November 5, 2025 - Federal Government Shutdowns Need to End
All politics has become nationalized today. Therefore, whenever something happens on the national level, I hear about it. I can tell by the number of comments when something has struck a nerve. This latest government shutdown, due to a congressional standoff, struck a nerve.
It surprised me because these federal government shutdowns have become somewhat routine in recent years. However, this one appears to have broken the camel’s back. It also seemed more childish than others. Every time it happens, it’s like children on a playground that, when one of them doesn’t get their way, they take their ball and toys home. Someone needs to explain to them that running the United States government is not like play time in kindergarten.
Our Alabama Constitution is arguably antiquated; however, our 1901 framework has some fundamental conservative edicts that the current U.S. government could and should adopt. The cornerstone mandate is that the Alabama Legislature must adopt and write a new budget every year, and that budget must be balanced. This is the only task that the legislature mustaccomplish every year. It is the priority of the Alabama Legislature to pass a balanced budget at each and every legislative session.
The U.S. Congress should adopt this same approach. It has been 15 years since the federal congress has actually structured a singular federal budget. They pass stop gap measures calledcontinuing resolutions.
The U.S. House is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. They have allegiance to their party, rather than their constituents. They each vote lockstep with their party mantra and decisions. There are no nonpartisan legislative leaders who cross party paths to stand up for the American people. They are party pawns. We may as well have AImachines or androids pushing their voting machines.
Which brings me to the point that causes me consternation. When they reached a disagreement on the partisan stalemates with this latest historically lengthy impasse, they literally went home on a fall vacation. Congressmen were still getting paid, still getting all their exorbitant healthcare benefits, and unlimited perks. Their flight fares back home were paid while all government employees were going without pay checks.
My suggestion would be that whenever a continuing resolution to dictate the federal budget fails to pass and it shuts down the entire U.S. government and harms our national security, thenCongress must suffer and face the consequences of their adolescent behavior. The members of Congress, including all 435 House members and all 100 U.S. Senators, automatically lose their salaries, and I mean permanently. They quit getting a paycheck, and when the stalemate ends, they do not get back pay. It is gone forever. They lose their health insurance while on strike. Furthermore, they cannot be reimbursed for travel to their district.
It is abhorrent that this time they arrogantly shut down the government and adjourned and flew home to their district. They should be required to stay in Washington and stay on the floor of Congress the entire time until a budget is resolved. As soon as the continuing resolution to keep the government operating fails to pass and the government closes, all congressional paychecks, health insurance, free travel and staff ends, and all 535 members of Congress are summoned to the Capitol and must stay there until a budget is passed and the government is back to order.
They also would be prohibited from talking to the media or making any public statements to their respective entertainment news channels. Republicans could not spout their rhetoric to Fox and Democrats could not espouse their liberal diatribe to CNN or MSNBC. Fox will blame the Democrats without any help, and Democratic channels CNN, CBS, and MSNBC will blame the Republicans regardless.
Most Americans in the middle blame both parties equally. They say, “a pox on both your houses.” This is not a childish “take your toys home” playground spat. This is called running a country.
George Washington, the wise father of our nation, warned against America adopting political parties. He knew that, like in Britain, the House of Commons would owe their allegiance to their Party rather than to the people they are elected to represent.
See you next week.
October 29, 2025 - Nonpartisan Municipal Elections Have Become Partisan
Political pundits and observers and political players have espoused the long-held belief in the mantra “all politics is local.”I have changed my tune on this well-known adage and belief.My observation is that today it is the opposite, “all politics is national.”
Folks either vote straight Republican or straight Democratic. Most, about 90%, of all white Alabamians vote straight Republican, they may not pull the straight Republican lever, but they only mark Republican names. They would come as close to voting for a Communist as they would voting for a Democratand most of them are of the belief that Democrats are Communists.
Most folks who vote Democratic in this state are African Americans. They vote 96% straight Democratic, and they do generally pull the straight Democratic lever. By the way, all states do not allow for pulling one lever and voting straight down the line for all Republican or all Democratic candidates.
In Alabama, this straight party voting has always existed, but it had a tinge of localism in it until the last few decades. It galvanized about the time that Barack Obama became President. Alabamians have been voting Republican for President and Congress since 1964, but they would still split their ticket and vote for their local legislator or sheriff who was still running as a Democrat.
