Stadthagen sounds alarm on GOP turnout: ‘Democrats are more fired up than they ever have been’

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October 12, 2026

Alabama Democrats — (Philip Ensler/Facebook, YHN)

Alabama Republican Party Chairman Scott Stadthagen said Monday that Republicans who believe November is already won are wrong.

“I’ve heard from several Republicans, ‘We have nothing to worry about,’” Stadthagen said on “The Rightside” with hosts Allison Sinclair and Amie Beth Shaver in partnership with Yellowhammer News.

“Let me tell you, we have something to worry about with the complacency of May 19, because the Democrats are more fired up than they ever have been. We’ve had the Supermajority for 16 years. Let’s make sure we continue that.”

Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), who also serves in the legislature, was elected chairman in March. The general election is November 3.

Roughly 493,000 Alabamians voted in the May 19 Republican primary, down about 25% from 2022. Democrat primary ballots nearly tripled in Madison, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties over the same stretch.

Stadthagen named two targets: The redrawn 2nd Congressional District, where State Rep. Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise) is challenging U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) – and Madison County.

“We’re fixing to flip Congressional District 2 from blue to red, but we can’t do it without the voters of that district,” he said.

“I think the Republicans of that district need to realize how important this is in the direction of our country and our state. And then also, we have our situation in Madison County, where we need every Republican up front, center, voting, supporting and getting the message out, because we’ve got a lot of new residents that moved in up there. They’re coming in from California, and they’re coming in from Colorado. We love Alabama for the policy and the stances that we take in the Legislature, and we need to make sure we continue that moving forward.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.