John Wahl, the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party since 2021, is “seriously considering” running for lieutenant governor in 2026, he told the party’s executive committee in a letter Tuesday.
“This is not a decision I take lightly, and I am praying for wisdom and guidance,” Wahl wrote in the letter shared with Alabama Daily News. The story was first reported by Yellowhammer News.
“I believe that now more than ever, we need bold, conservative elected officials who are willing to stand for our platform and push back against lukewarm policies and the radical left-wing media. That is the kind of leadership I strive to provide.”
Wahl is in his third term as the ALGOP leader, a position he’d have to give up in pursuit of public office.
“This is a difficult and bittersweet decision for me,” Wahl said. “I am excited about the prospect of furthering the party’s values by running for lieutenant governor, but it does mean that I would plan to step down as party chairman. While I hope to stay involved with the state party in some capacity, the bylaws are not entirely clear on whether a chairman taking a leave of absence would satisfy the requirements outlined in our standing rules.”
If he runs, Wahl will join a high-profile GOP field that includes current Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate and business owner Nicole Wadsworth.
In his letter, Wahl asked for committee members’ input.
In 2022, Wahl was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to the Alabama Public Library Service Board, which oversees state funding for local libraries. In 2024, he was elected chairman of the board at the center of the recent battle over youth content, local control and funding. The board this year voted to withhold funding from the Fairhope Library after it said the library violated state policies to protect children from inappropriate materials.
The books cited by the upset parents included “Sold,” a National Book Award finalist about a girl who is sold into sexual slavery in India, The Associated Press reported.