On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) released her book, “God Calls Us to do Hard Things: Lessons from the Alabama Wiregrass.” The junior Senator from Alabama is the youngest Republican woman, and currently the only with school-aged children, to be elected to the United States Senate.

She’s making good on that dynamic with a fast track to leadership, and even being recognized as a potential vice presidential candidate along the way. She’s taking her story on the road as she promotes her new book.

In the memoir released on Tuesday, Britt shares candid advice for how to overcome personal challenges, appreciate blessed moments, and keep an unshakeable faith in God, family and country.

RELATED: CBS floats Britt as Trump running mate, cuts her off when she talks about his policies

Britt shares her hard-earned life lessons and common-sense advice that Britt gained from her experiences. Topics and themes include focusing us on what you can control, being unafraid to fail while also taking criticism and tough love, being a change agent — not a title holder, and leaning into the small stuff of details and process

“A lot of times we see the peaks of people’s lives, especially in the age of social media,” Britt said Tuesday on Fox & Friends. “But in this book, I talk about my valleys because I believe that’s where God carved you and, honestly- no matter how you got there, you will be more willing to walk forward and share his purpose for you.”

“Every day I get up and work hard in the United States Senate for the next generation and for the people of Alabama,” Britt said on CBS Morning Monday.

The book available on Amazon and in retail stores. Katie Britt previously wrote: ‘Katie Britt: the Biography’ which is also still available.

RELATED: Britt book shares hard-earned lessons, hope for America’s future

Katie Boyd grew up in Enterprise, where her parents ran small businesses including a hardware store and dance studio. She is a graduate of Enterprise High School where she excelled academically. She went to the University of Alabama where she rose to President of the Student Government Association.

While in college, she interned with Senator Richard Shelby’s office. That turned into a position on Shelby’s staff down the road, where she ultimately served as Chief of Staff.

In college, Katie married Wesley Britt, a native of Cullman. Wesley excelled in football at the University of Alabama where he played offensive line and competed for national championships. After college, Wesley was drafted by the New England Patriots.

The couple returned to the University of Alabama for Katie to pursue a law degree and for Wesley to pursue a graduate degree. While there, their home was destroyed by the 2011 tornado that devastated much of the college town. The young family narrowly survived the tornados that killed over 200 Alabamians that day.

In 2021, Shelby announced that he would retire at the end of his current term. After much consideration, prayer, and contemplation the couple decided to give up their lucrative careers out of a call to service to Alabama and the country, she describes in the book.

RELATED: Katie Britt handily defeats Mo Brooks, clinches GOP nomination for U.S. Senate

Pursuing the Senate seat was a daunting task. Katie Britt had never held an elected office before – outside of her SGA experience. Former Congressman Mo Brooks was the frontrunner for the position; and he was well liked by the conservative base of the Republican party. Self-made multi-millionaire Lindy Blanchard was also running for the position, as political outsider and war hero Mike Durant.

The campaign was long, expensive, and personally taxing. Former President Donald J. Trump initially endorsed Brooks. The relationship between the two became strained and eventually Trump withdrew his endorsement of Brooks.

Blanchard, who was polling around fourth place, despite spending millions of dollars in the race withdrew to challenge popular incumbent Governor Kay Ivey. Durant surged in the polling, but revelations that the New Hampshire native spent much of his time at his homes in Maryland and Colorado, rather than in Alabama where his company is located, caused him to slide into obscurity. Trump then intervened and endorsed a surging Britt who was already well on her way to victory.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com

Tuesday night, former Business Council of Alabama CEO Katie Britt defeated U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and secured the Republican Party nomination for the Yellowhammer State’s open U.S. Senate seat.

As of reporting time with 27% of the vote in, Britt is holding a 65.71% to 34.29% lead over Brooks.

Britt’s ascension from a virtual unknown outside of political circles to GOP nominee can be attributed to her campaign’s ability to navigate the consistent momentum swings that occurred throughout the hotly contested race.

Polling conducted in October 2021 showed Britt trailing Brooks by more than 40 points.

After a stint atop the GOP primary field, Brooks was replaced as frontrunner by the insurgent candidacy of “Black Hawk Down” U.S. Army aviator Mike Durant.

Dealing a significant blow to the six-term congressman’s candidacy, former President Donald Trump later revoked his endorsement of Brooks, which paved the way for Britt or Durant to win the 45th president’s favor.

Britt’s allies embarked on an aggressive advertising campaign to derail Durant’s candidacy by taking advantage of his identified negatives, which eventually led to the former BCA head claiming frontrunner status.

Britt’s ability to fundraise and execute a highly effective grassroots strategy, which consisted of traditional retail campaigning, continued to pay dividends for the first-time candidate.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Britt raised nearly $7.5 million during the GOP primary election cycle. Alongside shattering Alabama fundraising records, Britt made it a point to aggressively campaign in all 67 counties.

A steady release of polling commissioned by the pro-Britt Alabama Forestry Association displayed her ability to consistently remain atop the three-way race.

Near the race’s end, Trump officially announced his support of Britt’s senatorial bid, all but solidifying her notching the GOP nomination to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa).

For Brooks, Tuesday night all but closes the book on Brooks’ four-decades-long political career as his final term representing North Alabama on Capitol Hill will end in January when a new Congress is seated.

The firebrand conservative, who seemingly never shied from controversy, has long touted his willingness to buck Republican Party leadership legislatively and politically.

While Brooks’ style earned him a solid base of support among the most conservative factions of the Republican electorate, his combative nature played against his favor in certain business community circles, which harmed his ability to fundraise.

For Britt, her campaign will now set its sights on the November 8 general election, where she will face Democratic Party nominee Will Boyd. The GOP nominee will be heavily favored to prevail in the contest given Alabama’s overwhelming conservative-majority electorate.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

Friday evening, former President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Republican Katie Britt in Alabama’s 2022 race for the U.S. Senate.

The endorsement comes just 11 days out from the June 21 GOP primary runoff election.

In a statement announcing the endorsement, Trump railed against U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), who lost the 45th president’s endorsement in late March.

