Yellowhammer News proudly presents the 2025 edition of the Power & Influence Top 50 list – the most candid and comprehensive annual index of who is moving the needle in Montgomery.
This year marks the thirteenth installment – and the stakes have never been higher.
With a monumental 2026 election cycle already taking shape, the men and women on this list are positioning their constituencies and clients for success in the next era.
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Taking into account conversations with insiders, as well as the most recent developments in politics and public policy, the list is meant to recognize the top individuals in government and politics who leverage their power and influence on behalf of those they represent.
We will host our annual ‘Power of Service’ event in Montgomery this week on Thursday, May 15th to coincide with the release of our final list of this year’s honorees.
Welcome to the class of 2025.
30. Jeremy Walker
Alabama Association of Realtors
As the Alabama Association of Realtors’ head, Walker leads one of the state’s most disciplined, well-funded, and politically influential groups.
Speaking on behalf of more than 20,000 members, a war chest currently tops $3,000,000, Walker and his team are a force to be reckoned with.
Outside of political circles, most Alabamians might be surprised to hear that realtors account for one of the most substantial business groups in the state. But if you’re a lawmaker who files a bill unfriendly to their interests, you should not be surprised to see Jeremy Walker outside your office the next morning.
His group doesn’t just monitor property values – they monitor a complex range of legislative issues, including tax policy and land use, permitting and building codes, and broadband access and tort reform.
Watching him navigate those issues continues to be a masterclass. He moves up our list once again in 2025.
29. Clay Scofield
Business Council of Alabama
He kept the UAW out of Alabama. If that’s all we said for Scofield this year, it would be enough. But really, that’s only where it begins. Clay Scofield’s name has been a fixture on this list for years – and for good reason. He’s been a power player in Alabama politics right from the moment he won his Marshall County hometown State Senate seat in 2010. But his current role is setting him up for what may be his most influential chapter yet.
As one of the architects of BCA’s newly launched Campaign 2026, Scofield is about to enter a target-rich environment. Jokes about him being a hunter aside – he’s the right man for the job. Scofield is a political animal.
He is expected to post gains for pro-job, pro-business, pro-growth candidates up and down the ticket, backed by the full financial weight of Alabama’s business community, which is more united today than ever before.
In more ways than one, Scofield’s future looks bright.
28. Wesley Britt
Fine Geddie
A legend of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Wesley Britt is the only person at the Alabama State House that people want to have their picture made with more than actual elected officials.
We find that to be characteristic of the presence and influence that Wesley brings with him everywhere he goes. In fact, when he walks into any room – you literally cannot miss him. Despite towering over every interaction he has, Wesley is kind and intentional.
He has become well known as a source of good judgement and advice, compromise that benefits all parties, and just being fun to talk to. Wesley has deep roots all across the state, brings to bear a vast knowledge of economic development and wise public policy, and is a faithful servant of Alabama.
We will continue to watch how he blocks and tackles his way up our list.
27. Dax Swatek
Swatek, Vaughn, and Bryan
As we’ve said for more than a decade, Dax Swatek is a force in Alabama politics.
He’s built a career on winning, and if history is any guide, he’s not slowing down anytime soon. Swatek’s career began in the high-stakes world of campaign politics in mid-90s Alabama, where he started running races for everyone from congressional hopefuls to statewide candidates and even presidential contenders.
Today, Swatek’s client list reads like a who’s who of Alabama industry. And while many lobbyists are content to work one side of the street, Swatek is like a soldier who never left the trenches. He’s built a firm that can do it all.
His aggressive advocacy on clients’ behalf keeps them returning year after year. Especially in the long run, don’t bet against Dax.
26. Taylor Williams
PowerSouth
Taylor Williams has been at the center of some of the state’s most significant economic development projects over the past decade – projects that have transformed entire regions and driven billions in new investment into Alabama.
He is a high achiever and one of the most respected power players in the whole state. But if you asked him the secret to all his success, the answer would probably be pretty simple: People. Taylor’s real power lies in his relationships.
