The 400-member Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee met in Montgomery on Saturday for its annual winter meeting to hear from state leaders and pass resolutions. High on this year’s agenda was biannual officer elections.
“We should never apologize for the positive changes for the people of Alabama that have been made by the Republican party,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “We must begin the process now so that we can take back the Senate and take the House of Representatives, sending Nancy Pelosi back to California.”
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan chose not to run for a fourth term as chair of the party. Lathan is the longest-serving woman chairman in the history of the Alabama Republican Party and the longest-serving chairman since 1985.
“Terri, you are leaving ALGOP in a better place,” Ivey said. “Right now you deserve accolades for a job well done, Terry Lathan.”
Ivey is the first Republican woman to serve as governor of the state of Alabama and the second woman to be governor.
“It is my deep pleasure and honor to serve as your governor,” Ivey said. “May God continue to bless each of you and the great state of Alabama.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, told the group that the 2022 election is likely our “last chance to save this country.”
Tuberville said that Washington D.C. was like a “third world country” now with miles of razor wire and 25,000 National Guard troops policing the grounds. Tuberville promised to keep fighting for the people of Alabama but admitted that Republicans had “the short end of the stick” to fight with right now in Washington.
“I fill up my truck every week in Auburn,” Tuberville said. “When I first went to Washington gas was $2 a gallon, today it was $2.60, and it is going to get worse. A year ago a four-by-eight sheet of plywood cost $7.63. Today it is $46.”
Tuberville said that President Joe Biden talked about unity in his inauguration speech and three hours later went to the White House and signed executive orders killing thousands of jobs.
“The media does not like to tell you about the Red Wave we experienced in November,” Lathan said. “We flipped 40 seats from Democrat to Republican in November and over the last six years the Alabama Republican Party has flipped over 200 offices across the state Republican.”
Lathan was presented with a letter praising her service from National Republican Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, including thanks for being the only Republican Party in the state this year to flip a U.S. Senate seat from Democrat to Republican. Lathan also received resolutions from both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate thanking her for her years of service to the state.
The Alabama Republican Party then elected Senior Vice Chairman John Wahl as chairman without opposition.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve you as State Party Chairman,” Wahl said. “I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”
- John Skipper was elected as senior vice chair.
- Carol Jahns was elected as secretary.
- Sally Bryant was elected as treasurer.
- Josh Dodd was elected as Alabama Republican Party Fourth and Fifth Congressional District vice chairman.
- Pat Wilson was elected as Alabama Republican Party Third, Sixth, and Seventh Congressional District vice chairman.
- Bill Harris was elected as Alabama Republican Party First and Second Congressional District vice chairman.
The 400-member Republican Executive Committee elects the officers as well as most of the members who serve on the 21-member state steering committee.