The national political landscape had become extremely different around that time. The national Republican Party became, and still is, extremely conservative, and the national Democratic Party has become extremely liberal. That scenario has not changed. A local sheriff is painted with the same brush in voters’ minds as the President. Folks do not pick and choose. Their vote from top to bottom is, “I am a conservative Republican, and I vote for all Republicans from President to Sheriff,” or “I am a liberal Democrat, and I vote straight down the line for all Democrats.”
This nationalization of partisan voting is driven primarily by social issues, and believe you me, there is definitely a marked contrast between the conservative Republican Party’s philosophy and the liberal Democratic Party’s philosophy. George Wallace would run for President as a third partycandidate and proclaim, “there’s not a dimes worth of difference between the Republican and Democratic Parties.” He certainly could not shout that demagogic diatribe with a straight face today.
This national party label trend not only crept but leapt into Alabama’s traditionally nonpartisan municipal elections this year. By law, mayoral and city council elections are nonpartisan. That now is in title only. The “all politics is local” rule has been tossed aside in even local mayoral races.
The prime example was in Mobile, the state’s second largest city. Mayor Sandy Stimpson chose to not run for a fourth term after 12 years of leading the Port City. He not only endorsed, but openly campaigned and raised money for his chosen successor,Spiro Cheriogotis, who is a former Republican elected District Judge. Cheriogotis won, very narrowly, over Democratic State Representative Barbara Drummond in a runoff. Drummond led in the first primary. Both parties made it a party battle,trumpeting national party themes.
The national and state Democratic Party leaders and donors overtly championed longtime Democratic RepresentativeBarbara Drummond’s campaign as a Democrat versusRepublican battle. She was openly endorsed by former Vice President, Kamala Harris, and Senator Raphael Warnock.
The Alabama Republican Party countered with openly partisan efforts for Cheriogotis. Alabama GOP Chair John Wahl said,“Voters deserve to know the facts about candidates and where they stand on the issues. We are not shy about fighting for strong conservative principles whether it’s in Washington, Montgomery, or at City Hall.” The Republican Party even launched a comprehensive campaign program for the Mobile runoff election that provided their chosen candidate with targeted resources, including direct mail, grassroots mobilization, and even voter contact by text message and digital advertising. Wahl continued, “Historically, the Republican Party has not been engaged in municipal elections, but that changed this election cycle. When there is a race with a clear Republican and a clear Democrat, the Alabama GOP will always stand with our Republican candidate.”
With Cheriogotis, only winning with 50.4% of the vote, it is obvious that the party label made the difference.
See you next week.
October 22, 2025 - Mayor’s Races Settled This Year
When it comes to governing and how it affects your daily life, the most important vote you cast is for mayor of your city.
Most of our elections for mayor and city council were held in August. As is usually the case, the incumbents were reelected to most mayorships and city council. There were some significant upsets. However, for the most part, the city fathers will be back for four more years. City governing is where the rubber meets the road in Alabama and throughout the nation.
We have several mayors retiring this year, who will go into the annals of their city history as probably the greatest mayor their beloved hometown has ever had. Sandy Stimpson is retiring as Mayor of Mobile after 12 years. He has been one of the best mayors in Port City history, probably only rivaled by Arthur Outlaw. Gary Fuller probably has been the greatest mayor in the history of the legendary city of Opelika. His decades reign has been marked with progress beyond compare. He has left his Lee County bailiwick in remarkably sound financial condition. Joe Lee is retiring after 22 years as Mayor of Moody. He has overseen the transformation of his St. Clair County town from a population of 1500 to 15,000. He has left an indelible mark.
Two of our state’s most popular and accomplished mayors, Tommy Battle of Huntsville and Walt Maddox of Tuscaloosa, were elected without any opposition within the past year.
Pike Road founding father, Mayor Gordon Stone, was elected to yet another term. Dothan’s popular Mayor, Mark Saliba, was overwhelmingly reelected by a six to one margin to an unprecedented third term in August. Troy Mayor Jason Reeves was first elected to the City Council in 1996 at 24 years old. Sixteen years later, he was elected mayor at age 40. He wasunopposed for reelection to a third term as mayor this year. If he completes this term, he will be the longest consecutive serving city official in Troy’s history. He will probably make it. He is only 53.
Phenix City’s popular longtime Mayor Eddie Lowe won a fourth term unopposed. Chuck Ables was reelected to his fourth term as Mayor of Geraldine.
Opelika elected veteran City Council President, Eddie Smith, a retired banker and Opelika native to succeed the legendary Gary Fuller as Mayor. Smith has been Mayor Fuller’s longtime ally. They have worked lockstep together over the years to keep Opelika very sound financially. Eddie Smith will be a good mayor.
