MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Hundreds of members of the Alabama Republican Party gathered in Montgomery on Friday night for the party’s annual summer dinner.
The program included speeches from the ALGOP’s highest ranking members, U.S. Reps. Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Brandon Gil of Texas, former Auburn University basketball coach Bruce Pearl and conservative talk show host Brilyn Hollyhand. The speeches centered around the importance of the upcoming midterm elections, with several speakers saying that the Republican way of life is under threat in the United States.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt told the crowd to “stand up” and “fight together” to achieve midterm success, calling the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America a threat to the country’s future.
“This November, we are fighting for the soul of our nation, and we need every single one of you to step up and answer the call,” Britt said.
Republican gubernatorial nominee and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville shared a similar message and encouraged party members to get out the vote.
Tuberville earned more than 85% of Republican primary votes on May 19, but he said it’s not enough.
“There’s a lot of people out there that just want to live their lives. They don’t want to worry about politics. They could care less, and I’m right there with them,” Tuberville said. “Don’t care, but I’m on the other side now. I’m on the side that really understands that we need people that want to make sure that we save this state and this country. We need to vote.”
Though all of the speakers urged the crowd to turn out in droves for the Nov. 3 midterms, they rarely mentioned the Aug. 11 special primary for Alabama’s 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional districts.
Alabama Republican Party Chair Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, ran back to the microphone as people were filing out of the ballroom after the program’s conclusion to mention next week’s election.
“Get people out and vote,” Stadthagen said. “The state of Alabama needs to flip these seats to make sure we secure our voice in Congress. August 11th, Congressional District One, Two, Six, and Seven.”
Gov. Kay Ivey scheduled the special primaries after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Louisiana v. Callais allowed Alabama to revert to a 2023 congressional map.
Democrat Rep. Shomari Figures currently represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, but the redrawing of the map opened the door for Republicans to take back the seat.
National politics
The majority of the program was focused on state level politics, but Britt took the opportunity to call for the U.S. Senate to stay in session until it passes the SAVE America Act. The controversial voting legislation would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering.
“I’m (proud) to stand with my colleague Coach Tuberville and say we will stay in session in the United States Senate as long as it takes to get it done,” Britt said. “Securing our borders has to be our first priority, and securing our elections is equally as important. Because if you don’t have those two things, you don’t have a nation. People want you to use voter ID. You want to know that only citizens vote, and we have to make sure we create a pathway for those things to happen.”
Tuberville, a vocal supporter of the legislation, has previously called for the Senate to delay its recess but downplayed the bill’s importance on Friday night.
“We don’t have to worry about the SAVE America Act (in Alabama),” Tuberville said. “We do voter ID. We do things that are right in this state, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
Tuberville also forayed into national politics, praising President Donald Trump and attributing several of Alabama’s recent infrastructure and manufacturing wins like Huntsville’s Space Command and Muscle Shoals’ new shipbuilding facility to Trump’s personal efforts.
Optimism about November
Though speakers told the crowd in no uncertain terms that the future of the country is at stake in the midterms elections, several speakers expressed optimism about Nov. 3.
The ALGOP already holds supermajorities in both houses of the state Legislature and every statewide office, but some speakers talked about eliminating the few blue dots in the state.
Tuberville entered the ballroom to speak flanked by the rest of the ALGOP’s nominees for statewide office, a symbol of unity he reiterated in his speech.
“I’m glad that we’re about 95 days away from making sure that this state stays red and understands that we’re a Donald Trump state,” Tuberville said. “We’re going to carry it on with all these people I just introduced that are going to be mostly new in their positions. We’re going to work together as a team, but we can’t do it without you. We can’t do it. We all have to work together to make this state better. We’re going to be number one in the nation.”
Tuberville talked about the importance of teamwork, referencing his past roles as head coach of several NCAA football programs and said he’s “all about everybody doing their part.”
He also borrowed messaging from his nomination acceptance speech in May and said he’s not running against any candidate in particular, instead he’s fighting against an ideology against God, country and capitalism.
Tuberville expressed confidence about his November match-up against former and Democratic gubernatorial nominee U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, saying he “beat his brains in the first time” and that he is “gonna do it again.”
The football coach turned senator also briefly addressed the lawsuit he currently faces alleging that he does not meet the constitutional requirements to serve as Alabama’s governor. A judge dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction last month, but the plaintiffs appealed that ruling to the Alabama Supreme Court. Initial briefs in the appeal are due later this month.
“(Doug Jones) is out there going, ‘Well, Coach, I’ve lived here,’” Tuberville said. “No, hell no, I ain’t lived here. I lived in Washington D.C. I’ve been representing the state.”
Awards
Friday’s programming also included the party handing out several awards to lawmakers.
Ivey, the state’s longest continuously serving governor, received the ALGOP’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her service to Alabama.
Ivey offered brief remarks reflecting on her time in office and said there has never been a better time to be in Alabama.
“We are experiencing historic momentum in Alabama, from record job creation to the rebuilding of our roads and bridges, from making historic gains in our students’ education to bolstering public safety,” Ivey said. “In my time as governor, I am proud we have protected our Alabama values and maintained a good old common sense.”