Nearly a full day after voting, the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) officially announced the results of its deliberations, in which it deemed invalid a challenge filed against the party's nominee for lieutenant governor, John Wahl.
1819 News initially reported the results of the ALGOP vote, which took place on Sunday.
It was previously reported to 1819 News that the challenge came from Tim Colling, a Republican from Limestone County, who said he and a group of like-minded people in the area believed Wahl did not meet residency requirements. Colling did submit a challenge against Wahl. However, ALGOP's statement clarified that the one rejected on Sunday came from another individual, Jarrod Schulte. Both Colling and Schulte have vied for positions on the Athens City Council in previous elections.
"Mr. Schulte's filing was the only original Statement of Contest submitted to the ALGOP with the security for costs required by Alabama law to commence a primary election contest," ALGOP's statement read.
"A contest of a primary election is a serious and extraordinary legal undertaking that seeks to set aside the results of a popular election, and Alabama law lays out strict criteria that must be met in order to institute one, including those outlined in Ala. Code §§ 17-13-70 through 17-13-89.”
"After reviewing Mr. Schulte's filing, the Committee determined that the Statement of Contest did not meet the requirements established under Alabama law for commencing a primary election contest."
ALGOP said the Committee concluded that Schulte's statement of contest was not "facially valid" and therefore should be denied and dismissed without conducting a hearing.
"The ALGOP remains committed to transparency and following the legal procedures that govern Alabama elections, including contests of those elections," the statement concluded.
This is the second time this year ALGOP has declined to have a full hearing on a challenge against Wahl.
Before the Republican primary, Wahl's former opponent, Secretary of State Wes Allen, bankrolled a residency challenge filed by former State Rep. Gil Isbell (R-Gadsden), which the steering committee also rejected.
Earlier this month, ALGOP rejected another residency challenge against U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) in his bid for governor, filed by a defeated primary opponent. Unlike Wahl's case, ALGOP decided to hold a full hearing with evidence presented by both sides. The committee rejected the challenge, and ALGOP chairman Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) called it a "false narrative in order to sow doubt."
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