“Last year I endorsed Mo Brooks for the U.S. Senate because I thought he was a Fighter, especially when it came to the Rigged and Stolen Presidential Election of 2020,” Trump’s statement began. “The evidence is irrefutable. Then, out of nowhere, and for seemingly no reason, Mo backtracked and made a big mistake by going Woke at our massive Cullman, Alabama Rally.”

According to Trump, Brooks drew his ire when the congressman told rally attendees to “look ahead” to the midterm elections rather than mourn the 2020 presidential election results, which prompted the endorsement to be rescinded seven months later.

“Instead of denouncing the Voter Fraud in the Election, Mo lectured the crowd of 63,000 people saying, ‘Put that behind you, put that behind you,’ meaning that, in effect, forget the Rigged Election and go on to the future,” lamented the former president. “The problem is, if you do that, it will happen again. Also, why do Republicans allow Democrats to get away with rigging and stealing elections?”

Trump continued, “Mo was strongly booed by tens of thousands of Great Alabama Patriots for abandoning his constituents, and what they know to be true about the Election Fraud. He foolishly started listening to the wrong consultants and not to the people, and his 54-point lead evaporated overnight. Likewise, his words caused me to withdraw my Endorsement, and Mo has been wanting it back ever since—but I cannot give it to him!”

Trump pushed back against Brooks’ claim that Britt held the support of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Instead, the 45th president indicated that he believed U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant, who finished third in the May 24 primary election, could have been McConnell’s favored candidate.

“Katie Britt, on the other hand, is a fearless America First Warrior,” proclaimed Trump. “The opposition says Katie is close to Mitch McConnell, but actually, she is not—in fact, she believes that McConnell put Mike Durant in the race to stop her, which is very possibly true.”

He then touted Britt for her former service as head of the Business Council of Alabama, the state’s largest business advocacy organization.

“Katie is an Incredible Fighter for the people of Alabama,” advised Trump. “As President and CEO of Alabama’s Business Council, Katie has been working hard to Grow Alabama’s Economy, Create Jobs, and Restore the Great American Dream. She has the Total Support and Endorsement of Chairman Jimmy Parnell and the Alabama Farmers Federation.

He added, “The proud mother of two wonderful children, Katie, along with her great husband, Wesley, a Star at the University of Alabama and the New England Patriots, are True Champions for the American Family. Katie Strongly Supports our under siege Second Amendment, Stands Up for Parental Rights, and Will Fight for our Military, our Vets, and Election Integrity.”

“Above all, Katie Britt will never let you down. So Get Out and Vote for Katie Britt on June 21st in the Alabama Senate Runoff—she has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” concluded Trump.

In reacting to the endorsement, Britt expressed gratitude to Trump and stated her intentions of advancing the “America First agenda” as Alabama’s junior senator.

“I’m thankful to have President Trump’s endorsement and strong support,” said Britt in a statement. “President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians. It’s time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington to save the country we know and love for our children and our children’s children. In the Senate, I will fight to defend Alabama’s Christian conservative values, advance the America First agenda, and preserve the American Dream for generations to come.”

According to a poll released earlier on Friday by the Alabama Forestry Association (AFA), which was conducted by Trump-favored polling firm McLaughlin & Associates, Britt holds an 18-point lead over Brooks.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Plan to move Space Command supported by GAO report

• A new report from the Government Accountability Office shows that the decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville “was consistent with the Air Force’s analysis.” This report has reaffirmed the decision to move the headquarters.
• U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) said he was “pleased” with the news and agreed “that Huntsville was the right pick for the job.” State Senator Tom Butler (R-Madison) stated, “Huntsville is not only the best option to support the Command and our national security but an area for more growth in the future.”

6. Gas stimulus checks being proposed

• As a response to increasing gas prices, some lawmakers from North Carolina are proposing a statewide stimulus check for drivers. The checks would be in the amount of $200 and go to anyone with a license and 18-years or older.
• The national average for a gallon of gas has gone from $3.04 last year to $4.71 most recently. If North Carolina were to move forward with the legislation, checks wouldn’t be sent out until October.

5. Tuberville: Inflation must be dealt with

• U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is keeping the spotlight on inflation as he said during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing that the current situation was “unsustainable” and “skyrocketing.” Tuberville specifically focused on Alabama, saying, “[I]nflation has caused prices in Alabama to increase over 10%.”
• Tuberville added, “Now as we seek to begin farm bill discussions in the coming months, it seems that the Biden administration is only focused two areas of the comprehensive package; nutrition and conservation. While these farm bill titles are important, so are the traditional farm programs like crop insurance, farm commodity programs that help our producers safely manage risk.”

4. Biden gonna Biden

• In a speech to the nation, President Joe Biden laid out his plan for dealing with gun issues moving forward. Sloganeering was on point with the message that “enough is enough,” but the meat of his proposals seem to be lacking. What he did suggest seems marginally effective or unworkable, assault weapons bans, high capacity magazine bans, raising the age for firearms to 21, red flag laws, repealing immunity from gun manufacturers and the vaunted “address the mental health crisis” issue. Outside of red flag laws, support is elusive.
• Unmentioned in his speech was any mention of school security, something almost no one doesn’t want more of. His attacks on Republicans, akin to the media and their Democrats’ attacks, that they seem to be OK with people being killed and don’t care about dead kids unless they give him what he wants seem unhelpful.

3. There will be a House hearing for a weapons ban

• A hearing has been announced in the U.S. House of Representatives to ban “assault weapons,” according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Pelosi said the hearing would be held “soon” and added it was “a step the Congress took decades ago that was proven to save lives and one that American people support today.”
• While in a House Judiciary Committee meeting, U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said, “Assault weapons are made to kill…when they’re hit with an assault weapon they cannot be identified. They are obliterated. They are weapons of war and weapons of death and weapons of destruction that we should not permit out here.”

