On Monday, Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) chairman State Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) expressed optimism about a bill's future that would close Republican and Democratic primaries in Alabama.
The legislation passed the House, but its prospects in the Senate are uncertain with only six days remaining in the session.
SEE: Closed primary bill heads to Senate with unknown future
After explaining the need for the legislation, Stadthagen said in an interview on "Rightside Radio" that "there's a really good path" for its passage.
“I don't think people fully understand the concept of closed primaries and what a primary election actually is," Stadthagen outlined. "The primary election, and I'm kind of getting off track a little bit, but the primary election is for the parties to determine their candidate for the general election. And you keep hearing this word independent. Well, guess what? They're independent. They're not a part of a party. ... And they can be if they want to be, but they're not. And that's their choice, and that's great. But guess what? Their election is in the general if they're an independent. So with that being said, I think, you know, I'm optimistic."
"I think the Senate is going to take a strong look at it, and I'm very hopeful," he continued. "I've heard good things and bad things. I think just the biggest thing is just educating everyone and letting them ... even people that I talk to around the state, they're confused. Well, I want my voice to be heard. Well, your voice is in the general, if you're an independent. If you want to be a part of the party, yes, come on, let's go. And that's it.”
“[In] 2022, the Republican Party, big time, voted in favor of closing the primaries in a resolution. And so here we are, 2026, we're years later, and I think this is the time to strike," Stadthagen later added. "This is the opportunity for us to get to the governor's desk. With session, it's kind of like an hourglass, you know? And when you get those days, start getting striked off, and you get, you know, down to, I think we got six days left, if I'm not mistaken. We're getting close to that part, that small part of the bottle. And I think there's a really good path for this. I think we'll see, of course, once we get to Montgomery and we start gaveling in, and it has to go through committee this week for it to have a chance. So, I think that'll be the, you know, the big teller if it goes or not.”
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