to deploy to Georgia to help Herschel Walker win Senate
Shelby County Republican Party Chair Joan Reynolds spoke at the River Region Republican Club meeting at the Farmer’s Market Café on Tuesday. The Mighty Alabama Strike Force, which she heads, will begin making trips on Sunday to Georgia to help football legend Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator, win the November 8 general election. Walker is challenging Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock. Reynolds said that the idea for the Mighty Alabama Strike Force began when then-Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL06) noted that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) needed help with a congressional race in North Carolina and asked Reynolds for her help. “My job was to recruit volunteers and train them,” Reynolds said. “The volunteers were all from in the area. When I got back home, I said I need to get two or three people that can help me. I ended up spending two or three weeks in Durham. I realized then how important volunteers are.” “It started under the Bush Administration,” Reynolds explained of her involvement in out-of-state congressional campaigns. “That is what I have been doing for the last 14 years.” Reynolds said she took her first volunteers from Alabama to a Senate race in Arkansas, where they campaigned in Jonesboro. “In 2012, I was asked to go to Sioux City, Iowa,” to help the Mitt Romney campaign, Reynolds explained. “There was a religious factor there as they (Iowa voters) were not going to vote for a Mormon.” Reynolds is married to Alabama’s Republican National Committeeman Paul Reynolds. “Paul put together a busload,” Reynolds said. “It was a small used school bus, and they went to Sioux City. Coming back, they ran into a problem when they broke down. After that, I realized we needed some money.” “My volunteers did not mind staying in homes, but they would rather stay in hotels,” Reynolds said. “In 2014, we went to Indiana and campaigned for Bill Cassidy. We went to Tennessee and campaigned for Marsha Blackburn. We won both of those.” “In 2016, Donald Trump decided to run,” Reynolds said. “He was such a forceful figure that it was easy to get volunteers. It was also easy to raise money.” “We spend a week, or we won’t go,” Reynolds said of the duration of the trips. “We were asked to go to Florida in 2020.” “In 2021, I was asked by one of my donors to see if we can go to Virginia to go to campaign for Glenn Youngkin,” Reynolds said. “That was the first time we got involved in a governor’s race.” “That was the first time that we had to fly,” Reynolds said. “It was right after we were getting over COVID, and the economy was just opening up. I contacted every bus company in Alabama, and it was cheaper to fly.” Youngkin won his election. “He said it was so important that we came and actually talked to people in the Commonwealth,” Reynolds said. Reynolds asked for help from Republicans across Alabama. “We cannot do it without funding, and we cannot do it without volunteers,” Reynolds said. “We do not charge them (the volunteers) for their rooms or their transportation. There is no administrative fee, and I don’t get one red cent out of it, and that is ok because I don’t do for profit.” Reynolds said that volunteering is demanding. “If you cannot walk three miles, then don’t go,” Reynolds said. “You have to be able to use an iPhone, a google phone, or an android in order to be able to download the maps that we use.” “We do not go to Democrat homes,” Reynolds said. “We will run into some where people have moved and changed homes, but we go to Republican homes. We are strictly about getting out the Republican vote. We have got to get the turnout. The turnout (in the primaries) has been awful. Even in Shelby County, we were at a measly 18 percent.” “Lindy Blanchard is our inhouse Captain,” from the Montgomery area, Reynolds said. “She is going to Savannah.” Pat Wilson with the Montgomery Republican Women announced that Terri Hasdorff will speak to the group on Tuesday, October 26, about her book, Running into the Fire. “I still need poll watchers to make sure that our election is strong as it can be,” Wilson said. “I was disgusted when I looked at our voter turnout last time. Less than 15% of our voters cared enough about our county and state to come out and vote. We need to get people involved.” Greg Pool is the Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party. State Rep. Charlotte Meadows (R-Montgomery) and Republican House District 69 candidate Karla Knight Maddox also spoke to the group asking for their efforts to get out the vote in the Montgomery area. Maddox thanked the River Region Republicans for their help and said she had been working hard traveling around House District 69, campaigning and meeting people. Pool said the latest polling by the Alabama Republican Party has Maddox moving into an evenly split with the Democratic incumbent. Meadows said, “If Karla and I get elected, that will mean a Republican majority on our (Montgomery County) legislative delegation.” To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mighty Alabama Strike Force heading to Georgia to campaign for Herschel Walker