2. Britt won’t debate because Brooks wants a ‘circus’

• It’s been announced that there will not be a debate in the U.S. Senate race between candidate Katie Britt and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville). Britt’s campaign said that they ended discussion about the debate because “Mo Brooks doesn’t want a debate; he wants a circus. That’s the only thing he’s capable of.”
• The campaign added in a statement, “He doesn’t want to talk about his do-nothing record…Mo Brooks will undoubtedly resort to embarrassing our state with false, desperate personal attacks. We are seeing his lies get more blatant by the day, and there is no way that a constructive or substantive debate can occur with his continually devolving behavior.” Brooks responded to Britt’s statement by saying, “If she is too weak to stand on a stage and take Mo Brooks on, how can anyone expect her to take on Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, or any of the other Socialist Democrats that are destroying America.”

1. Durant isn’t going to vote, just like before he ran for office

• Former U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant announced that he will not be voting in the runoff election between U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), despite previously saying that he would endorse Brooks if he lost in the primary.
• Durant asserted, “The process is as broken as you can possibly imagine it being.” Durant later added in an interview with 1819 News’ Ray Melick, “Katie Britt doesn’t deserve to be a senator. Mo Brooks has been in politics for 40 years, and all he does is run his mouth. If that is the best we have, we’re in trouble.”

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and 256Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories, including:

— Is Katie Britt the clear favorite for U.S. Senate?

— Was Governor Kay Ivey ever in danger?

— What can be done after yet another school shooting?

Yellowhammer News’ Dylan Smith joins the show to discuss how Election Day played out and everything happening in Alabama politics this week.

Jackson closes the show with a “Parting Shot” directed at Alabama’s low voter turnout while other states are seeing higher turnout.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

An uphill battle faces U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) in his fight for political survival against U.S. Senate primary rival Katie Britt, who outperformed her standing in the polls leading up to Tuesday’s election.

As of reporting time with 92% of the vote tallied, Britt is holding 44.7% of all votes cast. Brooks presently holds 29.2%, with U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant sitting at 23.3%.

The tones each candidate struck in their respected election night speeches precisely resembled their political personalities.

In his concession speech, Durant, a political outsider who faced an onslaught of attack ads from pro-Britt super PACs, lamented the negative nature of the race and expressed disgust with the Britt campaign’s tactics.

Brooks, in keeping with his combative nature and defiant political posture, declared his candidacy to have been “resurrected from the dead” even as “experts declared” that his campaign was “dead in the water.”

In touting the strong show of support her candidacy received across the state, Britt touched on her consistent message of asserting that Alabamians desired “new blood” in representation and presented a theme of focusing on the state’s future.

As of reporting time, Britt holds a lead in 62 of the state’s 67 counties. Polling released ahead of Tuesday appears to have grossly underestimated Britt’s strength in rural Alabama.

Britt is running neck-and-neck with Brooks in his home county of Madison, where she is garnering 36.3% of the vote, which trails Brooks’ 39.9%.

What the Brooks campaign will be banking on for next month’s runoff is moving a portion of the 21.3% of Durant’s supporters in Madison County over to his column, as a strong turnout in the six-term congressman’s home county will be crucial to his election night success.

Brooks will likely receive a boost from voter turnout in Madison County as a runoff will also be held in Alabama’s fifth congressional district, the seat which he is vacating next year.

The congressman narrowly leads Britt by just over 1% in Limestone, Morgan and Blount Counties. In Shelby County, his lead is even smaller as he has just 0.2% more votes than the first-time candidate.

What is unknown is the propensity of Durant’s voting bloc. While it is likely that a majority of Durant voters who choose to participate in the runoff election will gravitate to Brooks, the number of those individuals who show up to the polls is the central question.

Durant’s descent from clear frontrunner to third place can be attributed to the bombardment of negative ads his candidacy was subjected to from pro-Britt forces, something which the “Black Hawk Down” pilot acknowledged in his concession speech Tuesday night.

“I had integrity. I didn’t lie, I didn’t sling mud,” said Durant. “I ran the campaign that people told me they wanted to be run. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. But I don’t feel bad about it. I felt better about this than if we cheated, lied and did whatever we had to do to win and won.”

While venting his grievances to present media a day prior to the election, Durant advised that he would support Brooks in the runoff. How active he will be in opposing Britt’s candidacy in support of the congressman is yet to be determined.

As far as the negative campaign ads, Alabama voters can expect to be subjected to another month of grueling content as tensions will only heighten in the two-way race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa).

Britt’s well-funded super PAC apparatus, along with her own campaign infrastructure, is sure to become heavily weaponized to Brooks’ detriment. However, the pro-Brooks Club for Growth Action and other lesser-known PACs will likely increase their ad presence in the Yellowhammer State and continue their offensive against Britt.

The runoff election will take place June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Birmingham Starbucks will vote on unionizing

• In Birmingham, one Starbucks location is seeking unionizing, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday this week. If workers decide to unionize, they’ll be part of Workers United, Southern Regional Joint Board.
• Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said, “The Starbucks partners at 20 Midtown are going to make history as the first store to unionize in Alabama. Make sure to stop in and order with the name ‘Union Yes/Union Strong’ to show your support of these partners.”

6. Man with terrorist ties arrested for plotting to kill former President George W. Bush

• Shihab Ahmed Shihab has been arrested and presented in federal court in Columbus, Ohio, for an alleged plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush. Shihab has ties to ISIS and was only one of the people involved in this plan.
• According to an FBI search warrant, part of the plot involved more individuals crossing the southern border illegally to carry out the assassination. Secret Service spokesperson Special Agent Steve Kopek said when asked about the situation, “The U.S. Secret Service takes all threats to our protectees seriously…the Secret Service does not discuss the means and methods used to conduct our protective operations or matters of protective intelligence.”

5. Kemp wins big and Marjorie Taylor Greene survives in Georgia

• The national election stories of the day may come out of Georgia, as former President Donald Trump’s chosen candidate lost embarrassingly to incumbent Governor Brian Kemp while U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) beat off a media onslaught that even tried to keep her off the ballot.
• Trump’s PAC had suggested that Kemp would lose to Democrat candidate Stacey Abrams in a general election, but Georgia voters were not interested, and Kemp won easily.