Spiro Cheriogotis won a razor thin runoff over Barbara Drummond to become the Mayor of Mobile, succeeding Sandy Stimpson.
The most impressive victory of the year was turned in by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. He won a whopping 75% of the vote on the way to reelection to his third term. He beateight opponents without a runoff, including a veteran County Commissioner and a vocal longtime State Representative.
Vestavia Mayor Ashley Curry trounced a token opponent on the way to reelection to a third term. He got 87% of the vote.Mountain Brook voters, for the first time, elected a female to serve as mayor. City Council leader Graham Smith ran unopposed. Trussville elected City Council member Ben Short as mayor. Short won an impressive victory, beating two very viable opponents without a runoff. Homewood elected popular City Council member and cross-country runner Jennifer Andress as the first female mayor in their city history.
In one of Alabama’s fastest growing and most prosperous cities, Athens, voters reelected their popular and accomplished Mayor Ronnie Marks to a fifth, four-year term. In another booming Huntsville area suburban city, Madson, voters elected a femaleMayor Ranae Bartlet. She beat two opponents without a runoff.
Albertville’s outstanding Mayor Tracy Honea won reelection to an unprecedented fourth, four-year term, impressively. Kent Lawrence was elected to lead the major City of Decatur. Their longtime Mayor, Tad Bowling, retired. Dale Phillips eclipsed four opponents to win the mayor’s post of the growing City of Northport. In Guntersville, incumbent mayor Leigh Dollar won a fourth four-year term. Mark Jones was elected Mayor of Jacksonville and will do a good job.
The two biggest and impressive upsets of the year occurred in Hoover and Ozark, where two current Police Chiefs beat the incumbent mayors. In Hoover, veteran Police Chief Nick Derzis beat two-term Mayor Frank Brocato by a 56%t to 44% margin to become mayor of the state’s fifth largest city. The most impressive victory was in the Wiregrass City of Ozark. Veteran Police Chief and Law Enforcement officer, Charles Ward, trounced incumbent Mayor Mark Blankenship 72% to 28%. Ward is beloved in Ozark. He will be a proud mayor for his hometown.
The mayor’s office is where the rubber meets the road.
See you next week.
October 15, 2025 - Remembering Shorty Price
We are in the beginning of the Governor’s Race year. It wouldnot be a gubernatorial year without harkening back and remembering ole Shorty Price.
Alabama, in bygone days, would have a slew of what I called “run for the fun of it” candidates. They would run knowing full well they did not have a snowball’s chance to win but they made it a fun show.
By far, the most colorful of these perennial, “also-ran” candidates was William Ralph “Shorty” Price. Shorty was born and raised in Barbour County just like the successful Alabama politician, George C. Wallace. They were not only from the same county, but from the same town of Clio. They even, briefly, roomed together at the University of Alabama.
Shorty had tremendous enmity towards George Wallace, probably because Wallace was as successful as Shorty was unsuccessful. Shorty truly hated Wallace and would run every time Wallace did, and cuss Wallace viciously.
Shorty would run for Governor every four years. He was appropriately nicknamed since he was barely five feet tall. Shorty not only ran for Governor, perennially, but he ran for numerous other offices. He often used recycled campaign signs to save money, but he rarely garnered 2% of the votes.
Shorty would wander around the state in non-election years, panhandling for “contributions” which he quickly converted into cans of Budweiser beer. I never saw Shorty draw a sober breath. He was always exuberantly inebriated. Shorty was just as proudas he could be that he stayed drunk all the time. His campaign slogan was “Smoke Tampa Nugget Cigars, drink Budweiser beer, and vote for Shorty Price for Governor.”
In one of his campaigns for governor, his campaign speech highlighted this line, “If elected governor, I will reduce the governor’s tenure from four to two years. If you can’t steal enough to last you the rest of your life in two years, you ain’t got enough sense to have the office in the first place.” Shorty expressed disdain for Governor Albert Brewer, and stated the reason being that Brewer had enacted a levy of two cents on every beer. Shorty said, “I’m a Budweiser man.”
In the 1958 governor’s race, there were several “also-ran” or“run-for-the-fun-of-it” candidates. Shorty ran behind all of them. He took his last-place finish not as a slight, but as an honor. When a newspaper reporter wrote, some years later, that Price ran next to last in 1958, Shorty replied in mock anger, “That’s a blasphemous lie! There were 14 of us in that race, and I finished last.” Shorty was quite a colorful character.
