Latest news with #AlabamaSenate
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Former Navy SEAL enters race to replace US Sen. Tommy Tuberville in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson on Wednesday launched a campaign to run for a U.S. Senate seat representing Alabama, promising to be 'a warrior for President Trump's America First Agenda' if he is elected. The written announcement came just a day after current Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced that he is running for governor of the state next year. In Hudson's written announcement, he identified as a Christian conservative and aligned himself with both President Donald Trump and Tuberville, the latter of whom entered politics after a successful career as a head football coach at Auburn University. 'Coach Tuberville has been a force in Washington because he's not a career politician. He's a political outsider and a straight shooter. So is Jared Hudson,' the announcement read. Hudson said he is a former Navy SEAL who now runs a nonprofit that fights human trafficking. Hudson previously ran for sheriff of Birmingham in 2022 but lost to the Democratic candidate, according to 'I've spent my life taking the fight to America's enemies. Now it's time to continue the mission in Washington,' said Hudson. Hudson's campaign website doesn't have specific policy positions, but states that he will 'secure the border, crush the woke agenda, and defend our Christian values.' He also said he would support cutting 'taxes to get our economy working for hardworking Alabamians.' Tuberville is expected to be a formidable entry in the race to succeed current Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who cannot run again because of term limits. His announcement came after months of speculation .
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth not running for governor in 2026
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth speaks to a senator in the Alabama Senate on May 7, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Ainsworth announced Wednesday he will not be running for Alabama governor in 2026. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth will not run for governor next year. In a social media post Wednesday morning, Ainsworth said the decision came after prayers and discussions with his family. 'Kendall and I have decided that focusing on our children during their last years in high school and transitioning to the private sector makes the most sense for all of us at this time in our lives,' he wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ainsworth, who is term-limited in his current office, said he would campaign for GOP candidates next year. 'I will be on the campaign trail working alongside President Trump to help elect a strong, conservative governor and other Republican elected officials who will keep Alabama moving in the right direction,' he wrote. Though the lieutenant governor's office is relatively powerless, Ainsworth had managed to raise large sums of money over the years from the Big Mules on Goat Hill, taking in $4.8 million between 2017 and today. According to campaign finance records, Progress PAC, the fundraising arm of the Business Council of Alabama, gave Ainsworth over $170,000 from 2017 to 2022. Alabama Forestry PAC gave Ainsworth just over $186,000 during that time; Alabama Power's Employee PAC had given him $152,000. The Alabama Builders Association gave him $150,000. Ainsworth had $1.3 million in his campaign account at the end of January, according to campaign finance records. Ainsworth, 44, was first elected as lieutenant governor in 2018 after serving in the Alabama House of Representatives and re-elected in 2022. His term is set to end on Jan. 18, 2027. The Guntersville resident served one term in the Alabama House before becoming lieutenant governor. Gov. Kay Ivey, who has served in the office since 2017, is term-limited. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has expressed interest in running for the governor's office. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Legislature's 2025 session ends in lengthy Senate filibuster
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro (center) speaks to Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, on the floor of the Alabama Senate on May 14, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Legislature's 2025 session ended Wednesday with the passage of a handful of bills and a lengthy Senate filibuster that doomed many more. Senate Democrats, upset after a dispute between the House and a senator over a gambling bill for Greene County, managed to slow consideration of an agenda of 50 local House bills in the chamber, which Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, said last week would be his priority for the last day of session. 'We're going to use the tools we have to make happen what we need to make happen,' said Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, whose criticism of the House's handling of a local gambling bill led to the slowdown. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Republicans repeatedly clotured Singleton and Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, the other major figure in the filibuster, limiting debate to 20 minutes. But Democrats asked for each bill to be read in its entirety and for a roll call vote on each motion. After about six hours, the Senate had only passed about 11 of the bills on its calendar. Smitherman later said that he felt locked out of the political process after discussing lawmakers from the same region working together to address local issues. Not being afforded the same luxury, he said the tools to represent his constituents effectively were taken away. 'I just couldn't do what I needed to do. That's all … when you've got no tools, you can build nothing. My tools were put in the toolshed, and they locked the door,' Smitherman said, saying he's 'trying to knock on the door.' The Republican-led chambers managed to pass HB 202, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, which extends police immunity protections. The legislation, a priority for GOP lawmakers and Gov. Kay Ivey, in the waning minutes of the session on Wednesday. In the House, the chamber concurred with Senate changes on HB 199, sponsored by Rep. Travis Hedrix, D-Birmingham, that allows the Board of Pardons and parole to electronically monitor a juvenile delinquent before their court hearing. But the Senate filibuster dominated most of the day. After the Shroud Award was presented to Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, early Wednesday afternoon, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said a farewell and thanked the chamber for all their work this session. 'You guys are like family to me. I love each one of you, and we pray every night for success throughout the districts,' Ledbetter said. 'And I can't be more proud of a group of men and women that serve the people of Alabama.' The House then recessed for nine hours to wait for the Senate to pass the police immunity bill. The slow grind Wednesday brought an end to a session that saw several notable pieces of legislation passed. Lawmakers approved a bill banning firearm modifications known as 'Glock switches,' which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons. The bill was the first gun restriction to pass the Alabama House since 2010, and passed after Rep. Philip Ensler, D-Montgomery, introduced similar legislation the year before. The Legislature also passed legislation to change the state's public school funding formula to help address the needs of underserved students through a new funding system. But Republican lawmakers also pumped $180 million into the CHOOSE Act, a voucher-like program in which families can claim tax credits for nonpublic education expenses, including private school tuition. The allocation far exceeded the $100 million lawmakers originally put into the bill. Lawmakers rushed through the 'What is a Woman Act' early in the session, provides definitions for sex, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, mother and father. Critics said the bill attempted to erase trans and intersex identities. Lawmakers also passed bills targeting immigrants. Ledbetter highlighted the a bill regulating pharmacy benefit managers, a cut on the grocery tax and a bill allowing the state's dominant agricultural organization to offer its members health benefit plans. 'I think we got a lot to be proud of, lots to hang our hat on,' he said. Ledbetter said he was surprised HB 188, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, did not receive final passage. The bill would have created a scholarship program for dependents of law enforcement, which passed the House in February. 'I really don't even understand that one,' Ledbetter said. 'It's pretty simple to me, because we give everybody else scholarships. If we're really trying to protect the police officers and in this state, and back the blue then, to me, that's a no brainer.' Gudger said after the Senate adjourned that despite the partisan tensions of the last day, he felt like there was cooperation. He said that they could have concluded the debate sooner, but he wanted to make sure members 'were treated as fairly as possible.' 'You heard some people tonight saying they didn't treat them fairly tonight, but if you look back into how many minutes they've had at the mic, I think they've had more movements than anybody else on the floor. You've got to be able to balance that, and so you can't look at just one night,' he said. Gudger signaled the Senate might work on potential rule changes to improve efficiency before the next legislative session, particularly in handling local legislation. 'It would be, how do we handle local legislation and it be fair so that one person can't hold up the whole legislature,' he said. 'In the Senate, you're able to do that, but I think there needs to be more of a group that needs to say, 'this is something we don't want as a delegation' before you hold up everyone's local bills,' Gudger said. Smitherman, shortly before the Senate adjourned, asked the lawmakers to reassess how they'll conduct business when they return next year. 'All of us want to take something home. You all want to take something home. We want to take something home. And where it is now, it's not working out like that, so I hope you all reassess when we come back,' Smitherman said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
15-05-2025
- Politics
Alabama lawmakers approve additional legal protections for police officers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday approved enhanced legal protections for police officers, changes that Republicans said show support for law enforcement but Democrats called 'a green light to kill Black folks.' The Alabama Legislature gave final approval to the legislation that sets legal standards for the use of force and provides for an immunity hearing. The bill states that an officer 'shall be justified' in the use of physical force as long as it is not constitutionally excessive force or 'recklessly' outside of the officer's discretionary authority. Republicans, who called the legislation the 'Back The Blue' bill said it is needed to provide a clear legal framework and show support for law enforcement officers faced with making split-second decisions. 'We ask them to take care of us, keep us safe in our homes as we sleep at night. This bill will give them the assurances that we back them and back the blue,' Sen. Lance Bell, a former deputy sheriff, said. Bell said officers who act improperly can still be prosecuted. The approval came after an emotional debate in which Black lawmakers read the names of Black people who have been killed by police and described their own encounters with law enforcement. 'HB 202 is a license to kill Black people. That's what it is,' Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Black Democrat from Birmingham, said. Smitherman said departments have very good officers, but they also have officers who are 'racist against Black people' or will make impulsive decisions because they are scared. Sen. Merika Coleman, a Black Democrat from Pleasant Grove, said she fears the bill will protect 'bad apples' in police departments. She described her worries that someone might see her honors student son as a threat someday because of his tall frame and twisted locs. 'If this bill passes and there are young Black males, females, brown and other folks killed, you will have blood on your hands because of this piece of legislation,' Coleman said. Bell urged opponents to 'walk a mile in a law enforcement officer's shoes and find out what they have to deal with.' Smitherman responded, 'Walk a mile in the person's shoes when the person is dead.' The Alabama Senate approved the bill on a 25-6 late-night vote in the final hour of the legislative session. The House of Representatives accepted Senate changes. The bill now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey who said she will sign it into law. 'There is NO question Alabama backs the blue!' Ivey stated on social media after the bill's passage. Under existing state law, police and civilians alike are currently entitled to a 'stand your ground' hearing in criminal cases where a judge can determine whether the defendant acted in self defense. The legislation will allow an immunity hearing where a judge will decide if a case can proceed based on whether the officer acted recklessly outside the scope of law enforcement duties. It would add similar protections in state civil lawsuits. It would also require law enforcement departments to collect data that tracks use of force complaints. The executive director of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, Hoss Mack, testified in favor of the bill in April. 'This is of equal benefit to law enforcement and the public. Let me reiterate what this bill does not do. It does not give blanket immunity to law enforcement,' said Mack, who added that he had personally arrested officers that worked for him for misconduct throughout his 39-year career in law enforcement. Leroy Maxwell, a civil rights attorney based in Birmingham, said he is afraid the bill would embolden misconduct. 'Legislation like this paves the way toward a police state, where law enforcement operates above the law and without fear of consequence,' Maxwell said. Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels opposed the law but doubted the overall impact on civil rights cases which could still be filed in federal court and will not be affected by the legislation. 'It is a lion with no teeth. It appears to be big and bad but it has no teeth and no claws,' Daniels said.
Hamilton Spectator
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Alabama lawmakers approve additional legal protections for police officers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday approved enhanced legal protections for police officers, changes that Republicans said show support for law enforcement but Democrats called 'a green light to kill Black folks.' The Alabama Legislature gave final approval to the legislation that sets legal standards for the use of force and provides for an immunity hearing. The bill states that an officer 'shall be justified' in the use of physical force as long as it is not constitutionally excessive force or 'recklessly' outside of the officer's discretionary authority. Republicans, who called the legislation the 'Back The Blue' bill said it is needed to provide a clear legal framework and show support for law enforcement officers faced with making split-second decisions. 'We ask them to take care of us, keep us safe in our homes as we sleep at night. This bill will give them the assurances that we back them and back the blue,' Sen. Lance Bell, a former deputy sheriff, said. Bell said officers who act improperly can still be prosecuted. The approval came after an emotional debate in which Black lawmakers read the names of Black people who have been killed by police and described their own encounters with law enforcement. 'HB 202 is a license to kill Black people. That's what it is,' Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Black Democrat from Birmingham, said. Smitherman said departments have very good officers, but they also have officers who are 'racist against Black people' or will make impulsive decisions because they are scared. Sen. Merika Coleman, a Black Democrat from Pleasant Grove, said she fears the bill will protect 'bad apples' in police departments. She described her worries that someone might see her honors student son as a threat someday because of his tall frame and twisted locs. 'If this bill passes and there are young Black males, females, brown and other folks killed, you will have blood on your hands because of this piece of legislation,' Coleman said. Bell urged opponents to 'walk a mile in a law enforcement officer's shoes and find out what they have to deal with.' Smitherman responded, 'Walk a mile in the person's shoes when the person is dead.' The Alabama Senate approved the bill on a 25-6 late-night vote in the final hour of the legislative session. The House of Representatives accepted Senate changes. The bill now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey who said she will sign it into law. 'There is NO question Alabama backs the blue!' Ivey stated on social media after the bill's passage. Under existing state law, police and civilians alike are currently entitled to a 'stand your ground' hearing in criminal cases where a judge can determine whether the defendant acted in self defense. The legislation will allow an immunity hearing where a judge will decide if a case can proceed based on whether the officer acted recklessly outside the scope of law enforcement duties. It would add similar protections in state civil lawsuits. It would also require law enforcement departments to collect data that tracks use of force complaints. The executive director of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, Hoss Mack, testified in favor of the bill in April. 'This is of equal benefit to law enforcement and the public. Let me reiterate what this bill does not do. It does not give blanket immunity to law enforcement,' said Mack, who added that he had personally arrested officers that worked for him for misconduct throughout his 39-year career in law enforcement. Leroy Maxwell, a civil rights attorney based in Birmingham, said he is afraid the bill would embolden misconduct. 'Legislation like this paves the way toward a police state, where law enforcement operates above the law and without fear of consequence,' Maxwell said. Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels opposed the law but doubted the overall impact on civil rights cases which could still be filed in federal court and will not be affected by the legislation. 'It is a lion with no teeth. It appears to be big and bad but it has no teeth and no claws,' Daniels said.