4. Jim Zeigler narrowly misses becoming Alabama Secretary of State;Other races see runoffs

• While State Auditor Jim Zeigler was polling in first place in the Alabama Secretary of State race at the last minute with about 50% of those responding, State Representative Wes Allen (R-Troy) will face Zeigler in a runoff to see who gains the very important seat that oversees elections. Zeigler leads Allen 42.72% to 39.49%
• Other statewide runoffs in the Republican Party include both Public Service Commission posts and the State Auditor race, where State Representative Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) led the field with 39.51% and will take on Stan Cooke, who gained 32.74% of the vote. One congressional district will see a runoff as well, with Madison County Commission chairman Dale Strong leading former Huntsville Schools Superintendent Casey Wardynski 44.74-23.04%

3. Ivey wins her primary

• Governor Kay Ivey cruised to victory against well-funded opposition and avoided a runoff, gaining 55% of the vote. Fellow candidate Lindy Blanchard fell behind at only 19.2% and Tim James gained just 16.2%. Lew Burdette was in a distant fourth place with 6.5% and Dean Odle fell flat at 1.8%.
• Strangely, Ivey declared that Democrats were trying to take back power in Alabama. She stated, “Tonight marks the end of one campaign and the beginning of another. And y’all, this is the most important one yet. The Democrats are going to do everything they can try to take back power in this state and we cannot let them reverse the progress we’ve made in Alabama.” But to call her opposition a threat is being incredibly kind as two people you have never heard of are in a runoff for the Democrat nomination.

2. Britt and Brooks will go head to head in runoff

• As was expected from the U.S. Senate race, there will be a runoff election held on June 21 between candidate Katie Britt and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville). In the primary vote, Britt had 45% while Brooks trailed at 29%. It will now truly be the base vs. the establishment. The Donald Trump question will loom as well.
• Fellow primary candidate Mike Durant continued his attack on the style of politics that upended his campaign one day after specifically calling out Britt’s campaign for being a “trainwreck” and saying he’d support Brooks for U.S. Senate. Will Boyd is the Democrat nominee. He has run many races over the last few years but gained traction in none.

1. Mass shooting at Texas elementary school

• On Tuesday, a mass shooting took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Currently, 19 children and two adults have reportedly died. It was reported that the shooter was killed by an officer responding to the scene.
• It is believed that the gunman acted alone, but the motive is still unknown. There are multiple children and adults still at the Uvalde Memorial Hospital being treated, with at least one adult in critical condition. President Joe Biden made the argument that we shouldn’t be living this way. He’s right, but no real compromise seems likely.

7. Monkeypox mania has people going bananas

• As more cases of monkeypox are reported, Belgium has declared that those who have tested positive for the disease will have to quarantine for 21 days. Belgium has only reported four cases of monkeypox so far.

• Worldwide, there are about 100 cases of monkeypox. The disease is thought to be treatable and preventable with current medications and vaccines. The government announcement from Belgium said, “Infected persons will have to go into contact isolation until the injuries have healed (they will receive concrete instructions about this from the treating doctor).”

6. Supreme Court still hasn’t ruled on abortion

• In the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that is being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, there has still been no ruling, but more opinions have been issued. This case could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade.

• Despite the protests and acts of violence that have taken place across the country in response to the leaked opinion that the court would likely overturn Roe v. Wade, they are not speeding up their process and ruling early.

5. Biden’s approval rating continues to sink

• President Joe Biden has been facing low approval ratings for months, but now his rating from the NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll shows that his approval rating sits at only 43%, while his disapproval rating is at 57%.

• Of those who disapprove of Biden’s job performance, 40% said they “strongly disapprove” and 17% “somewhat disapprove.” Only last month, the same poll showed Biden with a 53% approval rating. This new data comes as inflation continues to soar and gas prices are at record levels.

4. Britt gets the nod of a website she would rather not

• Katie Britt closes the first part of the U.S. Senate race with a message of working with Alabama families and selling her conservative credentials. Liberal website Slate.com has a different reason to vote for her. In their coverage, they warn Alabama voters to not risk their political power by choosing anyone else, saying, “Shelby and the establishment Republicans have dubbed Britt their favored successor, pouring millions into her campaign.”

• The fact is simple here. Britt’s pitch is to quietly let people know she will continue the service of Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) without openly campaigning on that angle. Slate seems to see that side of it, and Britt’s campaign would probably rather not have these things being said out loud by them or ally Steve Flowers. Slate added in the piece, “Steve Flowers creepily added, ‘I’ve watched Katie Britt grow up. She’s had ‘governor’ or ‘senator’ written on her since she was a little girl.'”

3. Cruz comes to pitch Brooks as a conservative fighter

• At the Huntsville International Airport, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stopped to help campaign for U.S. Representative Mo Brooks’ (R-Huntsville) bid for U.S. Senate, stating his support for Brooks and touting his record.

• Cruz said, “I worked with Mo in Congress when Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer had been fighting to undermine our country…I tell you Mo and I stood up together and fought for Congress to examine election fraud and shine a light on it…So, when it comes to who’s actually going to stand and fight, I don’t have to guess. I don’t have to roll the dice because I’ve been in the trenches with Mo Brooks. I know the people of Alabama can count on him.”

2. Durant seems to throw in the towel and toss support behind Brooks

• In a moment of frustration, Mike Durant lamented in a WHNT-TV interview the attack ads that have decimated his campaign. While speaking about his lagging poll numbers, he called fellow candidate Katie Britt “corrupt” and said he would be supporting U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) in a runoff, if one were to happen.

• Durant, who at one point was the frontrunner, said, “If you are going to be that corrupt in an election, you are going to be that corrupt in office.” This is a very strange thing to say on election eve, and the Brooks campaign should be thrilled while the Britt campaign should be worried.

1. A last batch of polls show the state of many races as the voting starts

• A statewide candidate for office (who is not running for governor or U.S. Senate) conducted a statewide poll that could provide a preview of tonight’s results. In the two big races, only one looks to be headed for a runoff for sure. The U.S. Senate race has Britt (39%) leading Brooks (33%) and Durant (22%), while Governor Kay Ivey appears to be ready to end the race today with 53% of those polled choosing her with Lindy Blanchard (20%) and Tim James (18%) far behind.