Shorty loved Alabama football. Following the Crimson Tide was Shorty’s prime passion in life. Many of you remember him from Alabama football games. You could spot Shorty at every Crimson Tide football game, always sporting his Alabama tie and flag and quite drunk. I don’t know if Shorty actually had a seat because he would parade around Denny Stadium or Legion Field posing as Alabama’s head cheerleader. In fact, he would consistently intersperse himself among the real Alabama cheerleaders and help them with their cheers. There was never any question that Shorty was totally inebriated. Shorty worshipped Paul “Bear” Bryant, and like Bryant, Shorty hated Tennessee. Bryant and Shorty had rather beat Tennessee than anybody. This traditional rivalry goes back more than 100 years and was highlighted during the Wallace Wade and General Neyland era rivalry.
In fact, those of you who are Alabama fans are aware that the annual classic Alabama vs. Tennessee game will be played this Saturday in Tuscaloosa. It is because the Tennessee game is this week is the reason I chose to remind Alabamians of Shorty Price. If Shorty was still here, there is no doubt he would be at Bryant Denny stadium in rare form.
Shorty died in a car crash between Troy and Montgomery about 35 years ago. He was more than likely sipping on a Budweiser when he had his accident. I miss ole Shorty.
See you next week.
October 8, 2025 - An Interesting Political Conversation
I was first elected to the Alabama Legislature in 1982. George Wallace had been elected to his last term as governor that year. Therefore, my first term as a legislator was Wallace’s final and fifth term as governor.
I had met Wallace during his first term as Governor in 1963. I was a 12-year-old Legislative Page and he was an energeticyoung governor. He never forgot that day and always reminded me of it in most of our visits.
In 1983, Wallace would have good days and bad. He was in constant pain from six bullet wounds from a crazed would-beassassin who shot him in a Maryland parking lot while he was running for President in 1972. His memory and demeanor were quite diminished from his earlier years. He was also almost completely deaf. A lot of men his age who had fought in World War II had diminished hearing due to excessive exposure to fighter planes and bombings. Wallace’s deafness had become so pronounced that I wondered on my visits down to his office if he ever heard a word that was said. It really did not matter much anyway, because he usually did most of the talking.
My best legislative friend and seatmate was the legendary Mr. Pete Turnham from Auburn. Mr. Pete came to the House in 1958 and served for 40 years from 1958 through 1998. He was the Dean of the House and had a prime seat on the House floor. Like Wallace, Pete remembered me from my youthful Page days and he adopted me as his protégé. Pete prevailed on the venerable House Clerk, John Pemberton, to give me a seat next to him,which was usually reserved for more veteran members. Mr. Pete and I sat together through 1998. I loved Mr. Pete like a father.
Pete Turnham loved and cared for Auburn and Auburn University more than any other legislator in history. Like Wallace, Pete was a veteran of World War II. Unlike Wallace, Pete had a very important and highly decorated world war experience. He was an officer, who had actually been one of Patton’s lieutenants in Europe. However, like Wallace the bombings had rendered Pete deaf in one ear. So, Pete was hard of hearing like Wallace.
Pete, like most men of his generation, loved agriculture and gardening. Mr. Pete graduated from Auburn and majored in Agricultural Science. Pete’s home was on a large tract of land on Moore’s Mill Road in Auburn. He had a tremendous, well-known garden next to his house. He had a green thumb that was unbelievable. He would feed almost half of Lee County out of his garden. Folks who were down on their luck in Auburn and Opelika would awaken to a week’s worth of fresh vegetables left on their doorstep, left anonymously by Pete. His garden was truly legendary.
One day Wallace had asked me and Pete down for a visit together. I am pretty sure Wallace did not know Pete and I were best friends and seatmates. I do not think Pete knew why Wallace wanted to talk with him. I sort of thought Wallace wanted to inform me and Pete of his plans for an educational initiative. Pete was an educational advocate and Wallace knew that.
Well, Pete and I arrived to visit with Wallace who was in his wheelchair with the ever-present cigar. You could tell by the gleam in his eyes that he adored and admired Mr. Pete. They immediately engaged in conversation, and I stood aside and witnessed one of the funniest conversations in my life. These two World War II legends began their conversation and ended their conversation with neither knowing what the other one was saying and totally agreeing with the other.
Wallace was extolling some education matter and Pete nodded in agreement. Pete was thinking Wallace was asking about his garden and he responded by telling Wallace how his peas and tomatoes were doing. They continued their diatribe for 15 minutes. Each time both nodded and smiled while Wallace was telling Pete about how much good his program was going to help the poor little school children and Pete smiling in agreement telling Wallace how his corn was doing.
