Blount County DA Pamela Casey endorses Jay Mitchell in Alabama AG race

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey has thrown her support behind Jay Mitchell for the upcoming Republican runoff in the Alabama attorney general race. Casey, who earned 25% of the vote in last week’s primary, finished third behind Mitchell and frontrunner Katherine Robertson.

A Sharpening Divide

The runoff election, set for June 16, features a stark contrast in backgrounds. Mitchell, a former Alabama Supreme Court Justice, is campaigning on his extensive courtroom experience. Conversely, Robertson enters the runoff carrying momentum from the primary, where she secured 40.5% of the vote compared to Mitchell’s 34.4%. Robertson currently serves as the chief counsel for Attorney General Steve Marshall.

"At the end of the day, I believe Alabama deserves an Attorney General who has actual courtroom and legal experience," Casey said in a statement. "Jay Mitchell has been in the courtroom. He understands the law, the judicial system, and the serious responsibility that comes with serving as our state’s top law enforcement officer."

The Influence of Dark Money

A central theme of the endorsement was a mutual concern regarding the influence of "dark money" in the race. Both Casey and Mitchell have criticized the use of out-of-state funds in political campaigns. Specifically, the Robertson campaign has faced scrutiny for receiving a $1.1 million donation from First Principles Action, a Tennessee-based nonprofit, and a $500,000 contribution from Frontline Leaders Action, Inc. Dark money concerns have remained a focal point for critics throughout the campaign cycle.

"I am deeply concerned about the role dark money and outside interests played in this race," Casey noted. "Alabamians deserve transparency and accountability from those seeking public office."

IVF and Campaign Rhetoric

The discourse has also touched on the sensitive topic of IVF. Casey, whose own family utilized the treatment, pushed back against negative advertisements targeting Mitchell. A political action committee recently funded television spots opposing Mitchell, which the candidate claims distorted his record. Mitchell wrote the primary opinion in a 2024 Alabama Supreme Court case that led to a temporary pause of IVF services in the state, though he maintains his full support for the practice.

Endorsement Battle

While Mitchell secured Casey's endorsement, Robertson has successfully built a coalition of district attorney support. Baldwin County DA Robert Wilters, Madison County DA Rob Broussard, and DA CJ Robinson (Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton counties) have all backed her bid. Wilters praised Robertson's track record, stating, "Katherine Robertson has delivered exactly that over the last decade," noting her work on violent crime and death penalty cases.

The winner of the June 16 runoff will move on to face Democratic nominee Jeff McLaughlin in the general election on November 3.