Twinkle Cavanaugh, the president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, has been tapped by the Trump administration to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture state director for rural development.
Cavanaugh will step down from the PSC on Sunday after serving 13 years as president of the utility regulating body.
“I loved working for you, and from day one, I took the trust you placed in me seriously,” she said in a written statement.
“Together, we brought natural gas to poultry farmers in east Alabama, helping to sustain the agriculture industry that feeds our family. We fought the misguided liberal mandates and burdensome energy policies pushed by both the Obama and Biden administrations, protecting Alabamaians from the devastating final consequences of the far-left Green New Deal agenda. We also helped lay the groundwork for expanding broadband across our state, ensuring Alabama families have access to technology in their homes and small businesses …”
Gov. Kay Ivey is expected this week to appoint Cavanaugh’s replacement on the PSC.
The Tuesday announcement was one of several presidential appointments within the USDA.
“Our latest additions to the USDA family are personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a written statement. “I look forward to seeing the work they will do supporting farmers, ranchers, and producers across the country by implementing President Trump’s America First policies.”
Cavanaugh was first elected to the PSC in 2010 and most recently in 2022, where she easily won the GOP primary and wasn’t challenged in the general election. In 2018, she ran for lieutenant governor and there was recent speculation that she might seek that office again in 2026. She told Alabama Daily News Tuesday she has no plans to be on the ballot in 2026.
Separately, earlier this month Monica Carroll was announced as State Executive Director for Alabama’s Farm Service Agency.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt congratulated both women in a statement Tuesday.
Monica is a board member for the Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council and serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee.
“I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for these tremendous appointments. Both Twinkle and Monica are outstanding champions for Alabama’s family farmers and rural communities. These well-deserved leadership roles will ensure that Alabama’s farmers and cattlemen have strong advocates who understand firsthand their current priorities and challenges as well as future opportunities to strengthen our state and nation’s food security,” Britt said. “I am confident their dedicated work will advance the efforts of the Trump Administration to put our farmers first once again. Congratulations to both of these remarkable women.”
Prior to 2010, Cavanaugh was chair of the Alabama Republican Party.
Jimmy Parnell, president of the Alabama Farmers Federation, said Cavanaugh has a proven track record of sensible spending and common-sense government.
“Twinkle Cavanaugh is the kind of person we need at rural development,” Parnell said.
“Her greatest asset is her strong network among real people — both individuals and businesses — and her ability to leverage relationships to get things done. We look forward to continuing our work together.”
Cavanaugh replaces Biden administration appointee Nivory Gordon Jr.