Ainsworth takes Ivey’s place after last-minute snub to GOP women's group over VA reform 'power play'

An Alabama Republican women’s group is claiming that Governor Kay Ivey snubbed them after they came out in opposition to a proposal driven by her office that would change the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA).

The Alabama Federation of Republican Women (AFRW) had been invited to a reception at the governor’s mansion Wednesday. But, the group claims the governor’s office cancelled the visit and rescinded the invitation after they passed a resolution opposing the bill.

“An hour later, someone from the governor’s office called and rescinded the invitation for us to go to the mansion for a little reception and a picture-taking opportunity,” AFRW member Ann Eubank said. “They never said it was rescinded because of that. But an hour later, within the hour – you can add one and one and that comes out two.”

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who has strongly opposed the bill, quickly stepped in to take up the mantle.

“It was my pleasure to step in and host an afternoon reception for the Alabama Federation of Republican Women after the group’s original venue fell through,” Ainsworth said. “AFRW members work hard to elect Republicans from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of America, and they deserve our respect.”

It was my pleasure to step in and host an afternoon reception for the Alabama Federation of Republican Women after the group’s original venue fell through. AFRW members work hard to elect Republicans from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of America, and they deserve our respect. pic.twitter.com/zuqZ7KuDPt

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) February 26, 2025

Ainsworth also spoke out against the bill Wednesday during an appearance on FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show.”

“I don’t recall getting one complaint from anybody on anything that was going on with the state. And so, my thought process on this is like, you know, I think when you start looking at the motives, it becomes clear that this is about, you know, just trying a power play,” Ainsworth said.

“I think the system we had worked,” he argued. “I think the issue there was there was a power struggle, right? And but, I think at the end of the day, veterans are going to do what’s best to take care of themselves, right? I mean, come on. I mean, and I think we had a good system. I certainly think the bill improved in the Senate by the changes they made was good. But I still think that overall, you know, we all just keep the way it is and, you know, that the bill, you know, I think there’s we’ll see what happens. But I think there’s a decent shot it dies in the House.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee