Former ALGOP Chair Terry Lathan told the North Mobile Republican Women’s Club on Tuesday that closed-primary legislation will be back in 2027 – and that a Governor Tuberville could get it across the line.
Lathan, of Mobile, served as state GOP chair from 2015 to 2021. She spoke to a full room of Republican women and political activists on the outlook for election reforms.
She predicted there will be bills introduced mandating closed primaries in the 2027 state legislative session. She said there is uncertainty as to what form the proposals will take.
GOP gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville is on record supporting closed primaries. Tuberville is the frontrunner in the November 3 governor’s race. Support from the governor could make a difference in passing the legislation.
RELATED: ALGOP unanimously adds plank to platform supporting closed primaries, party registration
In the 2026 session, the House passed a closed primary bill, but it ran out of time in the Senate.
“We feel confident that will not be the case in 2027. Closed primaries are a high priority of the Alabama Republican Party,” Lathan said.
The most recent meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee added a plank to the party platform supporting closed primaries and party registration.
That action, proposed by State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, is the strongest the party can take. The party cannot itself require closed primaries and can only encourage the legislature to put the change into law.
Lathan addressed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. It is a federal legislative proposal to require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.
Originally introduced by Representative Chip Roy of Texas and sponsored in the Senate by Senator Mike Lee of Utah, the bill has evolved into a suite of legislation.
“While President Trump is relentless on passing the SAVE Act, the legislation stalled in the U.S. Senate. Although the vote to move it to the floor was 53-47 with all Republicans voting for it and all Democrats and two independents voting against it, the 60-vote threshold was not met. The U.S. House has passed it three times with the Republicans voting yes,” Lathan said.
Lathan gave a brief history on Rule 22 in the US Senate to explain why the 60-vote threshold is in place and had audience members express their views of support of keeping the rule or getting rid of it. The majority of guests voted to keep it.
She explained that while it is frustrating to have that rule in place when we have the majority but can’t reach 60 votes, the danger is by removing it it would cause a complete reversal of GOP policies when, in the future, the Democrats controlled the Senate. As of now the Senate uses a simple majority for confirmations but for other items has the 60 vote threshold rule.
Lathan said the 2026 election needs deep focus from Republicans, and that personally reminding friends, neighbors, church members and family to vote is vitally important.
“The Democrats have fielded more candidates on the ballot than they have in a long time. GOP votes are needed to offset their pockets of enthusiasm,” she said. “The ALGOP will be very helpful in election plans. We will have poll watchers in our challenging precincts.”
“Complacency is the Republican Party’s biggest problem right now. Democrats are motivated, and we must counter that. We have the numbers, we just need the action taken on November 3.”
Lathan encouraged the attendees to become poll watchers in the Nov. 3rd election. She said the party is seeking 50 volunteers.
Alabama’s November 3 midterm election will decide the governor, one U.S. Senate seat, all state constitutional offices, two seats on the public service commission, both houses of the state legislature, a number of state appeals judges, and a number of county offices.
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 [email protected].
