Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) was elected chairman of the Alabama Republican Party Saturday at the party’s Winter Meeting in Hoover, defeating former Secretary of State John Merrill in a runoff after a dramatic first-round count dispute. Stadthagen led the first round with 45% of the vote to Merrill’s 29% and acting chair Joan Reynolds’ 25%, then won the runoff 62% to 38%.
Stadthagen stepped down as House Majority Leader—the position vacated when Paul Lee assumed the role—to pursue the chairmanship. He replaces John Wahl, who resigned in January to run for Lieutenant Governor after receiving President Trump’s endorsement. The 475-member State Executive Committee elected Stadthagen at the Winfrey Hotel in Hoover.
Stadthagen’s top priority: closed primaries. He pledged to fight for HB541, the party registration bill currently in the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee, and promised to present legislative priority lists to the executive committee before each session.
The Saturday meeting was not without drama. After the first-round count, Stadthagen was initially announced as the outright winner—then, minutes later, a runoff was declared between Stadthagen and Merrill. Former Chairman John Wahl stood to demand the ballots be publicly displayed: “We are the party of transparency.” The results were shown before a formal vote was taken on the motion. Stadthagen then won the runoff decisively.
Separately, the executive committee demanded an updated audit of the party’s finances. Two members had circulated a letter calling the existing audit a “Bigfoot”—much heard about but never seen. Stadthagen addressed it head-on: “Accountability is very important. There’s a lot of dollars that go through this office, and I think a certified CPA should be involved.”
Both career and technical education workforce bills passed the full House unanimously Thursday. HB517 (Lomax) creates tax credits for employers who loan employees to serve as CTE instructors. HB520 (Paramore) creates a fast-track certification pathway for out-of-state CTE teachers. Both head to the Senate with 10 working days to pass. Speaker Ledbetter called the package a major step forward for Alabama workforce development.
The House adopted a substitute to the Capitol security bill Thursday, expanding coverage to the full “Capitol Area” and adding a criminal prohibition on drone flights over the complex without state authorization. The bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence on the House changes.
The Legislature returns Tuesday, March 10 for the start of Week 9. The session adjourns March 27. Both the Education Trust Fund budget (HB238) and General Fund budget (HB218) must clear committee and pass both chambers. Leadership signaled they begin formal committee movement this week. The budgets are the Legislature’s only constitutionally required task—everything else is in a race against the clock.
HB464 (Rep. Paschal), the DHR Central Registry and Due Process Act we’ve tracked since it was filed February 17, remains in the House Judiciary Committee. With 10 days left, Judiciary must act soon if this bill is to have any chance of passing this session. We are watching it closely.