Josh Pendergrass, a Prattville resident who is no stranger to the state's political landscape, has thrown his hat in the ring to be Alabama's state auditor as the incumbent, Andrew Sorrell, pursues the secretary of state position.
Pendergrass is a businessman, pastor, attorney and former political candidate, having briefly attempted to challenge then-incumbent Will Dismukes for a spot in the Alabama House of Representatives before he was drawn out of the district. He also served as Gov. Kay Ivey's communications director and is currently one of Autauga County's two representatives on the state Republican Executive Committee.
He is a graduate of Lambuth University, where he served as Student Government President, and the Jones School of Law, where he was a member of the Honor Court. He is also a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Should he win, Pendergrass pledges to champion government transparency, advance President Trump's America First agenda, strengthen voter integrity, and put Alabama first.
"In Montgomery, the path to accountability is clear: tell the truth, stand firm, and never bow to political games," said Josh Pendergrass. "With President Trump's bold vision as my guide, I'll fight relentlessly to cut government waste, protect taxpayer dollars, and restore trust in our institutions. My years of service—through my law practice, ministry, and work with Governor Ivey—have shown me that integrity and action are the only way to deliver for Alabamians. I'm running to ensure our state leads with transparency, fiscal discipline, and an unshakable commitment to putting Alabama first."
Pendergrass first announced his campaign on Talk 93.1's "News and Views" with Joey Clark. During the interview, Pendergrass boasted involvement in 2008 and 2010 races, when the state moved from a Democratic majority to Republican.
"The state auditor is responsible for $1.3 billion worth of state property," Pendergrass said. "That is roughly a seventh of the state's budgets every year, just in property that the state auditor is responsible for. And, in my opinion, good government, when nobody's watching, unfortunately, we tend to pay attention to the big things, and that's where we see things, but when we're not really watching is when good government can happen or when bad government can happen. So, it's my opinion that we need somebody who is going to watch that $1.3 billion and make sure that it's being used accurately."
He continued. "There are a lot of people who run for auditor and down-the-ballot races who just want to put their name on a ballot, or they're just looking for a job. I have a pretty good gig in life right now. I'm not looking for a job. I'm not necessarily looking for the next big thing. I'm looking to do what's right by people, and running for auditor is a way for me to do that."
Pendergrass will face conservative attorney and activist Derek Chen for the GOP nomination for the seat.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
