CULLMAN, Ala. – The Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) held its summer meeting on Saturday in Cullman as local GOP officials across the state gathered in North Alabama to conduct the party’s official business.
Upon taking the podium ALGOP chairman John Wahl wasted no time in decrying what he referred to as the “ruling class” in Washington, D.C. and what he sees as the different set of standards applied to them as opposed to the “surfs” of the nation’s heartland. He said there is “a group of people in Washington, the Democrats, lets be honest with what they are” who he said believes in walls, firearms, and police for themselves but not for the average American.
“We still believe in the founders’ vision,” proclaimed Wahl.
The party’s chairman kicked off the meeting by giving a chair’s report to the body. Wahl indicated that the state party will direct resources to swing states to assist the GOP in regaining control of Congress.
Wahl spoke of the recent ambitious fundraising efforts undertaken by the party. He announced that due in part to former President Donald Trump’s rallying in the Yellowhammer State, which will take place Saturday evening, the ALGOP was able to secure $1.1 million in commitments from donors. He called this a “staggering” amount and said the haul was 3 to 4 times larger than the party’s previous fundraising record.
Wahl also touched on the party’s work with the legislature to champion pro-liberty legislation, particularly relating to combating what he called “overreaching” COVID-19 government restrictions and mandates. He touted conservative legislation such as the state’s ban on so-called vaccine passports and protections implemented which establishes the right of churches to remain open during the pandemic.
He also mentioned the party’s efforts which led to the successful passage of two bills relating to electoral integrity. Wahl went on to give a glimpse of the party’s future legislative agenda.
Specifically, he mentioned working with Republican legislators to make the adoption process simpler, which he said would be considered a “pro-life” type of measure. He thanked the State Board of Education for its ban of Critical Race Theory (CRT) teachings in state public schools. He said the party would continue its work with lawmakers to address CRT in the legislature as well.
The 2022 Alabama Republican Party Primary Election resolution was introduced and approved by the body, which sets forth the party’s procedures for conducting candidate qualifying and other items relating to conducting the primary election process.
State Rep. Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals), the ALGOP Bylaws Committee chairman, presented minor technical-related changes to the party’s bylaws.
The body then took up proposed resolutions.
The first resolution, “Supporting dignity and non-discrimination in the State of Alabama,” related to the party’s opposition to CRT, was approved without debate. The second resolution called for reforming the state’s guardianship and conservatorship laws. The proposal calls for the legislature to work toward ending conservatorship “abuse.” The resolution passed.
Another resolution, submitted by Lauderdale County GOP chairman Josh Dodd, called for the party to defend University of North Alabama Student Government Association President Jake Statom, who has faced calls for impeachment over a post made to his social media account which took a conservative position regarding LGBTQ-related issues. The resolution resoundingly passed.
The next noteworthy resolution called for combating what ALGOP members called “big-tech censorship.” The proposal calls for the legislature to pass a bill similar to a Florida law which allows citizens to seek damages against social media companies who deplatform them. The resolution unanimously passed the body.
An electoral-related resolution, which passed the body with an amendment, called upon the legislature to address an array of issues dealing with voting integrity.
The last resolution considered by the body was presented from the floor and related to the party’s opposition to government-mandated vaccinations for minors. The proposal was overwhelmingly passed.
The party recognized Kenneth Paschal, the first black Republican to be elected to the Alabama State Legislature since Reconstruction. Paschal defeated Democrat Sheridan Black in last month’s special election for House District 73 in Shelby County.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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