Mike Hubbard | Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives

The way Alabama’s government is structured places significant power in the legislative branch. The rules of the state legislature make the Speaker of the House its strongest position. Put a political tactician like Hubbard in that seat and you have all the makings of one of the most powerful players the state has ever seen.

Because he played such a huge role in getting so many members of the House elected in 2010, he engenders an incredible level of loyalty from his members. If he wants a bill passed, it’s almost certainly going to fly through. If he wants to kill a piece of legislation, it’s going to be near impossible to overcome his opposition. Hubbard’s ability to shape the legislative process is unmatched.

Only in rare instances do Alabama political figures have buildings named after them while they’re still serving in office, but Auburn University practically named an entire wing of the school after Hubbard. According to Auburn, “the Mike Hubbard Center for Advanced Science, Innovation and Commerce, is an an 84,000-square-foot facility designed to foster multidisciplinary research, advance the university’s academic mission and generate economic development in the state.” Hubbard secured over $14 million in state funds to make it possible. He may be the only member of the Alabama legislature who could deliver for their district on that level.

He’s come under fire this year more than ever, but continues to march forward undeterred. Put simply, Hubbard is Alabama politics’ ultimate power broker.