Robertson, Mitchell clash over 'dark money' in Alabama AG runoff

The race for Alabama attorney general is hitting a fever pitch as former Alabama Supreme Court justice Jay Mitchell ramps up his rhetoric against opponent Katherine Robertson. With the runoff election just days away, Mitchell is doubling down on accusations that his opponent is leaning heavily on dark money to power her campaign.

A Clash Over Campaign Finance

Katherine Robertson, serving as chief counsel in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, contends that her campaign is backed by prominent conservative organizations. She points specifically to groups affiliated with the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), citing their essential support in Alabama’s legal battles over redistricting.

During a gathering at a Bayou La Batre seafood restaurant, Robertson highlighted how 27 attorneys general joined forces with Alabama to secure a June 2 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a map favorable to Republicans. She noted that for a state with one of the nation's smallest AG offices, these external relationships are a necessity. "When we went to the Supreme Court in the redistricting case, those states swooped in to help us out," she said.

The Cost of the Runoff

The intense spotlight on finances arrives as Robertson and Mitchell prepare for a Tuesday runoff that has already seen the two candidates spend a combined $10.1 million—making it one of the most expensive attorney general races in the state's history.

Mitchell remains unimpressed by the organizational support, arguing that a significant portion of Robertson's war chest stems from undisclosed donors outside of RAGA's network. He has consistently kept transparency at the forefront of his platform, a sentiment he reiterated during Monday's debate in Montgomery. "The whole point of these dark money shell entities is that you don’t see who puts the money into them,” Mitchell stated. “That is what Alabamians deserve to know.”

Defining the Support

Robertson maintains she is backed by a broad coalition of local and national entities, including the Alabama Farmers Federation’s FarmPAC, the Alabama Sheriffs Association, the Alabama Forestry Association’s ForestPAC, the National Rifle Association, and Club for Growth Action. Despite this, records indicate that roughly $2.7 million of her funding originated from sources that do not require transparency, including $1 million from First Principle Action Inc. and over $1 million from Frontline Leaders Action Inc.

The political stakes remain high as the candidates look toward November. Robertson led the primary with 41% of the vote, with Mitchell following at 34%. Whoever wins Tuesday’s contest will square off against Democrat Jeff McLaughlin on Nov. 5.

Path Forward

While Robertson has pledged to continue defending state sovereignty under a Trump administration, Mitchell has promised to push for legislative reform. He advocates for requirements that would force nonprofits donating to political campaigns to register with the Alabama Secretary of State and disclose their original funding sources. This push for reform arrives as Alabama lawmakers express growing interest in tackling dark money following a primary season marred by outside influence.

“There seems to be a growing appetite to take up a bill like that,” Mitchell said. “The people of Alabama deserve to know who the actual sources of the money are.”