The Alabama Republican Party is recruiting volunteers for its Mighty Alabama Strike Force to campaign door to door for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Hershel Walker. “The Mighty Alabama Strike Force is recruiting volunteers to travel to Georgia in October to knock on doors for Herschel Walker,” said the head of the Strike Force, Joan Reynolds. According to Reynolds, the group is planning to canvass for Walker from October 2–7 as well as October 16-21; and Halloween week from October 30 thru November 4. The general election is on November 8 “Put on your walking shoes, grab your iPhone or android and let’s win back the U.S Senate,” Reynolds stated. “We have a good candidate, and we need all hands on deck. Lodging and transportation to the city is provided by our donors.” Walker addressed the Alabama Republican Party at its August 17 Summer Dinner. Walker, a standout football player at the University of Georgia and several professional teams, is challenging incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock. The Senate is currently divided 50 Republicans: 48 Democrats, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats, meaning that Vice President Kamala Harris gives Democrats control over the body. “If you cannot travel, we have an opportunity for you to make calls from home,” Reynolds said. “If you prefer to campaign in Alabama, we can put you in contact with the campaigns locally. We have something for everyone to do. Don’t be left behind. We only ask for one week out of every two years. Our country is worth it.” Joan Reynolds is the Chair of the Shelby County Republican Party and the wife of Paul Reynolds, the Alabama Republican National Committeeman. The Mighty Alabama Strike Force most recently deployed to Virginia, where they helped Republican Glenn Youngkin win his 2021 gubernatorial race. In 2020 they deployed to Florida, where they helped incumbent Donald Trump win the hotly contested swing state. The 2022 election is being hotly contested. Republicans are hopeful that they can take one or both Houses of Congress. The Georgia Senate race is right at the center of this battle. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Donald Trump comes to Alabama
Former President Donald Trump paid a visit to the Heart of Dixie last week. Obviously, this is Trump country. Alabama was one of Trump’s best states in the 2020 Election. He got an amazing 65% of the vote in our state. If the turnout for his August 21 rally in rural Cullman County is any indication, he would get that same margin of victory this year if the election were held again. Many of those in attendance were insistent that Trump won last year’s presidential contest and that it was stolen from him. The event was held on a desolate rural north Alabama farm. It was reminiscent of the 1969 Woodstock event in rural New York. In fact, our newly minted U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville referred to it as “Trumpstock.” Tuberville nor I either one attended Woodstock, but we are old enough to know about the legendary music and imbibing event. It was also reminiscent of some of the old George Wallace rallies in the 1960’s – only much larger. The rally drew an enormous crowd. Estimates said there were 45,000 Trumpites in attendance, and I am not an expert on estimating crowds, but I do not disagree with that number. It took me 30 minutes to walk through the crowd to get to my car. Trump is truly an entertainer, and Alabama is truly Trump Country, although there were quite a few folks in attendance from neighboring states. I was very appreciative to be given a VIP front row private reception invitation to the event. Allow me to share some of my observations. Coach/Senator Tommy Tuberville won his seat in the U.S. Senate because Trump endorsed him. It is obvious that Trump and Tuberville like each other and have bonded. Tuberville ran for and is in the Senate for the right reason. He wants to spend some of his retirement years giving back to this country. Tuberville was not groomed to be a politician. He is a football coach, but he is doing a good job representing Alabama in Washington. He has put together a good staff headed by veteran Stephen Boyd. They are doing a good job with constituent service. Tuberville looked jovial, relaxed, and dapper when he spoke prior to Trump. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth gave a great speech. It was fiery and almost George Wallace level. He is a true conservative. He has two young sons who accompanied him to the rally. They are very gentlemanly young men who are always courteous and mannerly. Attorney General Steve Marshall gave an excellent speech. It was conversational, sincere, and well-received. Congressman Robert Aderholt was spectacular and gave a great speech and welcome. He represents Cullman in congress. His 4th Congressional District gave Trump the largest percentage votes of any congressional district in the country. Aderholt looks like a congressman. He is polished and erudite but has a grassroots appeal. His people in North Alabama love him. Mo Brooks spoke and was fiery as ever. Trump has endorsed him in the senate race. However, Trump only endorsed him once on this night. There is a lot of internal discord among the Republican Party membership. It appears that the Mo Brooks supporters have taken over the Republican Party hierarchy and that this Trump event was a Mo Brooks rally. Trump probably was asked to temper his Brooks endorsement. Indeed, Mo Brooks’s opponents, Katie Britt, Lynda Blanchard, and Jessica Taylor were all in attendance. Several state senators were there, along with the aforementioned state constitutional officers. I saw Greg Reed from Jasper, Tom Whatley from Auburn, along with hometown Cullman Senator Garlan Gudger, and PSC Commissioner Jeremy Oden, also from Cullman County. In addition, Secretary of State John Merrill and Jefferson/Shelby Congressman Gary Palmer were in attendance. It was good to see some of the old, longtime, 50 year Republican Party faithful founders there – Elbert Peters from Huntsville, Joan and Paul Reynolds from Shelby County, and Vicki and Mike Drummond from Jasper. They were laboring in the Republican vineyards before it was cool to be a Republican and still are. I had a chance to see Trump closeup. He looks amazing for 75. People age differently. He is a lot more cognizant and alert than 78-year-old Joe Biden. If you made me bet, I would say that Trump is running for President in 2024 and that he will carry Alabama. Happy Labor Day. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column is seen in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
