Alabama, a state deeply rooted in conservative values and bolstered by a Republican supermajority, should be a stronghold for limited government, low taxes and individual liberty. However, the reality is starkly different. We are currently under the leadership of a legislature that espouses conservative rhetoric during campaigns, only to govern in a manner that aligns more with liberal ideologies once in office.
The just-concluded 2025 legislative session made it abundantly clear that many people running our state are more concerned with protecting bureaucracy than empowering Alabamians. This is no more obvious than when we look at House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter.
A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots
Nathaniel Ledbetter’s political metamorphosis from a Democrat to a Republican should have raised red flags from the start. True conservatism is not a trend, it’s a conviction. Yet under Ledbetter’s leadership, Alabama has veered sharply off the conservative path, embracing big-government policies that would be more at home in California than in the Heart of Dixie.
Let’s not forget: Ledbetter wasn’t just a Democrat in his youth but ran on the Democratic ticket during the Obama administration. His newfound “Republican” status hasn’t stopped him from championing increased taxes, growing government programs and killing key conservative reforms. His tenure has been marked by decisions that expand government reach and increase taxation, classic liberal governance under a red banner.
So we must ask ourselves plainly: Can we trust an Obama Democrat to champion our values? The facts speak for themselves.
Ballooning Budgets and Expanding Bureaucracy
While true conservatives fight for responsible budgets and smaller government, Ledbetter has presided over explosive budget growth. The General Fund budget for fiscal year 2026 is projected at $3.8 billion, a $347.9 million increase from the previous year, a nearly 10% surge. The Education Trust Fund? It’s ballooning by $560.9 million, bringing the total to $9.9 billion. These are not the marks of fiscal conservatism—they are the hallmarks of a government growing out of control.
Every new dollar spent on bureaucracy is not returned to hardworking families. Every expansion of state programs cements the government’s grip on our lives. While Alabama families tighten their belts, Montgomery is on a spending spree.
The Death of Overtime Tax Relief
And in the middle of this spending explosion, what did the Ledbetter do for working Alabamians? Nothing.
Speaker Ledbetter allowed the overtime tax exemption to expire. Initially passed in 2023, the policy gave much-needed tax relief to those willing to work extra hours. President Trump has prioritized this in Washington, but Ledbetter thinks it is a better idea to tax hard work so the government can spend more.
Why would he do this? Allegedly to “protect education funding,” even as they added over half a billion dollars to the Education Trust Fund. It’s a hypocritical excuse from a Legislature that can’t say no to spending. As he is now gearing up for campaign season, he indicates he’s open to revisiting it in 2026. Surprise, surprise. Here we go again with more rhetoric on the campaign trail.
Instead of meaningful reform, lawmakers offered Alabamians a political gimmick: a 1% reduction in the grocery tax. It’s a nice headline, but it’s not real reform.
Alabama remains one of only a handful of states that still taxes groceries. If our leaders cared about fixing that, they’d eliminate the tax. Look at the continued “surplus” spending. They regularly choose bureaucracy over boldness.
Compare this to other states that are putting conservative policy into practice:
- Florida, Texas, and Tennessee have no income tax.
- Mississippi and Kentucky are now eliminating their income tax.
- Meanwhile, Alabama is bogged down in legacy programs and red tape.
We’re being left behind.
Public Funds for Political Vanity
If the tax failures weren’t bad enough, the blatant self-promotion in Montgomery has become unbearable. The Alabama Community College System voted last year to name a taxpayer-funded softball stadium after Speaker Ledbetter, citing his efforts to secure funding.
This is the kind of self-serving behavior we’ve come to expect from career politicians. Faithful public servants don’t use state money to etch their names into buildings. They roll up their sleeves and fight for the people. Ledbetter has shown us where his priorities lie, and it’s not with Alabama taxpayers.
Real Conservatives Still Exist—Let’s Support Them
Amid Montgomery's dysfunction, a handful of lawmakers are still fighting for what’s right. These are the true conservatives who haven’t lost sight of the values that define Alabama.
State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough continues to be a bold voice for the unborn and a defender of Alabama’s Christian heritage. State Rep. Mack Butler has stepped up with legislation like the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Bill, standing firm against radical gender ideology. State Rep. Susan DuBose championed many outstanding socially conservative issues this session. But conservatism doesn’t stop with social issues. It also means fiscal discipline, limited government, and respect for the taxpayer, and far fewer have shown the courage to lead in this area.
House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen and four other Republicans (State Reps. Arnold Mooney, Ernie Yarbrough, Craig Lipscomb and Shane Stringer) continued to stand for true fiscal conservatism, pushing to eliminate the overtime tax and give relief to working Alabamians. Meanwhile, others in leadership are more interested in growing government through runaway budgets and excessive taxation.
The conservative stalwarts deserve our thanks, our support and our votes. They represent the kind of principled leadership Alabama desperately needs. By supporting them, we can make a real difference in our state.
We cannot assume that someone is working in our best interest simply because they have an “R” beside their name. Let’s scrutinize their records, not just their rhetoric. If they’re not standing for conservative principles—both social and fiscal—we must challenge them in the primary.
We are now less than one year away from the 2026 primary elections, and we clearly need new blood in the legislature. The upcoming elections are our chance to make a real difference. Not lobbyists. Not lifetime bureaucrats. Not Democrats in disguise.
We need citizen legislators who will serve for a season, fight for what’s right, and then return home. We need business owners, teachers, moms, veterans, pastors—everyday people with a backbone and a Bible who believe in freedom, limited government, and accountability.
Who will run to defeat the career politicians who grow government while ignoring the people?
Who will challenge the status quo and fight for term limits, tax cuts, and transparency?
Who will give Alabama the conservative leadership it deserves?
Let 2026 be the year Alabama wakes up, stands up, and takes back our state from those who have abused the trust of voters for too long. Our values aren’t the problem—they’re the solution. Now we need leaders who will live them out, boldly and without apology.
Gerrick Wilkins is an automotive consultant, former congressional candidate, and author of Unshackling Democracy: Embracing Term Limits, Empowering Citizens. Reach Gerrick at [email protected] or follow him on X @gdwilkins.
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].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
