The race for House District 25, the seat held by retiring Alabama Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia), is seen as competitive among left-wing political circles.
Huntsville pharmacist Phillip Rigsby, the district’s GOP nominee who is running on a conservative platform, announced his candidacy in July 2021.
Rigsby, a pro-growth Republican, wishes “to carry on the legacy and groundwork he (McCutcheon) has laid for our district.”
“I will stand up for our 2nd Amendment rights, protect the unborn, and fight against the liberal policies that are being pushed upon us,” said Rigsby at the time of his campaign’s announcement.
While McCutcheon has held the seat for the past 15 years, a growing sentiment among Democrats suggests the seat held by the lower chamber’s most powerful member could be a toss-up. As such, the state’s minority party is banking on Democratic Party nominee Mallory Hagan’s chances of nabbing the retiring speaker’s seat.
Hagan, who was Miss New York 2012 and Miss America 2013, unsuccessfully ran for Alabama’s Third Congressional District in 2018. She lost to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) by a 63.7% to 36.2% margin.
The liberal Democrat moved to the Huntsville area ahead of her bid for House District 25.
Thus far in her bid for the State House, Hagan has positioned herself as a moderate Democrat. A review of her social media history, however, shows she joined the calls of progressive members of her party who sought to deny former President Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Just hours after Trump was declared president-elect on Nov. 8, 2016, Hagan expressed concern over Americans having “no brains” and asked how the outcome could be rejected.
I'm so confused. I thought this was a no-brainer…. now I'm just concerned we have a nation of people with…. well, no brains
— Mallory Hytes Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) November 9, 2016
How do we, as a United States, reject this outcome? Surely there is a way to say "absolutely not."
— Mallory Hytes Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) November 9, 2016
Two days later, Hagan shared a petition urging Electoral College electors to make Clinton the nation’s 45th president. The petition falsely alleged, “Donald Trump has not been elected president.”
Electoral College Electors: Electoral College Make Hillary Clinton President on December 19 https://t.co/f9YQoQLzKM via @Change
— Mallory Hytes Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) November 10, 2016
In response to Hagan’s election denial, a Twitter user replied, “Blocking the outcome of a legitimate free election is not going to happen no matter how many signatures you gather.”
She answered, “Crazier things have happened in this world. I’m happy to give it a try,” followed by a winking face symbol.
Crazier things have happened in this world. I'm happy to give it a try 😉 https://t.co/VonXtHyHqd
— Mallory Hytes Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) November 10, 2016
When offered pushback once more, Hagan asserted, “It’s not a challenge, it’s literally within our constitutional right. Hillary won the popular vote and the electorate has not voted yet.”
Despite objections from progressive representatives, Congress officially certified the Electoral College vote and declared Trump as the 45th president of the United States on Jan. 6, 2017.
The general election will be held Nov. 8.
Hagan did not immediately respond to Yellowhammer News’ request for comment.
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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