Alabama’s greatest political threat isn’t losing elections; it’s believing the work ends after winning them.
Too often I come across fellow Republicans who believe that voting in the general election every two to four years is somehow enough to ensure our conservative values endure. It isn’t.
Alabama is one of the most conservative states in America. Republicans hold every statewide elected office, command a supermajority in the legislature, and the state voted to return President Donald Trump to the White House in 2024 by a margin of 30 percentage points. Yet this political success has created an unintended consequence: complacency.
This complacency manifests itself in county commission meetings with almost no public attendance, off-year municipal elections decided by a fraction of eligible voters, and citizens who know national political figures but can’t name their local school board member.
Look, I understand. Most people aren’t consumed by politics, nor should they be. Hardworking Alabamians are rightly more concerned with providing for their families than following endless partisan debates.
The reality is that nearly every issue affecting our daily lives is influenced by public officials. If you don’t play a role in deciding whether an AI data center should be built in your community, someone else will. While elections determine who governs, citizens determine how well they govern.
That’s why I’ve devoted my time, energy, and professional career to not only electing strong conservative voices, but ensuring that our Alabama values are authentically represented at all levels of government. This effort must continue with my generation, Gen Z.
Across Alabama and the country, a rising movement of young conservatives has become increasingly interested in grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and public service. The generational impact of leaders like Charlie Kirk and Trump has completely reshaped the ideological trajectory of my generation, as millions of young Americans passionately jumped into the fight to save America in recent years.
Yet after Election Day, many don’t know where to channel their energy. Too often, politics becomes a cycle of campaigning, winning, going home, and repeating the process two years later.
We must break that cycle and it starts with changing how we empower and invest in Gen Z Republicans. Instead of treating young conservatives simply as volunteers to knock doors only to forget about them after Election Day, we need to teach the value of remaining involved in the political process. This starts by setting a good example.
Attend a city council or county commission meeting. Join a civic organization. Learn who represents you. Stay informed on local issues. Self-government only works when citizens remain engaged long after the campaign signs come down.
Alabama’s Republican future is not guaranteed. Previous generations built it through decades of service, sacrifice, and civic involvement. Now it’s our turn. The future of Alabama conservatism won’t be determined solely by who wins the next election, but by whether ordinary citizens continue to practice the principles of self-government.
Winning elections may secure a majority, but engaged citizens can preserve a movement.
Owen Girard is a Gen Z conservative activist and the Dixie field representative for Turning Point USA, where he oversees the organization’s college chapters across northern and central Alabama.
