The Alabama State Republican Executive Committee meets Saturday, August 1 in Montgomery. Among the other items of business is one that is a hot issue now.
State Auditor Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) has proposed adding one additional plank to the state’s Republican platform. It would make closed primaries a part of the official platform.
The party cannot itself mandate closed primaries but can promote the measure before the state legislature, which meets starting in February, 2027.
In order for that proposal to pass the party and be added to the platform, the measure must receive a majority from the 400+ voting members expected there Saturday.
The issue has taken on new significance because of the upcoming special congressional primary on August 11 in four of Alabama’s seven districts. Due to court-ordered changes in Alabama’s congressional districts, another primary was required to nominate Republican congressional candidates to run in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. No races other than Congress will be on the ballot, and an extremely low turnout is expected.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has decided that this primary is a separate primary, and that voters can choose whichever party primary they wish to vote in.
Democrat Party Vice Chair Tabitha Isner has asked Democrat voters to go to the polls and vote in the Republican primary. This appears to be part of a Democrat strategy to influence the winners of the Republican races. Isner has not yet endorsed specific Republican candidates but has indicated that Democrats should “knock off” the Republican front-runners. She said they should defeat:
Former Congressman Jerry Carl in District One.
State Rep. Rhett Marques in District Two.
Ammie Akin in District Seven
Other Democrat leaders, including longtime stalwart Joe Reed and party chairman Randy Kelley, say they disagree with Isner and are not encouraging Democrats to vote in the GOP primary.
If Sorrell’s proposal passes and becomes part of the platform, party leaders are expected to lobby Republican legislators to put closed primaries into law in the 2027 regular session.
A closed primary means that all voters would have to register in advance as Democrat, Republican, Independent or other. Voters could then vote only in the primary of the party in which they are registered.
Under existing law, any voter can select which party primary they wish to vote in when they show up to vote in the first primary. They then are prohibited from switching to a different party primary for a runoff.
Voters in the November general election do not declare a party affiliation and can split their tickets.
In addition to the proposed platform change supporting party registration, the SREC will also consider three by-law changes and one standing rules change. All changes to be considered are outlined in this document Sorrell sent to all SREC members in his capacity as Chairman of the Bylaws Committee:
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Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler is a freelance writer about the colorful and positive in Alabama — her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
