Alabama Power Company was the top donor to the political action committee (PAC) of incoming Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) in 2022.
Alabama Power Company donated $30,000 to Ledbetter's Alabama House Majority PAC on January 10, according to a major contributions report filed by the PAC with the Alabama Secretary of State's Office.
The donation was the largest donation the PAC received in 2022.
The Alabama House Majority PAC was registered with the state in July 2017. Ledbetter is listed as the chairperson of the PAC. Arlan Lamar Blevins is listed as the treasurer. The PAC's listed purpose is to "support the election of conservative Republican candidates to the Alabama House of Representatives."
Other notable donations to Alabama House Majority PAC in 2022 were a $25,000 donation from Charter Communications in April, a $10,000 donation from the Alabama Cable and Broadband Association in October, a $7,500 donation from Gulf Distributing Holdings LLC in October, a $5,000 donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama in October, and a $5,000 donation from AT&T Alabama in March.
Ledbetter was elected Thursday as the new Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Ledbetter is replacing Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia), who had occupied the position since 2016.
Ledbetter defeated Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) in a two-man race to be Speaker of the House. Clouse had a PAC of his own called the Clouse Leadership PAC. Its largest donor was the Wiregrass Construction Company, which donated $5,000 in March.
While House members of both parties must select the Speaker's position, the Republican supermajority makes Thursday's decision a relative certainty.
Ledbetter has served as the House Majority Leader since 2017.
According to the Alabama Secretary of State's online financial disclosure site, other donations Alabama Power Company made to different PACS in January include $30,000 to Alabama Works PAC, $50,000 to Conservative Leadership PAC, and $1 million to Lion PAC.
Alabama Works PAC is chaired by R.J. Rhodes with a listed purpose of supporting "candidates committed to building a brighter future for Alabama's working families."
Conservative Leadership PAC is chaired by Brent Buchanan with a listed purpose of supporting "the election of conservative candidates to the Alabama State Senate."
Lion PAC is chaired by Robin Stone with a listed purpose of raising and contributing "funds to support candidates and issues that will grow and elevate Alabama."
Alabama Power Company also made donations of $35,000 in January 2019 and $35,000 in February 2020 to MACC PAC, the PAC of outgoing Speaker of the House McCutcheon.
PACS differ from individual candidate campaigns in that PAC spending is mainly used to fund a variety of political campaigns while individual candidates typically use most of their donations for their own races.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
