Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger announced Friday that he is strategically reshuffling two of the state’s top legislative staffers ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Tim Howe, who has served as Chief of Staff in the Pro Tem’s office since 2023, will depart the role to lead the incumbent protection program for FORGE PAC, Gudger’s political action committee focused on maintaining the Senate GOP supermajority in 2026.
Taking over as Chief of Staff will be Jess Skaggs, who currently serves as Chief of Staff to Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth.
“I’m fortunate these two men are willing to assume these new positions, which fit the specific talents and skill sets that each possess, and help us continue providing commonsense conservative leadership to the Alabamians we swore an oath to serve,” Gudger (R-Cullman) said.
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Skaggs has served as Ainsworth’s Chief of Staff since 2022 after spending four years as his deputy.
According to both Ainsworth and Gudger, Skaggs was instrumental in advancing Senate-driven legislative agendas, which has included the successful repeal of the state sales tax on groceries, expansions in workforce and economic development, and deepened support for Alabama’s military community.
“Jess has been an incredible and loyal employee, and he shares in much of our success,” Ainsworth said on Friday. “His relationships with the senators and his knowledge of the legislative process will be as much of an asset to Pro Tem Gudger as they have been to me.”
Skaggs’ earlier roles included service as legislative aide to former State Sen. Tripp Pittman, Director of the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation, and as Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries for External Affairs.
“Jess has served Lt. Gov. Ainsworth exceptionally well as his chief of staff and will bring the trust and relationships he has built with members of the State Senate to my office,” Gudger added.
In 2023, then-President Pro Tem Greg Reed appointed Tim Howe as Chief of Staff. He remained at the helm of the office when Gudger was officially elected as Pro Tem earlier this year.
Howe is one of the top political minds in the state. He served as executive director of the Alabama Republican Party in the lead up to the historic power shift that took place in 2010 when the GOP recaptured the majority of the Alabama Legislature for the first time in 136 years.
He has run and consulted on the most consequential statewide and legislative campaigns of the past 25 years and is a previous owner of Yellowhammer News.
On Friday, Gudger said Howe is investing his acumen in the 2026 election cycle to benefit the Republican members of the Alabama Senate.
“Tim’s political background and experience makes him the perfect choice to head FORGEPAC’s incumbent protection efforts and preserve our supermajority of conservative Republicans in the Alabama Senate,” Gudger said.
According to the Pro Tem’s office, the transition will be completed by the end of August.
Grayson Everett is the editor and chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
