U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) says she spent months praying for someone else to step up and run for Alabama’s open Senate seat – until her two children, both in middle school at the time, sat her down and settled the question.
Britt shared the story on the debut episode of “Grand Old Podcast,” the Alabama Republican Party’s new show hosted by Chairman Scott Stadthagen. The first episode, recorded in the senator’s backyard, is now live.
“The purpose of the podcast is for the citizens of Alabama to know who Katie Britt is as a person,” Stadthagen said.
Stadthagen, elected party chairman at ALGOP’s winter meeting in March, will host state officials and Alabama political figures on the show going forward. Former U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions is up next.
RELATED: Coming Soon: ALGOP Chair Scott Stadthagen hosts state officials, legends on ‘Grand Old Podcast’
Recalling the run-up to the 2022 race, Britt said she initially hoped another candidate would emerge.
“I kept thinking that somebody was going to … step up to the plate that I felt like would carry the mantle for our state, for our values, for our people,” she said. “Ultimately, I want Alabama to be a place my kids want to raise their kids.”
“We prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed about it some more,” Britt continued. “I had a really heavy heart about my kids. They were in middle school at the time, and being a wife and a mom is the most important thing to me.”
Her son, then 10 years old, spoke up first.
“He just said, ‘Mommy, [you’ve] got to run,’” Britt recounted. “‘First, I want people to know how much you love Jesus. … Second, I want them to know what a good mama you are. … Third, I want them to know how hard you work. Mama, nobody works harder. … Then I want them to know where you came from and how that affected your life. … And I definitely think they need to know your passion for small business.’
“Ten years old. I’m like, my goodness.”
Britt told Stadthagen she was still “looking for a way out” — until her daughter came to her about two weeks later and told her she needed to run for the U.S. Senate.
The senator said she tried to explain the odds: her eventual opponent was polling at 65%, she sat at 2%, and “the president had already weighed in the race.” Donald Trump had endorsed then-U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks at the time; he later withdrew that endorsement and backed Britt ahead of the runoff.
“Polling well enough to put your name on the ballot, you get to four,” Britt said. “So the fact that I could only get to two was really quite remarkable, but not in a way that inspires confidence.”
Her daughter’s answer ended the debate.
“I just said, ‘Baby, it is a really, really hard thing.’ And she said, ‘Well, Mom, doesn’t God call you to do hard things?’ And that was it,” Britt said. “The thing that was heaviest on my heart were my children. Both of my children had come to me. … We knew we were called to get in the arena. And we knew we were called to fight for the next generation.”
Watch the full episode here. Also available on Spotify.