See you next week.
October 1, 2025 - Alabama’s Adult Education Is One of Nation’s Best – A 60 Year Legacy
Over the past six decades, Alabama’s Adult Education Programs have been transformed by a
quiet revolution that has been extraordinarily successful.
It was my honor to be able to speak to the Annual Adult Education Conference at the downtown
Montgomery Renaissance Center in late June.
When I accepted their invitation to speak, I thought there would be 50 to 60 attendees. However,
when I walked in, I amazingly saw over 400 passionate, positive, energized educators and
administrators that filled the venue.
It quickly dawned on me that we have one of the most successful Adult Education Programs in
America. These folks in attendance are dedicated to their work. It is their passion and purpose. It
is nothing short of a movement that has changed generations and continues to redefine what
opportunity means in our state.
This was not just a professional development conference, it was a celebration of purpose,
perseverance, and the power of education to transform lives at any age.
Adult education is too often viewed narrowly, through the lens of GED attainment. While that
remains a foundational component, this year’s conference emphasized a much broader and more
dynamic vision – one that includes digital literacy, English language acquisition, employability
skills, workforce certifications, and the alignment of career pathways that lead to sustainable
employment.
A key highlight of the conference was the discussion of the newly enacted REACH Act
(Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School), Alabama’s High School
diploma option program. This important Act was sponsored by then Representative, now State
Senator Matt Woods of Jasper.
Participants also explored a variety of employability and technical training programs offered
through the Alabama Community College Innovation Center. These skills for success courses are
designed to equip adult learners with real-world, in-demand skills that directly support
Alabama’s economic growth.
This 60th anniversary event also served as a tribute to the legends and heroes of adult education
in Alabama. First on the list of legends was the late Representative Pete Turnham of Auburn.
Pete is considered the Father of Adult Education in Alabama.
The reason I was asked to speak was not as a political columnist, author, or Alabama political
historian, but to share my experiences and personal knowledge of Mr. Pete Turnham as his friend
and legislative colleague.
Mr. Pete and I sat next to each other for almost two decades in the Alabama House of
Representatives. He was not only my mentor and friend, but he was like a father. My two
daughters thought of him like a grandfather. He was truly a good man. He cared about Alabama.
He especially cared about Auburn. He was dedicated to education in our state.
Pete Turnham was a child of the Great Depression. He achieved success in business along with
being the “Dean of the House of Representatives.” When he retired from the legislature in 1998,
he had served longer than anyone in state history. Mr. Pete never talked about it much, but he
was a World War II hero. He fought with General Patton in Europe. Mr. Pete epitomized “The
Greatest Generation.”
During his many years in the legislature, Pete served on the House Ways and Means Committee,
which appropriates money. Through his Seat, he garnered a $1 million appropriation singularly
for adult education. This was a large amount of money at that time and the first for adult
education in Alabama.
Pete Turnham was a towering figure in Alabama’s legislative history and an unrelenting
champion for nontraditional learners. Mr. Pete’s advocacy was deeply personal, grounded in the
belief that education was not a privilege, but a right – no matter your age or station in life. A
scholarship bears Pete Turnham’s name, continuing his legacy by helping adult learners return to
the classroom.
The sheer turnout at this 60th anniversary event conference reinforced what many of us in
politics should understand, there is a hunger for education in our state. While budgets and ballot
boxes dominate headlines, investments in adult education quietly yield some of the greatest
returns.
See you next week.
September 24, 2025 - Five Good Horseraces Set For 2026
The 2026 election year began on May 19 when campaign fundraising could begin. Our elections will be May 19, 2026. Our Republican primary that day, and subsequent runoffs four weeks later, will be our election day for all statewide offices. Winning the Republican Primary for state office is tantamount to election in Alabama.
Qualifying for all offices next year will be in January. However, for all practical purposes, the primary races are set and the horses are in the chute. It will be a four-month sprint from mid-January to mid-May. All 105 State House Seats and all 35 State Senate Seats are up for election. However, State Senate and House Seats are becoming analogous to Congressional Seats. Very few incumbents are ever defeated, or even challenged. Over 80% of the legislature is running unopposed. There are only three to four open Senate Seats. The makeup of the State Senate will probably remain 28 Republicans and 7 Democrats.
Since all of our statewide offices are held by Republicans and will remain that way, the endorsements and campaign contributions from all of the major pro-business organizations in the state flow to the Republican candidates. These important groups are the Business Council of Alabama, Manufacturing Alabama, the Alabama Forestry Association, and especially ALFA.