• In other statewide races, State Representative Wes Allen (R-Troy) trails State Auditor Jim Ziegler (who could win without a runoff) for Alabama Secretary of State while Ziegler’s post is up for grabs with Stan Cooke leading with 42% over State Rep. Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) at 33% and former State Senator Rusty Glover trailing with 23%. For Supreme Court, Greg Cook is leading Deborah Jones easily (56%-44%). Both Public Service Commission races are close with incumbents Jeremy Oden (District 1) and Chip Beeker (District 2) tied with their challengers and looking at runoffs.

Perhaps the most high-profile non-officeholder to intervene in Alabama’s 2022 U.S. Senate race is legendary musician and Second Amendment activist Ted Nugent.

The iconic rock star last year endorsed then-senatorial hopeful Jessica Taylor, who would later drop out of the race and lend her support to the candidacy of U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant. In late February, Nugent followed Taylor in officially endorsing Durant.

While making his rounds Monday in Alabama’s media circuit touting Durant a day before Republican voters head to the polls, Nugent spoke to Yellowhammer News regarding his involvement in the heated three-way primary contest.

For Alabama’s Republican-dominated electorate, the Second Amendment is an issue of emphasis each cycle for candidates seeking election to statewide office. The issue has been prevalent in this year’s race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa).

According to Nugent, gun rights have always been at the “tip of the culture war sphere” for the national left, which he said consisted of “braindead dopers” such as President Joe Biden and former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas).

Given that the Second Amendment is Nugent’s signature issue, Yellowhammer News inquired with the celebrity rocker regarding the criticism Durant received from his opponents when a 2011 U.S. Army War College speech surfaced of the former “Black Hawk Down” aviator touching on a foreign citizenry’s relationship with an occupying military.

Speaking in the context of his service in the Somali Civil War, Durant said, “The first thing that needs to be done is to disarm the population,” later adding if that could be accomplished “in some of our U.S. cities, that would be a pretty good step towards law and order.”

Pointing to Durant’s military service, Nugent dismissed the assertion that the candidate could waver on his public position regarding gun rights.

“Mike Durant watched his brothers die for his constitutional oath,” Nugent told Yellowhammer News. “That includes the right to keep and bear arms. Here’s the blinding orb of reality: If Ted Nugent endorses someone, I promise they’re not soft on the Second Amendment. I think it’s a safe assumption.”

The “Cat Scratch Fever” artist went on to express his belief that Durant was “an absolutist” on the Second Amendment.

“So my point is I love Alabama, I love freedom, I love America, and all the pillars of unique experimentation of self-government that this constitutional republic represents,” proclaimed Nugent. “And I believe Mike Durant’s the right guy. And believe me, if he ever hinted on infringement I’d come down so f***ing hard on him. I don’t believe he’s infringeable, I believe he’s an absolutist like me. Just like the First Amendment, it’s good on planet Earth without paperwork, without licenses and without permits.”

Nugent told Yellowhammer News that Taylor’s endorsement of Durant was an indication that the first-time candidate “was the right guy.”

“You know, I vetted Jessica so intently,” he advised. “She would have been great. So when she passed the baton on to Mike, I knew he was the right guy because she wouldn’t have passed it to him. She would not. So that is the conclusion of my genuine and sincere vetting.”

When asked about his plans to travel to Alabama in the event Durant is a contender in the likely runoff election, Nugent said he does not “get out much” but noted his excitement in returning to the Yellowhammer State for an upcoming nationwide tour to promote his new album, “Detroit Muscle.”

Fans will have the opportunity to see the “Motor City Madman” in concert at Mobile’s Soul Kitchen Music Hall on July 31 and Huntsville’s Mars Music Hall on August 2.

Durant will face U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt in the May 24 GOP primary election. Should no candidate earn more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will take place June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Title 42 protected by a judge as poll finds Americans want illegal immigrants kept out

• The Trump-era program that made it easier to expel illegal immigrants who enter the United States and are stopped by Border Patrol agents will continue for now after a Louisana judge ordered it to remain. Even with the program in place, which won’t be for long, the stream of illegal immigrants across the border has increased significantly under the Biden administration with 2 million being expelled using Title 42 but many more getting away.
• The American people want this program to continue with 55% saying it has stopped hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens from requesting asylum and being allowed to stay inside the country while their case is adjudicated. 

6. There’s a waitlist to stay in Vicky White and Casey White’s motel room

• There is now a long waitlist at Motel 41 in Evansville, Ind., where Lauderdale corrections officer Vicky White and inmate Casey White stayed for several days after escaping in late April. 
• The waitlist is only for the specific room, 150, that the couple stayed in. At least 60 people are currently on a waitlist for the room. After fleeing the motel on May 9, Vicky died from a self-inflicted gunshot and Casey was captured, later being returned to Lauderdale County Jail. 

5. Even if you aren’t showing symptoms, you may be achimptomatic

• There are at least 92 confirmed cases across 12 countries of the rare disease of monkeypox and 28 suspected cases. The World Health Organization said in a release that there are cases in the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• The latest suspected case in the United States is located in Florida. White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha stated, “The situation is evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries…I feel like this is a virus we understand, we have vaccines against it, we have treatments against it, and it’s spread very differently than SARS-CoV-2.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously had to use some smallpox vaccines to stop the spread of monkeypox in 2003.

4. Some formula has arrived in the United States

• Some slight relief has come to the infant formula shortage, with 78,000 pounds of formula arriving in the United States from Europe. Several flights are expected to bring the formula to the country. 
• According to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, this supply is only 15% of the formula currently needed. Deese also mentioned that this situation showed a need for more formula providers since the shortage was a result of one plant shutting down in Michigan due to safety issues. 

3. New record-low unemployment

• The Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) announced that in April, there was a new record low unemployment rate of 2.8% in the state. This is down slightly from March, which was at 2.9%. 
• The report shows that 2,213,189 people are employed while only 63,208 remain unemployed, and there was an increase in wages. ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said, “I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen a jobs report with this many positives… On top of the other records, we’ve also increased wages to a new record high, with average weekly wages gaining over $21 dollars over-the-year. Additionally, the leisure and hospitality sector set yet another record for weekly wages, with a yearly increase of more than $28.”

