I have been an upfront observer, participant, columnist, and commentator of Alabama politics for over six decades, and I can confidently say one of the most gifted political leaders in the history of our state is also one of its newest and youngest.
Katie Britt’s skills as a public servant and stateswoman were demonstrated beyond measure in a recent statewide poll that ranked her as the single most popular elected official in Alabama —more popular than even Kay Ivey or Tommy Tuberville.
It is easy to spot the ingredients in her recipe for success. Very few people ever have the complete package – but Britt has quickly proven to be a history maker.
Over the last few decades, Alabama’s U.S. Senate delegation is split between one seat that is held by a right-wing conservative who plays to the base with red meat social issues and another seat that is filled by a skilled appropriator amassing funding for infrastructure and local projects back home. Britt uniquely has carved a powerful path in both lanes.
Britt has simultaneously proven herself adept at bringing home the bacon through her seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee while being a staunch, outspoken defender of Alabama’s Christian, conservative values. Like Senator Richard Shelby, she has already brought home billions in investments for our state. Like Senator Jeff Sessions, she has quickly made herself a leading conservative voice on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
To start this year, Britt accomplished what no Member of Congress has done for 30 years – pass immigration enforcement and border security legislation. She masterfully shepherded her Laken Riley Act through the Senate, where you need to garner bipartisan support to get 60 votes to President Trump’s desk. Britt stood right beside Trump in the White House as he signed his first bill into law his second term. This is the kind of career-making legislative accomplishment that normally takes decades. Britt only needed months into her term.
If that was not enough, Britt accomplished another generational feat in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. She has been the leading national champion for tax cuts for working families and secured three separate provisions in the bill to make childcare more affordable. These provisions had not been strengthened since 1986 and 2001, respectively. Because of Britt, parents will now save major money and small businesses on Alabama main streets will have a better shot at retaining and recruiting workforce.
Another of Britt’s wins so far this year has gone underreported. She may singlehandedly have saved the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her advocacy for critical medical research and finding cures has garnered the support of President Trump, RFK Jr., and Trump’s NIH Director, who recently visited UAB at Britt’s invitation to show the Administration’s support. This is the state’s largest employer and Birmingham’s main economic engine. Without Britt, the magic may have left the city. Now, UAB stands to benefit in a huge way.
It is not just her constituents who respect Britt’s work, her colleagues recognize her leadership, too. Britt is serving as Deputy Majority Whip for the Republican Party in the U.S. Senate, which is helping ensure the successful passage of Trump’s legislative agenda and confirmation of his nominees. Her Whip Team has not lost a floor vote in Congress this year. Britt is also Vice Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is responsible for keeping the Senate majority. Britt has raised the fifth most for this effort of all Republican Senators. This success helps her amass even more influence with colleagues and deliver more for Alabamians.
She began her first year in the Senate accomplishing something unheard of in U.S. Senate history. She received a seat on the three most prestigious and powerful committees in the Senate: Appropriations, Banking and Rules. She added Judiciary the next year. It is rare for a Senator to ever get on one of these committees and unprecedented for a first-term Senator to get on all four.
Britt’s rockstar status is heralded not just in the Capitol, but also in the White House. President Trump selected Britt to lead the first official presidential delegation of his term earlier this year. Britt was the United States’ lead representative to celebrate the inauguration of the new Uruguay president.
One thing is for certain, Senator Katie Britt’s political future is bright, infinite, and set to benefit Alabama for decades to come.
See you next week.
Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at [email protected].
