Etowah County Republican Party (GOP) leadership will meet "in the near future" after Jesse Battles announced his independent candidacy for State Senate District 10.
Battles announced on Sunday that he is running as an independent candidate in the November general election for State Senate District 10.
Battles originally qualified to run as a Republican but was disqualified from the upcoming May 19 primary ballot by the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) Steering Committee in February. Qualified candidates in the Republican primary on May 19 for State Senate District 10 are incumbent State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) and Amy Minton.
Etowah County GOP chair Misty Sosebee-Ledbetter said in an email to county executive committee members on Monday, “I am writing to provide an important reminder regarding the responsibilities and requirements of serving on the Etowah County Republican Executive Committee as we finish out the 2022-2026 term. This list comprises all of our voting members that currently remain on the committee. Over the weekend, I have received multiple calls and messages with concerns, anger, and just inquiring about the status of different candidates and individuals on our committee who may support them. Etowah County currently has several local and statewide candidates that are running independent campaigns, write-in campaigns and running under the Democrat party ticket.”
“As a reminder, our local county bylaws and the state bylaws of the Republican Party contain language that requires each one of us not to openly support any candidate for public office that is opposing a Republican candidate for that office. We currently have a Republican candidate in every single office listed on the 2026 election ballot, minus several commission seats that will not be listed on the primary ballot. This is not a recommendation or a suggestion. This is a requirement of each of us as an elected officer of the Republican Party,” she continued. “'Openly supporting' includes giving donations, volunteering for a campaign, working for a campaign, having a yard sign for the candidate, signing a petition for the candidate, social media posts and any other open or public support. For anyone who wants to run for an elected position or is in an elected position now, this will be counted under the 6-year rule. That is, "you cannot openly support any candidate for public office within the past six (6) years opposing a Republican candidate for that office." This is grounds for removal from the ballot as a Republican and grounds for removal from the county executive committee. For removal from the executive committee, "Members may be removed from the Committee by two-thirds (2/3) of the Committee voting at any regular or special Committee meeting."”
Sosebee-Ledbetter continued, “Every single one of us has the right to vote for whomever we desire, and can support that person in private but as an elected member of this committee, we agreed to these rules and must abide by them publicly. I would like to think that we all would want to support our party and our candidates, but as I watch things unfold daily around our county, I see that is not the case.”
“At this time, I am reminding you all of our duty and requirements and you can spread the word to whomever you feel needs to know. We are a family, but we are also an organization that has rules to follow, both locally and statewide, and actions have consequences. Therefore, the steering committee will be meeting in the near future to address several of these issues, and a full executive committee meeting will be called to discuss and vote on any required issues,” Sosebee-Ledbetter said. “Etowah County is a wonderful place for us to live and we have a fantastic base of Republicans that live here. Our party is strong, and I want to see it continue to thrive and grow, not to be divided and fall. Thank you all for all that you do for the Republican Party and for Etowah County!”
Battles told 1819 News in a response on Monday, “It’s disappointing to see the establishment doing everything possible to silence the voice of the people.”
“Nothing has changed for our campaign. The GOP Steering Committee kicked me out using rules they don’t even follow themselves, yet now they want to weaponize those same rules to threaten other candidates and the Etowah County Executive Committee. Republicans in Northeast Alabama know who I am, and I’m proud to have overwhelming support across the district,” he added.
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