There is something to be said about someone who is the same person in front of all crowds. He is naturally himself, regardless of the person he’s talking to.
And those conversations are many. Leaders at every level of government answer his calls. They take his meetings. They listen to his advice. And when he puts his weight behind an issue, people notice. If you want to know where the political winds are blowing in Alabama, follow Taylor Williams – he’s usually the one out front, shaping the weather.
25. Jimmy Parnell
Alabama Farmers Federation
Jimmy Parnell loves to see things grow.
As President of the Alabama Farmers Federation and CEO of Alfa Insurance, Parnell leads two of the most powerful institutions in the state, representing the interests of more than 350,000 member families and providing insurance to over a million customers across 11 states.
After one of the most significant feats in the present quadrennium, he will also be considered responsible for helping thousands of farm families in the state pay less for healthcare coverage. This is partly due to his hiring of former Secretary of State Beth Chapman as a consultant and lobbyist at the beginning of his presidency.
She has been working with the team at ALFA ever since, building strong grassroots and working on big political wins.
What is already well-established is that Parnell brings to bear one of the most formidable political, legislative, and grassroots apparatuses in the state. With nearly $4 million available in FarmPAC’s funds, his influence is projected to increase further in the 2026 elections.
24. R.B. Walker
Alabama Power
R.B. Walker is Always On. Always on the move, always in the know, and always a unifying force in Alabama politics and policy. He’s well known for his ability to bring people together while aggressively – and diplomatically – advancing ideas that position the state for bold, strategic growth.
One of the top generals behind transformational legislative efforts like The Game Plan, Innovate Alabama, Connect Alabama, Working for Alabama – and most recently, the Powering Growth plan – Walker has helped lay the foundation for Alabama’s emergence on both national and global stages.
His work is driven by a genuine passion for the state’s progress.
Those who know him understand that few things matter more to him than seeing Alabama reach its full potential. Lawmakers and business leaders alike rely on Walker for his rare blend of grit and tact which has made him one of the most trusted and influential voices in shaping Alabama’s future.
23. John Ross
Windom, Galliher & Associates
Alabama politics run on relationships and information – and none know that better than John Ross. It’s no wonder. He is the most likable person you’ll ever meet.
Combine that with the instincts it took in 2010 to lead the Alabama Republican Party into power for the first time in 167 years – along with a meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of the legislative process – and you have the ingredients for one of Alabama’s most permanently powerful individuals.
There are enough elected officials in the House and Senate who credit John Ross for helping them win their seat that they could probably form a caucus. But at no point has he seemed to rest in that fact. Windom’s crew is never outworked, and John fits right in.
This year, he generated wins for his clients, for members, and for Alabama. Next year, we predict he’ll do it again – on top of shaping the next quadrennium.
22. Charlie Taylor
The University of Alabama System
There’s few better ways to put it: Charlie Taylor is a beast. We ran the math and found that he holds the record for navigating the most U.S. presidential visits to a university at not once – but twice – in the past year with Donald Trump’s appearances at a football game last fall and an official ceremony this spring.
It may be too early to call, but if NIL is fixed on the national level at Nick Saban’s request, Charlie Taylor will deserve more credit than most know.
He has an outsized impact on the state legislative process as a byproduct of the intentional relationships he has fostered for many years. But what we’re really talking about is friendships.
Charlie is well-liked and well-respected by the state’s top leaders across business and government.
21. Helena Duncan
Business Council of Alabama
Unlike some at her level of achievement who are content with their own success, Helena Duncan has a reputation for pulling others up along the way. She’s a mentor to countless young women, a fierce advocate for small and local businesses, and a leader who understands that true power is about about influence and impact.
She speaks on behalf of an Alabama business community that, under her leadership, has increased its might and credibility in Montgomery year over year.
She is a nexus of the state’s most powerful and influential individuals. Expect her to continue demolishing expectations as their Campaign 2026 effort gets underway.