2. Hillary Clinton assisted in spreading disinformation about Trump

• The trial of Michael Sussmann has revealed that Hillary Clinton approved spreading the false information that former President Donald Trump was connected to a Russian bank, according to testimony from former campaign manager Robby Mook.
• Trump’s potential link to the Russian bank was also investigated by the FBI, and general counsel James Baker said, “[T]here was nothing there.” Trump responded to the recent testimony, calling it “one of the greatest political scandals in history,” and added, “For three years, I had to fight her off, and fight those crooked people off, and you’ll never get your reputation fully back.”.

1. Closing arguments in U.S. Senate race

• As the GOP Primary for the United States Senate race comes to an end, U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), Katie Britt and Mike Durant work on their closing arguments and attacks. For Brooks, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) seek to boost his conservative credentials with visits in-state and digitally. Britt visited VetFest and continued to make her closing argument about running for “my kids and yours.” Mike Durant announced the endorsement of Lt. General Boykin and visited voters in Jefferson County.
• But what would the race be without a little drama involving former President Donald Trump? The Alabama Political Reporter, a clearinghouse for attacks on Durant and Brooks thus far, claimed there were letters going out from the Brooks campaign touting the endorsement of Donald Trump after Trump rescinded and absurdly called Brooks “woke.” Yellowhammer owner Tim Howe said he received one of the letters. Brooks campaign spokesman Will Hampson called the letter fake news, stating, “This mailer went out in March before the endorsement was rescinded. The story mentions polling from March as ‘the most recent polls.’ Trying to claim this happened recently is 100% Fake News. The Britt camp must be getting desperate, but even for them this is sad. Mo is surging because people are realizing he’s the only America First conservative in this race.”

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and 256Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories, including:

— How did the U.S. Senate race get so close?

— Will there be a runoff for Governor Kay Ivey, or does she escape without one?

— What other races matter on Tuesday?

Secretary of State John Merrill joins the show to discuss how ready the state is for Tuesday’s elections, how primaries in other states have gone and everything happening in Alabama politics this week.

Jackson closes the show with a “Parting Shot” directed at people who watch the show and implores them to vote because they are the informed few.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant, Republican candidate for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, has picked up the endorsement of retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin.

Boykin, a 36-year veteran of the U.S. military, was an original member of the Army’s Delta Force and served as the deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence under former President George W. Bush.

Boykin is presently the executive vice president of the Family Research Council, a Washington, D.C.-based evangelical activist organization.

In a statement announcing his endorsement of Durant, Boykin asserted that the former Black Hawk aviator is an “American hero” who would combat the Biden administration’s “liberal agenda” as Alabama’s junior senator.

“Mike Durant is an American hero who is signing up for one more tour of duty,” proclaimed Boykin. “Mike is a conservative patriot who knows that we need to stop Joe Biden’s liberal agenda and take our country back from the radical left. Mike is pro-Trump, pro-life and pro-gun. I’m proud to endorse his campaign for U.S. Senate.”

Boykin’s well-documented military service includes his involvement in the 1980 Iran hostage rescue attempt and the 1992 manhunt for Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. He also served alongside Durant in the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” incident during the Somali Civil War.

In touting the endorsement, Durant railed against “career politicians” and expressed his intentions to embark on “one more tour of duty” as a member of the U.S. Senate.

“I’m proud to have the support of Lt. General Boykin. It is an honor to have the support of my brothers and sisters in the military community,” stated Durant. “For too long, career politicians in Washington have made poor decisions that have left Alabama and America behind. I am signing up for one more tour of duty to serve my country and my state again. I look forward to earning your support on Tuesday.”

Boykin’s support of Durant’s candidacy adds to the expanding list of endorsements he has received from the military community.

Durant holds endorsements from retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, retired SEAL Team Six commander and former U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mo.), the Combat Veterans for Congress PAC, and SEAL PAC.

Durant will face U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt in the GOP primary election May 24, 2022. Should no candidate garner more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will occur June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

New polling released Friday by ForestPAC, the political arm of the Alabama Forestry Association, shows heated competition in both the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial GOP primary elections.

The poll, which was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates May 16-19, consisted of 500 likely Republican voters. Respondents were surveyed evenly between landline, cellphone and text message.

U.S. Senate

According to the poll, former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt continues to maintain the lead in the hotly contested race to replace the seat held by retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa).

The poll’s results show U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and former “Black Hawk Down” aviator Mike Durant within the margin of error for second place, which reflects trends from other polls released within the past week.

Poll results are as follows:

• Katie Britt: 37.4%
• Mo Brooks: 25.2%
• Mike Durant: 24.0%
• Undecided: 13.4%

While Britt’s favorability among the Republican electorate was well above her competitors’, Durant edged out his opponents as voters’ leading second choice.

Brooks’ momentum appears to come at an opportune time for the six-term congressman, as his last-minute surge coincides with Durant’s downward slide amid a heavy onslaught of attack ads thrown at the U.S. Army veteran’s candidacy.

Governor

The ForestPAC-commissioned gubernatorial poll shows the prospects of a runoff election increasing only four days out from the upcoming GOP primary.

The survey suggests Gov. Kay Ivey is just over five points shy of avoiding a runoff, while businessman Tim James and former U.S. ambassador Lindy Blanchard are in nearly a statistical tie for second place.

Poll results are as follows:

• Kay Ivey: 44.6%
• Tim James: 17.5%
• Lindy Blanchard: 17.1%
• Lew Burdette: 7.9%
• Dean Odle: 4.4%
• Undecided: 8.5%

A ForestPAC poll which utilized largely the same metrics as Friday’s survey released last week showed the incumbent governor holding 51.8% support among the GOP electorate, with both James and Blanchard in the 15% range.

Should Ivey’s two closest opponents continue to eat into her numbers, the race to determine who will occupy the governor’s mansion for the next four years will be prolonged another month.

The primary election will take place May 24, 2022. Should no candidate earn a plurality of the vote, a runoff election will be held June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

The way I see it, the race for U.S. Senate will come down to the classic matchup: outsider versus establishment insider — us versus them.

