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“There is nothing…I mean nothing…an Alabamian cannot achieve.” With that line, Governor Kay Ivey set the tone for her 2025 State of the State address, delivering a speech that blended optimism, political maneuvering, and a firm embrace of conservative priorities. She painted Alabama as a state of resilience, where underdogs rise and expectations are defied. But beneath the carefully crafted rhetoric, Ivey made clear that Alabama’s future will be shaped on her terms—one where economic development, education reform, and culture war politics walk hand in hand.
Ivey opened with a well-worn but effective theme: Alabama as the underestimated state, the place that defies expectations. “Y’all, if there is one thing to know about us Alabamians, it is to never count us out,” she said, before delivering examples. She invoked sports—first football, then basketball—before pivoting to a major political victory: the apparent return of Space Command Headquarters to Huntsville. “You say we are not innovative, and we will rightfully earn Space Command Headquarters.” The move, long fought over and previously awarded to Colorado under the Biden administration, now appears set to return to Alabama, reinforcing the idea that persistence—and political pressure—pays off.
That theme of defying expectations carried over to education, where she pointed to Alabama’s rising literacy and math scores as proof that the state is making gains. “You say we are stuck at the bottom in education, and our students will show you the highest gains in the country.” It’s a compelling narrative, one that appeals to state pride and resilience. But while her framing suggests a tide turning in Alabama’s favor, the reality is more complicated. Still, it’s clear that Ivey is committed to pushing Alabama forward in her own way—prioritizing business-friendly policies, infrastructure investment, and targeted education reforms that emphasize school choice over public school funding.
Education took center stage early in the speech, with Ivey doubling down on school choice. The CHOOSE Act, which creates Education Savings Accounts, is her most significant education policy move, and she made sure to highlight its popularity—boasting 18,000 applications in the first month. “Clearly, taxpaying Alabama families want school choice! And thanks to your work, they are getting just that.” She framed it as empowering students over systems, a classic argument for school vouchers. What she didn’t mention is that rural families—where private school options are limited—stand to benefit the least from this policy. While urban parents might take advantage of school vouchers, those in small towns and rural areas may find that their only real option is the same underfunded public school that’s now losing resources.
At the same time, she celebrated rising test scores, crediting the Literacy and Numeracy Acts, and pushed for a statewide ban on cell phones in schools—a move that, while politically popular, sidesteps larger issues like teacher shortages, classroom resources, and funding gaps. “Let’s create the best learning environment for our students and get this bill to my desk so I can sign it into law,” she urged lawmakers.
While Ivey celebrated Alabama’s educational gains and expanded school choice, she was just as eager to reinforce Alabama’s role in the culture wars. She made it clear that Alabama will be a leader in conservative social policies, declaring, “Next, there are only two genders: Male and female. I look forward to finally putting my signature on the What is a Woman bill by Representative Susan Dubose.” She also threw her support behind displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms, another battle in the ongoing conservative push to mix religion and public education. “We will always be a state that supports our strong Alabama values.”
This messaging is politically effective, particularly with Alabama’s conservative base, but it raises important questions about priorities as cultural issues are often roadblocks, not bridge builders.
Where Ivey’s address was most compelling was in her discussion of economic growth and infrastructure progress. She pointed to $55 billion in investments and 93,000 jobs created during her tenure, nearly 500 road and bridge projects, and Alabama’s success in broadband expansion—an area where the state has genuinely emerged as a national model. “Part of what makes Alabama the best state in which to live, work and raise a family is that we have opportunities for our men and women to earn a solid wage and provide for their families.”
She also introduced a new Alabama Department of Workforce, replacing the Department of Labor, with the goal of increasing labor force participation—a key challenge for Alabama’s economy. It’s here that Ivey was at her most pragmatic. She didn’t need culture war rhetoric—the numbers spoke for themselves. The governor is keenly aware that business investment and job creation will be her real legacy, and she wisely made it a central focus of the speech.
Public safety was another major theme, with Ivey doubling down on support for law enforcement. “To back the blue, we will provide law enforcement with enhanced legal protections that allow them to carry out their duties courageously and effectively—without fear of Monday morning quarterbacking in the courts.” She pushed harsher penalties for felons with guns, called for an expansion of Aniah’s Law to detain more accused violent criminals pretrial, and proposed restrictions on juvenile offenders.
And then there was the border security pivot. Ivey declared, “Securing the Southern Border is securing Alabama’s border,” but this wasn’t about policy—it was about national messaging. She name-dropped Donald Trump and Sen. Katie Britt, praised their immigration stances, and called for passage of Britt’s Wall Act. “It’s time to restore common sense.”
Perhaps the most telling moment of the speech came when Ivey summed up her crime policy approach: “Finally, we must not just be strong on crime – but also smart on crime.” That balancing act—playing to the tough-on-crime base while acknowledging that reform may be necessary—reflects a broader tension within the Republican Party. Ivey is walking that line carefully, ensuring she doesn’t alienate traditional conservatives who support criminal justice reform while still signaling toughness to law-and-order voters.
Governor Ivey’s 2025 State of the State address painted a picture of Alabama as a state on the rise, with a strong economy, improving schools, and conservative values leading the way. “All the way to the Gulf of America…we live in the greatest state in the greatest nation on Earth,” she declared, making sure to reinforce a sense of Alabama exceptionalism. It was a speech crafted for multiple audiences—business leaders, suburban families, culture war conservatives, and national Republicans. She positioned herself as a steady, pragmatic leader while giving conservatives everything they wanted on social issues.
She touted economic growth and celebrated Alabama’s momentum in workforce development, emphasizing the state’s forward trajectory. While challenges remain, Ivey championed a vision where a firm foundation is being laid for expanded opportunities, stronger communities, and a growing economy. Her State of the State address was unmistakably conservative, reinforcing Alabama’s embrace of business-friendly policies and cultural priorities. Yet, for those wary of political distractions, it left lingering questions about whether these policies will truly serve all Alabamians. Ivey insists that as Alabama moves ahead, the focus will be on ensuring progress reaches every corner of the state. Let’s hope that vision becomes a reality for Alabamians.
