Trump endorsement carries John Wahl to Alabama GOP nomination for lieutenant governor

Bolstered by a significant Donald Trump endorsement, John Wahl secured the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor on Tuesday. Wahl, who entered the contest on the final filing day in January, successfully navigated a rugged primary campaign to claim his party’s spot on the November ballot.

A Hard-Fought Victory

The race between Wahl, the former Alabama Republican Party chairman, and Secretary of State Wes Allen proved intense as both candidates touted their conservative credentials. The Associated Press officially called the race in Wahl's favor at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. With 65 of 67 counties reporting, Wahl commanded 57% of the vote (170,872) compared to Allen’s 43% (129,539).

Wahl now moves to the Nov. 3 general election, where he will face Democratic nominee and state Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery. The victor will eventually succeed Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth at the conclusion of his second term.

The Path to Nomination

Wahl, a butterfly farmer and business owner from north Alabama, served as the state party chairman for five years after being elected to the post in 2021. His campaign gained immediate national attention when Trump endorsed him in a January social media post, stating, "John has been with us from the very beginning, and has been key to our many Republican Victories in the Great State of Alabama."

Throughout the primary, the contest became increasingly contentious. In March, Allen’s campaign funded a $20,000 legal challenge questioning Wahl’s residency requirements. The GOP steering committee, however, declined to hold a hearing on the matter.

Looking Toward the Issues

Wahl has prioritized the economy, specifically advocating for the elimination of the state's 2% sales tax on food to assist struggling families and senior citizens. He has also been a vocal advocate for conservative policy, including his work as chair of the Alabama Public Library Service board where he led efforts to remove books with transgender themes from children’s library sections.

Allen, who has served as Secretary of State since 2022 and previously as a Pike County probate judge and state legislator, highlighted his own conservative record in his concession statement. He pointed to his past actions, including his 2015 decision to halt marriage licenses as a probate judge, his role in banning gender transition treatments for minors, and his legislative efforts to criminalize payments for distributing absentee ballot applications.

Wahl’s general election opponent, Phillip Ensler, brings experience as a policy advisor for the city of Montgomery and as an executive director for the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama. Ensler also previously taught at Robert E. Lee High School as part of the Teach for America program.