Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with “The Rightside” in partnership with Yellowhammer News from the Alabama State House that he hopes his tenure will be remembered for moving Alabama in a conservative direction — and not backing down from big fights.
As he prepares to leave office, Ainsworth says he’s staying in the fight with newly-launched Freedom First Alabama, a coalition he sees as central to Alabama’s conservative political future.
Ainsworth, who is term-limited as lieutenant governor, said the work of he and colleagues in government during his term will lasting mark on the state’s political direction.
“I hope first that I treated people with respect, that we had character, that we made a difference from a conservative standpoint, that the state was in a lot better shape than when we started, and that we weren’t afraid to take on the establishment,” Ainsworth said. “We weren’t afraid to take on big issues.”
Ainsworth said he views public service as a calling with a higher purpose.
“I hope first that I treated people with respect, that we had character, that we made a difference from a conservative standpoint, that the state was in a lot better shape than when we started, and that we weren’t afraid to take on the establishment,” Ainsworth said. “We weren’t afraid to take on big issues.”
Ainsworth said he views public service as a calling with a higher purpose.
“I think you got one life to make a difference. You better make a difference while you’re here,” Ainsworth said. “Why did God put me in this position? Well, I hope I made a difference to improve our state in all the different areas.”
Looking ahead, Ainsworth spoke about his support for Freedom First Alabama, a coalition of conservative lawmakers and business groups launched earlier this session that includes the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Business Council of Alabama, the Alabama Policy Institute, and other prominent statewide organizations.
Ainsworth described the coalition as a necessary counterweight to what he called a well-funded and well-organized liberal infrastructure pushing big-government policies in Montgomery.
“Liberals and Democrats are well-organized, they’re well-funded, and they come in and sometimes attack on all kinds of different fronts — whether it’s property rights, whether it’s supporting traditional teachers unions, whether it’s tort reform,” Ainsworth said. “I think it’s important to have a coalition of conservative lawmakers and conservative business groups.”
Ainsworth said Freedom First Alabama has a two-part mission — pushing back against the liberal agenda while also proactively advancing conservative priorities.
“It’s two-part: one, to push back against the liberal, woke agenda, but then also to push for things we want to get done,” Ainsworth said. “That’s what I do. And I think that’s one of the things I’m pretty good at, is articulating a message for things we want to get done.”
Thursday was day 24 of the legislative session. There are six legislative days remaining.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
