State Rep. Scott Stadthagen is the new Alabama Republican Party chairman, beating in two rounds of voting former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill and long-time party official and acting chair Joan Reynolds.
“One hundred percent, I will not let you down,” Stadthagen told ALGOP Executive Committee members gathered in Hoover after winning, al.com reported.
“Your voice will always be my voice, 100%, all the time.”
Congratulations to @ScottStadthagen for being elected our new @ALGOP chairman!
I look forward to continuing our work together to make Alabama the best state in which to live, work and raise a family. 🇺🇸 #alpolitics
— Kay Ivey (@kayiveyforgov) March 7, 2026
Stadthagen, of Hartselle, is a two-term lawmaker. He recently gave up the position of House Majority Leader to run for the top leadership spot in the ALGOP vacated in January by John Wahl, who is running for lieutenant governor.
Stadthagen is also running unopposed for a third term in the House.
The ALGOP executive committee’s 475 members made the selection in Hoover at its annual winter meeting.
The party also approved three resolutions on issues deemed to be key for Republicans.
The first asks municipalities and counties to prohibit drag shows at government-owned facilities. According to the resolution, there have been drag shows at publicly owned spaces. It also calls on local governments from “engaging in the distribution of any sexually explicit materials to underage minors.”
It cites state laws against public lewdness and obscenity and asks state lawmakers to “put forth Common Sense legislation forbidding the use of any municipal or county facility by any organization with intent to promote or provide a display of sexual and/or obscene acts or material content.”
The second resolution calls for closed primary elections.
“… the integrity, credibility, and legitimacy of the Republican nominating process in Alabama depend upon ensuring that Republican candidates are selected solely by voters who have affirmatively affiliated with and support the principles and platform of the Republican Party,” that resolution says.
“…The Legislature of Alabama is hereby formally urged and requested to amend, repeal, or modify any provision of Title 17 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to expressly provide for a voter-registration-based closed primary election system for political parties electing to do so…
Alabama is one of 15 states with open primaries, according to the National Council on State Legislatures. The ALGOP voted in 2022 to support closed primaries, which would take action by the Legislature.
Rep. Ernie Yarbrough last week filed House Bill 541, requiring party registry before voting in primaries or primary runoffs.
It could get its first committee vote this week.
The third resolution calls for changes to the economic incentives offered data centers locating in the state and to require more oversight of and reporting from them.
Alabama is attractive to center developers because of low energy costs and available land and water.
The resolution argues they create few long-term jobs or economic benefits for the communities, but are large consumers of energy and water.
“… nearby residents may experience increased noise pollution, strain on infrastructure, and higher utility costs without having meaningful input in approval decisions,” the resolution said.
The document calls for limits on water usage and mandatory reporting and conservation requirements.
Bills to require data center owners to cover the cost of necessary energy infrastructure upgrades and modify the state incentives from those offered to other job creators were filed last month. They have stalled though amid pushback on a third bill in the energy package that would have made the Alabama Public Service Commission an appointed rather than elected body. It has been declared dead for the session.
The meeting ended Saturday with no reprimand for Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, despite calls for such from some, al.com reported.
Ledbetter upset some in the party when audio from a closed-door caucus meeting was leaked to reporters last month. In it, Ledbetter said he “could give a shit” about the state party. He later clarified and apologized for the comment.
He said he was trying to express to caucus members that he has their back and to tell them not to worry about what was happening with the state party.
“The fact of the matter is my job is here (in the Legislature),” Ledbetter said last week. “My job is to be speaker and be over the House and to help you get reelected and to make sure you got the available funds and everything you need for the campaign. It was just reassurance to them that you’re my focus.”