Donald J. Trump's 2024 landslide sent a clear message: Americans are done with the Deep State's games. Thirty days into his second term, the President's "Drain the Swamp" agenda is in full swing – appointing a powerhouse cabinet to dismantle D.C.'s bureaucracy and put America first.
However, in Alabama, the elements of the Montgomery establishment seem determined to cling to the old ways. Case in point: the unfolding special election in Cullman County's House District 11, where a suspicious chain of events suggests the GOP elite might be stacking the deck.
It all started when State Sen. Garlan Gudger Jr. (R-Cullman), elected Senate Pro Tem in December 2024, selected State Rep. Randall Shedd (R-Fairview) as his district director, leaving his seat vacant.
Shedd resigned on February 13 to fill the position.
Two weeks earlier, Heath Allbright, a two-term Cullman County School Board member, stepped down from his post. Then, on February 25, after Gov. Kay Ivey set the special election dates, Allbright announced his candidacy.
Coincidentally, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth voiced his support on the same day, according to an article in Yellowhammer News. Three days later, Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter scheduled a Montgomery fundraiser, with RSVPs directed to long-time Ledbetter ally Steve Raby, a strategist who once ran as a Democrat against Mo Brooks for Congress.
Qualifying for the race opened March 5 and closed March 11, with the primary set for May 13.
On March 10, the day before qualifying ended, the corporatists at the Business Council of Alabama endorsed Allbright.
At that point, it was clear the Montgomery swamp had its guy.
As Steve Bannon says, "There are no conspiracies, but there are no coincidences either."
This timeline reeks of a backroom deal. Is this the Alabama Republican Party's version of "fair representation," allowing the forces of permanent Montgomery to rig its primary and put the lawmaker representing District 11 under Montgomery's thumb?
Cullman County conservatives deserve better. The Alabama Republican Party platform demands limited government, individual freedoms, and unburdened business growth — values District 11 voters hold dear. They want a fighter for school choice, not a pawn for Montgomery's power plays, a defender of the unborn, not a yes-man for Ivey's antics.
Yet, at the ALGOP State Executive Committee meeting, party leaders couldn't even agree to cut taxes by a measly 1% or prioritize veterans over the governor's pet projects. If they're this divided on core principles, how can they be trusted to run a clean election?
Ledbetter's rush to lock in Allbright raises red flags. Is his grip on the House slipping, forcing him to rig the game before voters catch on?
Raby's hands-on involvement only deepens the stench. Has any high-ranking member of the Alabama Republican Party bothered to ask why a long-time Democrat operative is calling shots for the Ledbetter loyalists in a Republican primary?
This isn't about party loyalty. It's about control.
The same old Swamp tactics Trump's dismantling in the nation's capital seem alive and well in Montgomery.
District 11 isn't just a seat – it's a battle for the soul of the GOP.
Cullman County voters must demand transparency: Who's pulling Allbright's strings? Why do Alabama Republicans tolerate Ledbetter cozying up to Raby, who has spent the better part of his political career operating in Democratic Party circles?
The primary's fate rests in District 11 voters' hands. On May 13, they can send a message louder than Trump's 2024 roar: Alabama's conservatives won't tolerate a rigged game. It's time to drain our own swamp — starting right here at home.
It is time for District 11 voters to stand tall and let the Montgomery Mafia know that they will choose their candidate, not the other way around.
Charles "Kip" Kiplinger, Vice President, North Central Alabama Republican Assembly.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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