Coach Tommy Tuberville has received all of the above organizations’ endorsements in his cakewalk tour to the Governor’s office.
The brass ring of Alabama politics, the governor’s race, will be uneventful given Tuberville’s uncontested victory is inevitable. However, there will be a handful of important statewide battles that will be close, and the ALFA endorsement will be critical in those races.
The ALFA endorsement is golden in a statewide Republican Primary. It has been a pivotal gamechanger in almost every statewide race over the last decade. It gave credibility and impetus to the senate campaign of Tommy Tuberville six years ago. Their continuous endorsements of Governor Kay Ivey have been a fortress for her over the years.
This treasured endorsement is not easily given but earned. They also remain loyal to political figures who are loyal to them. They live by the adage that you do not leave old friends to make new friends.
To get the ALFA) endorsement, candidates have to go to the county leaders in each county and earn their vote and support. All 67 county ALFA organizations have the same vote. The hierarchy of leadership in Montgomery does not dictate the endorsement. It comes from the grassroots throughout the state.
The ALFA endorsements will be critical in the five close statewide races. These races are for Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Agriculture Commissioner, and the U.S. Senate.
The Lt. Governor’s race will be one of the best on the ballot next year. It will pit two very popular Constitutional officeholders striving to capture another Constitutional office. Secretary of State Wes Allen and Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate will be the two horses in this contest. It is so close that it is difficult to say who is the favorite. One of the factors that will play out is if one of them can do a better job than the other in fundraising.
The Secretary of State race between current State Auditor Andrew Sorrell and dynamic political newcomer CaroleeneDobson began close but Caroleene Dobson may be moving ahead in this race.
The open Attorney General’s race will be an important race to follow since this is one of the most important constitutional offices. Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell is favored to win because he will be endorsed and supported by the Alabama Business Community. However, Assistant Attorney General Katherine Robertson could be a player. She is being supported significantly financially by out-of-state dark money special interests. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey is working hard and is very well qualified but is lagging behind in fundraising.
The Agriculture Commissioner race will be one of the best. It will be a three-way horserace between State Senator Jack Williams of Mobile, Agribusiness woman Christina WoernerMcInnis of Baldwin County, and Marshall County farmer Corey Hill.
The race for the open Senate Seat of Coach Tuberville will be the big race next year. It will pit Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall against Congressman Barry Moore. Big Washington money will decide this race.
It will be a good political year.
See you next week.
September 17, 2025 - Katie Britt is Alabama’s Most Popular Elected Official for Good Reason
I have been an upfront observer, participant, columnist, and commentator of Alabama politics for over six decades, and I can confidently say one of the most gifted political leaders in the history of our state is also one of its newest and youngest.
Katie Britt’s skills as a public servant and stateswoman were demonstrated beyond measure in a recent statewide poll that ranked her as the single most popular elected official in Alabama — more popular than even Kay Ivey or Tommy Tuberville.
It is easy to spot the ingredients in her recipe for success. Very few people ever have the complete package – but Britt has quickly proven to be a history maker.
Over the last few decades, Alabama’s U.S. Senate delegation is split between one seat that is held by a right-wing conservative who plays to the base with red meat social issues and another seat that is filled by a skilled appropriator amassing funding for infrastructure and local projects back home. Britt uniquely has carved a powerful path in both lanes.
Britt has simultaneously proven herself adept at bringing home the bacon through her seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee while being a staunch, outspoken defender of Alabama’s Christian, conservative values. Like Senator Richard Shelby, she has already brought home billions in investments for our state. Like Senator Jeff Sessions, she has quickly made herself a leading conservative voice on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
To start this year, Britt accomplished what no Member of Congress has done for 30 years – pass immigration enforcement and border security legislation. She masterfully shepherded her Laken Riley Act through the Senate, where you need to garner bipartisan support to get 60 votes to President Trump’s desk. Britt stood right beside Trump in the White House as he signed his first bill into law his second term. This is the kind of career-making legislative accomplishment that normally takes decades.Britt only needed months into her term.
If that was not enough, Britt accomplished another generational feat in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. She has been the leading national champion for tax cuts for working families and secured three separate provisions in the bill to make childcare more affordable. These provisions had not been strengthened since 1986 and 2001, respectively. Because of Britt, parents will now save major money and small businesses on Alabama main streets will have a better shot at retaining and recruiting workforce.
