Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) chairman Scott Stadthagen announced on Sunday that the party's candidate committee has rejected a formal challenge of U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-Auburn) gubernatorial candidacy based on residency.
During a press conference following the meeting, Stadthagen described the hearing's format and outcome.
Both sides, the challenger and Tuberville's attorneys, were given the first 45 minutes to make their case. The challenger took the full 45 minutes, whereas Tuberville's team did not. The committee then deliberated and unanimously decided to reject the challenge.
"We instructed the committee members to set aside politics and partisanship and base their decision solely upon clarity and common sense," Stadthagen explained in a statement. "Coach Tuberville provided the evidence necessary to establish beyond any doubt that he fully meets the residency requirements to serve as governor, and the challenge failed to present any evidence that proved otherwise."
Stadthagen explained that the party can now move forward.
"It is time for the ALGOP to firmly close and lock this chapter and turn our full attention toward defeating liberal Democrat Doug Jones, increasing our supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, reclaiming the congressional seat that federal judges wrongly denied us, and keeping Alabama the brightest red Republican state in the nation," Stadthagen said.
He added, "The Democrats' willing accomplices and allies in the liberal media will no doubt continue pursuing a false narrative in order to sow doubt, generate clicks, and prop up the flailing Doug Jones candidacy, but we are confident that Alabamians will see through their fake news bias and award Republicans a landslide win in November."
The full press conference with Stadthagen is available on the ALGOP Facebook page.
According to ALGOP, a copy of the court reporter's transcript from the hearing will also be available as soon as it is ready.
Tuberville responded in a statement immediately following ALGOP's findings.
Statement as follows:
In a seven-page written decision, the Alabama GOP concluded that Tommy Tuberville has been a resident citizen of Alabama for the past seven years. I'm thankful for the Committee holding a hearing today to finally put this ridiculous residency hoax to bed. For the past six years, I've proudly represented Alabama in the United States Senate. When I'm not in D.C., Suzanne and I are at home in Auburn and yes, sometimes, at our beach house on the coast. This entire witch-hunt could have been avoided if the media and Democrats had just asked a few of our neighbors about this, but they don't care about the truth.
I'm not remotely surprised that the media and Democrats have worked hand in hand to try to take down my campaign. Just look at what they've done to President Trump over the past ten years. They're giving me the Trump treatment because they know they can't beat me on the issues. Their only plan is to try to keep me off the ballot. Well, that didn't work out too well for them with President Trump and it isn't going to work in Alabama either.
It's time for Doug Jones to come out of his hole, stop hiding behind the lies about residency, and start talking about the issues. In 2020, I ran against a liberal Doug Jones, but he has since fallen deep into the socialist, marxist mind virus taking over half of our country. Let's hear Doug talk about men competing in women's sports, DEI instead of merit-based hiring, child mutilation in the name of 'transgenderism', expanded welfare instead of workforce training, or open borders and defunding the police - which he has consistently supported - putting Alabama families at risk. Alabama's streets need to be safe.
I look forward to beating Doug Jones again and being elected as Alabama's next Governor.
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