The Alabama Republican Party will hold its annual summer meeting in Montgomery on Saturday where the 2026 election cycle will be the focus.
The most important action item will likely be a resolution setting the qualifying date for Republicans running for state and federal office next year, ALGOP Chairman John Wahl said on Tuesday.
“There will be a couple other resolutions, as well as some bylaw and rule changes, but the primary resolution is the main item of business at this meeting,” Wahl told Alabama Daily News.
He said the ALGOP meetings lately have been well attended and low on controversy.
“We’re getting ready for 2026, we’re already looking at what races across the state are going to be our target races, making sure that if there are not already candidates, that we recruit candidates for those positions,” Wahl said. “The party is ready to take on this challenge, both here in Alabama and also assisting and swinging districts across the country.”
The Saturday meeting is going on as planned, but the party had to postpone a Friday dinner. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley was to be the keynote speaker, but he was recently endorsed by President Donald Trump in a North Carolina U.S. Senate race.
Alabama’s 2026 primaries are scheduled for May 19.
While Wahl continues to advocate for closed primaries, he said he doesn’t expect any resolutions about keeping Democrats or independent voters from casting ballots in GOP contests. The party passed that measure in 2022, though no legislation on the topic has gotten serious consideration in the State House.
Wahl also said he’s waiting until after Saturday to make his own decision about 2026. He’s considering a bid for lieutenant governor.
“My priority right now is making sure that the party is ready headed into the 2026 cycle,” Wahl said. “My plan is to analyze things after we get past Aug. 2, see where things lay, take some time to talk to my family, pray about it and make a decision.”