Campaign messages for incumbent Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed calling U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) an "extremist" and doubling down on unsubstantiated claims that the Alabama Republican Party is backing one of Reed’s opponents are being sent out in mass via text message.
The texts reference former President Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance at ALGOP’s Friday Summer Dinner, claiming the state Republican Party is “degrading our democracy.”
"Donald Trump is campaigning TODAY in Montgomery alongside extremist Senator Tommy Tuberville," the texts read. “This appearance comes barely 24 hours after Trump’s scheduled arraignment in court after his third indictment."
“[B]oth the Alabama GOP and Donald Trump are spreading lies and degrading our democracy,“ the text adds. “And it’s no surprise because the ALGOP is doing the same thing here in Montgomery. They’re funding Mayor Reed’s conservative opponent and doing everything in their power to take Montgomery backwards. We need to support leaders like Mayor Reed who are willing to stand up to their lies and who will defend our democracy.”
In July, Reed’s campaign sent out similar texts claiming ALGOP was financially backing Reed’s opponents.
ALGOP chairman John Wahl responded to the claims, calling them “outright lies.”
Municipal races are non-partisan, meaning candidates do not have to align themselves with a political party.
When 1819 News reached out to Reed’s chief of staff Chip Hill about the claim that ALGOP was funding Reed’s opponents, Hill said to reach out to the campaign.
However, he did not respond when asked who was running the campaign. Hill has since taken a leave of absence as chief of staff to work on Reed’s campaign.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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