HOOVER — The crowded conference room at the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) headquarters broke into applause as ALGOP chief of staff Shannon Whitt recognized vice chairman Joan Reynolds as the new chairwoman of the party Friday afternoon.
Just minutes earlier, the former chairman, John Wahl, resigned the position in a letter to Whitt before qualifying to run for lieutenant governor.
"I'm honored to step into this role and continue the important work our Party has been doing under Chairman Wahl's leadership," said Reynolds in a statement. "We're entering a critical election cycle, and I want our members, donors, and candidates to know that we are focused, organized, and ready. We have a strong team in place, and I'm looking forward to building on our momentum and securing Republican victories up and down the ballot in 2026."
"Joan Reynolds is one of the most effective leaders in the Alabama Republican Party and one of the most respected Republican grassroots organizers in the country," Whitt said in a written statement. "She knows the organization inside and out and has been a trusted part of our operations for years. The Party is in excellent hands."
"The Alabama Republican Party remains focused and fully operational as it prepares for a pivotal 2026 election cycle. With a seasoned leader like Joan Reynolds at the helm—backed by an experienced and battle-tested staff—Republicans across Alabama can rest assured that the Party won't skip a beat," the statement read.
Reynolds has been a mainstay around ALGOP. She currently serves as Chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party—a position she has held for nearly 12 years — and previously led the Butler County GOP. Additionally, she had the honor of representing Alabama on the Platform Committee at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
During the ALGOP meeting where Reynolds was elected vice-chairman, Vestavia Hills City Councilwoman and wife of Alabama Supreme Court Justice Greg Cook, Kimberly Cook, spoke to Reynolds' character.
"Joan has been working for our party for a long time," Cook said. "… Thatcher was known as the iron lady, but Joan is our steel magnolia … Joan is decisive, well-spoken and of no-nonsense."
Reynolds is also the founder and head of the Mighty Alabama Strike Force, a nationally recognized grassroots organization that has mobilized thousands of volunteers from Alabama to knock on doors and turn out the vote in critical battleground states.
Reynolds started the group in 2008. The workers are not paid, but their lodging, transportation and meals are paid through donations from the Alabama Federation of Republican Women, ALGOP and many other donors.
The 2024 Georgia campaigners from Alabama's strike force totaled about 150 workers on two week-long work trips.
The next ALGOP meeting is in March.
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