MONTGOMERY – The 440-member Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee met on Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center in Montgomery to adjust their bylaws, pass resolutions and raise money as they look to the Nov. 8 general election.
"Our fundamental issue is to safeguard our country, and that is done through winning elections," said Alabama Republican Party chairman John Wahl. "Quite frankly, the Democrats have lost their minds. They don't know what life is. They don't even know the difference between a man and a woman. We have half our government that literally does not know what they are doing by their own admission.
"This is a battle for the hearts and minds of our country, and quite frankly, it is a spiritual battle. Education is being used for indoctrination."
Wahl reflected on the past six months.
"We really stayed engaged with our state legislators. That is really important."
Wahl listed the passage of constitutional carry, cuts in taxes and addressing the transgender issue as areas where the legislature had a good session.
"We are really focused on the November election," Wahl said. "Our plan is to spend twice as much this cycle as last cycle."
Alabama Republican Party Treasurer Sally Bryant told the executive committee that the party still had $577,876 in their federal account, $897,409 in their state account, and $5376.66 in their building account, for a total of $1,480,672.90.
Alabama Republican Party Finance Chair Joan Reynolds said, "We had 765 people in attendance last night at the Summer Dinner, and we made $243,705 through sponsorship, donations and ticket sales. Financially we are reporting that we are in great shape under our Chairman John Wahl."
Vicki Drummond is the Secretary of the RNC.
"I work with the best Chairman and the best Committeeman in the United States," Drummond said, "Only one thing stands in the way of the Democratic Party, and that is us, the Republican Party.
"The first debate will be August 2023."
Drummond explained that the RNC chose Milwaukee versus Nashville for the 2024 Republican National Convention site because the Nashville City Council voted three times against the Republican National Convention.
"Local elections matter," she said. "I truly believe that we will have a wonderful time when we go to Milwaukee for the 2024 national convention."
State Rep. Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) is the chairman of the bylaws committee.
Sorrell explained that one bylaw change would affect when the state committee kicks off an executive committee member for failure to attend state meetings, that county executive committees will be allowed to reinstate that person just once per four-year term. There will be no second reinstatements allowed.
Another bylaws change is that regional vice chairs would be elected by the members from the region that they represent rather than by the whole executive committee.
The most substantive change to the Alabama Republican bylaws is an expansion of the sore loser standing rule.
Sorrell explained that if someone loses in the Republican primary and runs as a write-in candidate, they are denied ballot access for six years as a Republican. Under this provision, it will broaden the rule to include people denied ballot access by a challenge.
"If someone supports a Democrat [by endorsement or campaign contribution], they should not be running as a Republican," Sorrell said. "This applies to office holders, candidates, executive committee members for a period of six years."
Sorrell explained that persons going through a party switching procedure would not be held to the same standard, but "if after they swap parties and they support Democrats, then it would also include them."
"We hold our candidates to the same standard as our elected officials," Wahl said.
Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate said, "I am from a Black Belt county where we don't have any Republicans running for anything. I would not vote for a Democrat, but if we have two Democratic candidates for sheriff, are you saying that we cannot donate to the better Democratic sheriff candidate?"
"That is already banned," Wahl replied.
"I would never do that," Pate replied.
"With a three-quarter vote of your county executive committee, you can override this rule," Sorrell explained.
A motion from the floor to strike the three-quarter vote threshold and just allow any county committee to override the state rule was rejected by a vote of the committee.
A member asked, "Does this apply to Libertarians?"
"To clarify, anyone besides a Republican," Wahl said. "That would include Libertarians, independents and write-in candidates, as well as Democrats."
The motion passed without amendment.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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