Pro-Katie Britt Super PACs have spent over $10 million attacking Mike Durant. Watching the establishment use their money and political crony networks to successfully manipulate the image of American hero and successful businessman Mike Durant has been nothing short of campaign mastercraft, and it disgusts me. Do not let them fool you.

I was and remain committed to making sure the next senator from our great state is not part of the establishment. They are the problem. They are the reason Alabama is last in the country by most standards. Even when Republicans had control of the House and Senate, they did nothing to reduce the size of the federal government and reverse our ill-fated course. Republican leadership has failed us. They are losing the battle to restore fiscal conservatism and small government principles. They go along to get along to stay in power and help their cronies prosper. Spineless, weak-kneed, establishment Republicans have allowed liberals to take control, and they are rapidly destroying our economy and clawing away at our freedoms. Ask yourself why the people responsible for this mess want Katie Boyd Britt elected so badly. The answer is clear; it’s because they want the status quo. It has served them well.

Mike Durant is a fighter. He is tested and proven. He put his life on the line to fight for our country. For our freedom. Mike spent 11 days as a prisoner of war after his Black Hawk helicopter was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. After being tortured and held captive, he still served out his term in the military before settling down in Huntsville, Alabama, where he built a successful business from the ground up and raised six kids.

During my 15 years of working in Montgomery, I have seen more instances than I can count of lobbyist and insider cronies manipulating candidates and votes. They think they are in control, and truth be told, they have been. But I’ve had enough of their back room deals and incompetence. We cannot let the establishment candidate be crowned our next senator. Someone brought up and trained in the ways of the Swamp won’t know how to drain it.

Well-funded super PACs have blanketed the state with mailers designed to subtly shift your impression of Mike Durant. They say Mike doesn’t live in Alabama and that he hasn’t been campaigning. Both are lies. Mike has lived in Alabama over 20 years. He still has a child in high school in Madison County. As for campaigning, check out his social media accounts. He is on the ground working as hard as any candidate in the race.

They said Mike doesn’t support the Second Amendment because of a dismissive sidebar comment made while speaking to the Army War College about military tactics to disarm a community. Mike has spent more time with firearms than all his opponents combined. No one in this race knows the importance of the Second Amendment more than Mike Durant. He risked his life to protect our right to bear arms. He owns over 20 guns including an AK-47 and AR-15, and he won’t let anyone take them.

They said Mike isn’t tough on immigration. Mike Durant is the strongest candidate on border security in this race. Mike knows that President Trump was right: They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. And we stop it all by building the wall. They said Mike is backed by liberals. Mike’s disdain for liberals is clear every time you hear him speak. He wouldn’t accept their money. Mike Durant’s biggest donor is Mike Durant! Like President Trump and Coach Tuberville, he can’t be bought by anyone. Mike’s only priority is to serve the people of Alabama. That’s it.

Let’s give Mike Durant a third tour of duty. He is the only conservative outsider in this race, and we know we can trust him to fight for change. Do not be fooled into electing a phony conservative who won’t fight for our values.

I encourage every Alabamian to get to the polls on May 24 and vote to send American hero Mike Durant to drain the Swamp!

Jessica Taylor is an Alabama businesswoman and former candidate for U.S. Senate

7. Saban and former acolyte Jimbo Fisher are going at it

• College football exploded over allegations that Texas A&M “bought every player on their team,” comments from Nick Saban directed at Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher. Fisher responded by calling Saban a “narcissist” and accusing him of misdeeds. He stated, “Go talk to coaches who’ve coached for him. You’ll find out all the parity. Go dig into wherever he’s been. You can find out anything.”
• What happened next was unexpected, as Saban actually backed down and sort of apologized. He said, “I should have never really singled anybody out,” adding,”[T]hat was a mistake and I really apologize for that part of it.” There were calls for both coaches to be punished by the SEC, so they got public reprimands to go with their millions of dollars of attention.

6. Marshall ready for Alabama to be an aggressor

• Roe v. Wade seems ready to be overturned, and the media and their Democrats are ready to gnash their teeth and fight about it. Pro-life states are also gearing up to change and defend their laws, and Alabama is no different. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall suggested Alabama would attempt to implement laws that were already passed by the legislature, but he also said Alabama would go after legal fees in previous cases.
• Marshall outlined, “[I]t is returning to the states the ability to make the decision relating to abortion, and then we would have the responsibility at that time as the people’s lawyer to be able to lift what other restrictions may exist as a result of prior federal action.” He added that the state had been hit with legal fees from those who challenged the state’s 2019 abortion law and he would go after recouping that.

5. Tuberville: Colorado delegation has “sore loser syndrome”

• U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), like most of us, is completely over all the drama surrounding the relocation of the Air Force’s Space Command from Colorado to Alabama. Tuberville said, “For the sake of national security and military readiness, I will strongly oppose further efforts to unnecessarily delay this critical move.”
• In a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Tuberville declared, “At this point, the biggest thing standing in the way of SPACECOM is political inertia and sore loser syndrome, each a detriment to U.S. military effectiveness,” and “It’s time we embrace the Air Force’s decision and move forward together.” The likelihood of this happening is unlikely.

4. Blackouts possible this summer

• High energy costs, inflation and the pending abortion riots don’t sound bad enough for the summer? Fear not, because we may also have rolling blackouts for portions of the United States where the energy needed could exceed the amount of energy supplied.
• Forced power outages in the form of rolling blackouts could become the norm for portions of the mid-South and Midwest. The strain could also lead to higher energy costs across the board, and the issue could spread. Concern over energy is all over. Just yesterday in congressional hearings, Biden administration officials continued to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for high gas prices and refused to say the prices were too high.

3. Illegal PAC ads running in Alabama but they will continue

• We have all seen the latest ads targeting Kay Ivey on her relationship with China. They oddly reference Tokyo Rose to imply she’s a traitor to Alabama and the nation. The ads may be completely illegal because the entity purchasing them ($500,000 worth so far), Common Sense America Election Fund based in McLean, Virginia, has not filed the appropriate paperwork in the state.
• Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill laid out the compliance issues with the PAC, and it sounds like it may just be a paperwork error on their part. He stated, “[G]iven what appears to be a lack of compliance with campaign finance laws and the non-responsiveness to our inquiries, we are now calling attention to this situation in hopes that it can be addressed in a timely matter and to ensure that Alabama’s election laws are complied with.”

