TUSCALOOSA — Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen and state auditor candidate Derek Chen spoke to members of the Tuscaloosa County GOP on Thursday evening.
Allen addressed attendees as part of his lieutenant gubernatorial campaign, highlighting his record on election integrity and government reform.
Allen pointed to legislation passed during his tenure to strengthen voter file maintenance and prohibit ballot harvesting, calling clean voter rolls the "foundation of election integrity."
"If you do not have clean and accurate voter files, you can get in a ditch in a hurry," Allen said during his speech.
He emphasized efforts to improve Alabama's voting systems and remove systems that make it easier for election interference.
Allen also cited broader conservative priorities, including reducing business regulations and supporting cultural legislation passed during his time in the Alabama House.
Allen continued to position himself as the most experienced candidate in the race, citing his background as a probate judge, state legislator, and current statewide officeholder.
"Nobody else is better prepared to be lieutenant governor," Allen said. "It's all about conservative record versus record."
He also addressed questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies during a Q&A portion, referencing recent legislative efforts to curb such programs at public institutions.
Following Allen, Chen spoke to the group as part of his campaign for state auditor, focusing on government accountability and national security concerns.
Chen, an attorney and MBA graduate from the University of Alabama, shared his family's history of immigrating to the United States from Taiwan after fleeing communist influence in China.
"My family came to the United States because of the freedoms we have here," Chen said. "If we lose those freedoms, where do we go?"
Chen outlined the responsibilities of the state auditor's office, including oversight of state property and participation in boards such as the State Board of Adjustment and the State Pension Fund.
He also emphasized election integrity, noting the auditor's role in appointing county registrars in most Alabama counties.
"Election security is the bedrock of our constitutional republic," Chen said.
Chen additionally proposed banning Chinese-manufactured drones from state use, arguing such technology poses a national security risk due to data collection concerns.
"We want to swamp them," Chen said of the election in November, calling for Republicans to come out, despite the predicted wins across the state.
Both candidates asked attendees for their support ahead of the May 19 Republican primary, as local party members continue organizing for the upcoming election cycle.
Trenton Buffenbarger is a senior at the University of Alabama and is the Chairman of the UA Young Americans for Freedom.
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