By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill (R) and Republican insider former State Rep. Perry O. Hooper Jr. (R-Montgomery), met with former President Donald J. Trump (R) at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida last week.
Trump and Merrill discussed election integrity, transparency, and accountability and collaborated on an upcoming project, which will be announced early next year.
“Today, we had the privilege to visit with [former] President Donald Trump at his home and office at Mar-a-Lago in South Florida!” Merrill posted on social media. “We were excited to talk to him about election integrity, transparency and accountability throughout the nation, as well as Alabama politics and Alabama football! #45.”
Merrill is term-limited from seeking another consecutive term as Secretary of State. From 2010 to 2014, he represented Tuscaloosa County in the Alabama House of Representatives. Merrill previously worked for the Tuscaloosa school system.
Former President Trump has been very active in both trying to help Republican candidates in the midterm elections that are just 11 months away and in trying to influence the direction of the Republican party through his many endorsements.
Hooper attended an event with Trump, supporting Republican Senate candidate from Georgia, Herschel Walker. Walker was a former star running back for Georgia and played for Trump in the original version of the United States Football League (USFL), where Trump owned the New Jersey Generals franchise.
“I am doing everything in my power to assure that Republicans take back the United States House and Senate in next year’s midterm elections,” Hooper told 1819 News. “The road to taking back the Senate goes through Georgia and Herschel Walker. Herschel is a patriot, and he is running for Senate for all the right reasons. He loves America and he loves Georgia.”
In Alabama, Trump has endorsed Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL05) in his bid to be elected to the U.S. Senate, to replace the retiring Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Alabama).
CNN has reported that if Brooks’ opponent, Lynda Blanchard, switches to the gubernatorial race, that Trump will endorse her. Blanchard would not confirm or deny those reports. Blanchard and her husband were financial backers of Trump in 2016. Blanchard was appointed by Trump to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia. Slovenia is former First Lady Melania Trump’s native country.
Hooper said that he had no direct knowledge of what Blanchard was going to do.
Trump is openly contemplating a run at returning to the White House in 2024.
The Republican primary is on May 24, 2022.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