Another of Britt’s wins so far this year has gone underreported. She may singlehandedly have saved the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her advocacy for critical medical research and finding cures has garnered the support of President Trump, RFK Jr., and Trump’s NIH Director, who recently visited UAB at Britt’s invitation to show the Administration’s support. This is the state’s largest employer and Birmingham’s main economic engine. Without Britt, the magic may have left the city. Now, UAB stands to benefit in a huge way.
It is not just her constituents who respect Britt’s work, her colleagues recognize her leadership, too. Britt is serving as Deputy Majority Whip for the Republican Party in the U.S. Senate, which is helping ensure the successful passage of Trump’s legislative agenda and confirmation of his nominees. Her Whip Team has not lost a floor vote in Congress this year. Britt is also Vice Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is responsible for keeping the Senate majority. Britt has raised the fifth most for this effort of all Republican Senators. This success helps her amass even more influence with colleagues and deliver more for Alabamians.
She began her first year in the Senate accomplishing something unheard of in U.S. Senate history. She received a seat on the three most prestigious and powerful committees in the Senate:Appropriations, Banking and Rules. She added Judiciary the next year. It is rare for a Senator to ever get on one of these committees and unprecedented for a first-term Senator to get on all four.
Britt’s rockstar status is heralded not just in the Capitol, but also in the White House. President Trump selected Britt to lead the first official presidential delegation of his term earlier this year. Britt was the United States’ lead representative to celebrate the inauguration of the new Uruguay president.
One thing is for certain, Senator Katie Britt’s political future is bright, infinite, and set to benefit Alabama for decades to come.
See you next week.
September 10, 2025 - Cynthia Almond Outstanding Choice for PSC President
One of Governor Kay Ivey’s greatest legacies will be her outstanding wisdom and prudence in her appointments to fill important judicial and governmental openings. She has shown amazing leadership in this capacity over her decade as Governor.
She had the opportunity to make another stellar appointment in June. Ivey appointed State Representative Cynthia Lee Almond to be the new President of the Alabama Public Service Commission. The vacancy occurred when veteran PSC Commissioner Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh left to take the Trump Administration appointment as Alabama’s Director for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She will work closely with President Trump’s Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.
Twinkle has been one of the most successful political figures in Alabama for several decades. She has served as President of the Public Service Commission since 2012 and was first elected Associate Commissioner in 2010. In 2020, she received the most votes in Alabama history for a non-presidential candidate. Twinkle served a stint as Chairman of the State Republican Party at a young age.
In making the appointment of Cynthia Almond to the important rate setting PSC Presidency, Ivey stated, “Cynthia has proven to be an extremely effective public servant, and I am confident the people of Alabama will be even better served when she takes the helm at the Public Service Commission.”
Governor Ivey’s public comments were exuberant, but privately, she was even more excited to get someone of Cynthia Almond’s character, integrity, and experience to take the post. Cynthia is a successful attorney and legislator.
Cynthia was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. Her daddy was a lawyer and State Legislator in Tuscaloosa. She followed in his footsteps. She has had a prominent career in law and governmental service. She began the practice of law in her hometown after graduating from the University of Alabama Law School. Her legal work has been focused on estate planning, business law, and real estate.
Ms. Almond served four, four-year terms on the Tuscaloosa City Council prior to being elected to her Republican State House seat. Her legislative House seat is within the confines of Tuscaloosa. She has been one of the state’s most outstanding legislators during her two-terms in the House.
In the State House, Almond served as Chair of the Tuscaloosa County Legislative Delegation and as a member of the Ways and Means Education Committee, Judiciary Committee, and RulesCommittee. She has worked closely with Governor Ivey on several of her legislative priorities.
This House seat has become a prominent steppingstone position. It encompasses the upscale Tuscaloosa enclaves. Prior to Cynthia Almond taking the Seat, Representative Bill Poole was in the seat for 10 years. Bill was probably the most important House member of the 105-member body for a decade while he wrote the State Education Budget as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Poole became Governor Ivey’s State Finance Director at the beginning of the quadrennium, where he still serves. State Finance Director is generally considered the most important post in the Cabinet.
Prior to Poole being in this House Seat 63, Dr. Robert Bentley, who was probably the most prominent dermatologist in Tuscaloosa, was in the seat. Dr. Bentley moved from this Druid City Seat to the Governor’s mansion.
Before Governor Bentley, prominent Tuscaloosa Businessman Tim Parker Jr. served in this prized seat. His father, the original Tim Parker, served in this House from Tuscaloosa, also. Tim Parker Jr. was recently named to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.
