Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) was at Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Hoover on Tuesday to qualify to run for a second full term as Governor.
“I enjoyed visiting with supporters today at the @ALGOP as I qualified to run in the 2022 Republican Primary for Governor,” Ivey stated on Twitter. “I look forward to asking Alabamians for their support so we can continue to deliver results to the people of our state.
“I am proud to be your Governor and would be honored to serve Alabamians for a second term. We have accomplished a lot, but there is more that needs to be done.”
In recent polling by Morning Consult, Ivey is the eighth most popular Governor in the country and the most popular southern governor.
Ivey became the 54th Governor of Alabama in 2017 when Gov. Robert Bentley (R) resigned from office. In 2018, she was elected by the people of Alabama to her own term as Governor.
Ivey says that she is "committed to raising the quality of life for all Alabamians.”
Ivey grew up on a cattle farm outside of Camden in rural Wilcox County. She graduated from Auburn University where she was the first female Vice President of the Student Government Association in school history. Ivey worked as a schoolteacher in California before returning to her native Alabama.
Ivey served two terms as Lieutenant Governor from 2011 to 2017 and two terms as State Treasurer from 2003 to 2011.
During her time as governor, Alabama has seen record-high employment and its lowest jobless rate.
Ivey said her focus on economic development has attracted over $18 billion in capital investment and 44,000 new jobs to the state.
Ivey has championed a massive infrastructure improvement package that included widening the shipping channel for the Port of Mobile as well as road and bridge repairs. Some conservatives have criticized Ivey for that package which was paid for by levying an additional 10 cents tax per gallon on the price of gas phased in over three years with periodic automatic increases after that. Ivey has also championed building mega prisons. The legislature approved the construction of two of Ivey’s new prisons during a recent 2021 special session.
Ivey faces a crowded GOP primary field that includes: former Morgan County Commissioner Stacy George, King’s Home President Lew Burdette, former Ambassador Lindy Blanchard, Springville Mayor Dave Thomas, Greenville businessman Tim James, and Lee County pastor and school master Dean Odle. State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) told 1819 News on Monday that he will make a decision on whether or not to enter the race on Jan. 27. Chad “Chig” Martin and Yolanda Rochelle Flowers have both qualified to run for Governor with the Democratic Party.
The Republican Primary will be on May 24.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