In the upcoming special election, Tuscaloosa City Councilman, Norman Crow, is expected to fill this illustrious House seat. He will be tracking Cynthia Almond. He is in the City Council Seat she left to become State Representative. He will do a great job.
There have been several other new legislative seat departures and arrivals this year. State Representative Matt Woods (R-Jasper) has moved to the Senate taking the seat left by Senator Greg Reed, who became head of the new Department of Workforce Development. There are two open seats in Cullman County. Heath Allbright is set to take the seat left by veteran Representative Randall Shedd. Cindy Myrex won a very impressive victory for a hotly contested Cullman County House district this August. She took the seat of retiring Representative Corey Harbison. Debbie Wood left her Chambers County House seat, unexpectedly. She will probably be followed by Kristin Nelson, who is currently the Chairman of the Chambers County Republican Party. Her husband, Jeff Nelson, is the popular Sherriff of Chambers County.
See you next week.
September 3, 2025 - Our Open U.S. Senate Will Be a Big Race
We all knew that this 2026 election year was going to be a big year in Alabama politics. This year’s biggest race will be for the U.S. Senate Seat of Coach Tuberville.
The key to winning this seat like any open U.S. Senate Seat is having or garnering campaign money. Having your own money is always paramount to winning a coveted senate seat anywhere in America. That is why it is referred to as the “Millionaire’s Club.” Although, in today’s world, it more accurately could be called the “Billionaire’s Club.” Over the course of history, it has seen the names of Kennedy, Rockefeller, Danforth, and Kohler.
Another advantage for rich candidates is that the big Washingtonspecial interest lobbyists – big dollar contributors – have an unwritten rule that they do not contribute to primaries in wide-open, non-incumbent, senate races. Instead, they wait for the general election. The problem with this for candidates from totally Republican states like ours is that our GOP primary is our election. Therefore, a well-heeled candidate with their own money is in the catbird’s seat.
The two apparent front runners for our open U.S. Senate Seat are Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and First District Congressman Barry Moore. A third candidate is Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. He has movie star good looks and if someone could drop $10 million into his race he would sell. Both Barry Moore and Steve Marshall are very conservative candidates.However, they are both of modest means financially.
Marshall has nothing to lose by running for the senate. He has served his two-term limit as Alabama’s Attorney General. Thus, he simply is striving to move up the political ladder. Whereas if Congressman Barry Moore loses his seat in the U.S. Congress,he is out. Congressmen run every two years, so it is a big political gamble to run for a senate seat. Thus, the old adage –the political graveyard is full of congressmen, who have tried to move to the senate.
The winner of this race will be the one who can tap the Washington spigots of right-wing, fringe, dark money that plays on the Potomac. The biggest player in the right-wingWashington clandestine money pot is the now renowned Club for Growth. They are the Daddy Warbucks of the extreme right wing and are THE players in open U.S. Senate races in conservative Republican states. In fact, they only play in Republican primaries in Republican states. They are hidden deep pocketed donors, who believe in no government.
Ironically, the congressmen who are owned by the Club for Growth come from districts that are the most dependent on military, thus big government spending. The prime example was Alabama’s former Congressman Mo Brooks from Huntsville, who routinely voted against his district’s needs in favor of the Club for Growth. This group is not only anti-government, butanti-Trump. Trump hates them and does not like them owning Republican seats.
Club for Growth congressmen belong to the Freedom Caucus within the Republican ranks and these right-wing clones proudly display their Freedom Caucus membership. Washington insiders and mainstream Republicans recognize them as nuts. The Republican leadership relegates them to the back benches and does not allow them any plum committee assignments. However, these Freedom Caucus Club for Growth extremists do not care because they do not want to get anything done for their districts or state anyway. They thrive on being ineffective. All they want to do is sit on their back bench pews, bark at the moon, and throw reactionary bombs. They adamantly believe it is not their responsibility to help or bring home the bacon for their districts.
The Club for Growth owned two of our congressmen before Brooks left the House to get beaten for the Senate. They now own one. Congressman Barry Moore is their boy. The Club for Growth was doing extensive polling to determine if they could elect him, which is why Moore was late entering the race. This Club is the reason Barry Moore upset Jerry Carl in the new First District two years ago. Carl was blindsided by the Club’s big bucks, sophisticated polling, and ability to hide their money.
The Club for Growth would love to own five or six Republican senate seats. There is no telling what they will spend to buy this Senate seat for their boy Barry Moore. Poor Steve Marshall cannot imagine what is going to hit him. This race will not be decided in Alabama. It will be decided by deep, dark money in Washington.
See you next week.