2. $2 million more from Mitch McConnell to fight Mo Brooks

• In what may be a sign of things to come in the primary runoff, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) continues to dump money into the GOP primary for the Alabama U.S. Senate race. This is all part of a broader move to attack Brooks and keep him out of the runoff.
• This is not the first time McConnell has opposed Brooks. In 2017, McConnell’s Senate Leadership fund spent large funds targeting Brooks. The end result of that brilliant play was his preferred candidate former U.S. Senator Luther Strange (R-Mountain Brook) losing to Roy Moore, who would go on to lose to future U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Birmingham), and McConnell eventually found himself losing battles on Obamacare, immigration and eventually his leadership post.

1. Another poll shows Britt up, but Brooks closing the gap; Ivey up big

• A new poll conducted by Cygnal, a reputable firm, has U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) within the margin of error of frontrunner Katie Britt (30.8%) with Brooks at 28.5%. This is the closest this race has been in months, and Brooks may be surging at just the right time. Durant is in third with less than seven points separating the three candidates.
• In the race for governor, incumbent Kay Ivey maintains a commanding lead heading into the last weekend of the campaign with 47.5% of the vote and 11.3% remaining undecided. Challengers Tim James and Lindy Blanchard continue to trail by a large margin with 15.9% and 13.4%, respectively. A runoff is possible, but Ivey seems poised to avoid one.

Alabama’s 2022 race for the U.S. Senate has proven that there is no love lost between U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Federal Election Commission (FEC) records unveiled last week that the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a super PAC affiliated with the Senate GOP leader, has invested $2 million to oppose Brooks’ senatorial candidacy.

The contribution was made to Alabama’s Future, a super PAC that has spent nearly $4 million in negative campaign ads against the North Alabama congressman.

This is not the first time that SLF has intervened in a Yellowhammer State Republican primary election in an effort to derail Brooks’ political ambitions.

The last time SLF involved itself in the state’s political affairs was in Alabama’s 2017 U.S. Senate GOP primary, a special election which was triggered by the appointment of former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Mobile) to serve as attorney general under the Trump administration.

SLF launched a multi-million dollar campaign to defeat the senatorial bids of Brooks in the primary and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in the runoff. The PAC’s preferred candidate in the race was then-U.S. Sen. Luther Strange (R-Mountain Brook).

Brooks has consistently placed McConnell, an Alabama native, in his crosshairs throughout the campaign trail.

In March, Brooks announced his intentions to “fire” McConnell as Senate GOP leader, who is expected to again become the upper chamber’s top-ranking member should Republicans regain control of the body after November’s midterm elections.

When former President Donald Trump rescinded his endorsement of Brooks, the congressman contended that the 45th president had allowed McConnell to “manipulate” him.

In his campaign’s second TV ad, the Brooks campaign direct took aim at McConnell, saying the Senate GOP leader “spent over $15 million attacking him” because “Washington RINOs don’t want a Senator Mo Brooks.”

In a statement provided to Yellowhammer News concerning SLF’s involvement in the race, Brooks campaign spokesman Will Hampson said that the congressman’s GOP primary rival Katie Britt was McConnell’s preferred candidate.

“Katie Britt is Mitch McConnell’s candidate. He’s supporting her and funding every lying ad against Mo Brooks,” stated Hampson. “Like in 2017, McConnell is trying to buy a RINO a Senate seat in Alabama. He hates Trump and America First candidates like Mo. Britt is bought and paid for by the Swamp. This is why President Trump will never support Katie Britt — she’s Mitch McConnell’s candidate. Anyone who claims to be MAGA cannot support or vote for Britt. Period.”

Regarding the assertion that Britt held the support of McConnell, Britt expressed her desire for out-of-state PACs to not intervene in the race.

“This is completely false. I believe that all of these D.C. super PACs should stay out of our state, whether it’s SLF or Club for Growth (the original Never Trump Club for China) and the Lincoln Project liberals backing my opponents,” said Britt in a statement to Yellowhammer News. “I hope they know that once I get to the Senate, I will usher in fresh blood and the next generation of conservative leadership to shake things up in Washington.”

“My loyalty is to the people of Alabama and only the people of Alabama,” she continued. “And our campaign is surging because hardworking Alabamians know that I am the best candidate to defend our Christian conservative values, fight for the MAGA agenda, and preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.”

The former Business Council of Alabama head outlined the economic priorities she would look to implement as a member of the upper chamber.

Britt added, “In the Senate, I will fight to secure our border and finish building President Trump’s wall, achieve American energy independence and dominance, onshore good-paying jobs, shore up our domestic manufacturing and supply chains, end the reckless spending that’s pouring fuel on Joe Biden’s inflationary fire, and put money back in everyday Americans’ pockets. On day one as Alabama’s Senator, I will work to implement my plan to drive up American wage growth, benefitting families and communities in every corner of our state.”

“I will continue to work hard to earn the vote of patriots across Alabama so that we can restore America First leadership and strength in Washington,” concluded Britt.

Brooks and Britt, along with U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant, will appear on the GOP primary ballot May 24, 2022. Should no candidate earn more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Defense Production Act to be used for baby formula

• The United States’ baby formula shortage continues to go on, and it may be months, at the earliest, before we see a return to normal at grocery stores. To address the issue,  President Joe Biden announced he was invoking the Defense Production Act and something called “operation Fly Formula” to address the shortage.

• The practical impact of this may be minimal as the issue at hand is not related to lack of necessary ingredients, but it directs those resources to baby formula manufacturers. and military air cargo ships will only do so much in moving the formula from countries with similar U.S. health and safety standards.

6. Most Americans support some limit on abortions

• U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-La.) highlighted the absurdity of the position of pro-choice politicians who are pushing for absolutely no limits on abortion. States like California are looking to expand abortion in light of the Roe v. Wade being struck down is becoming a real possibility. Johnson asked Dr. Yashica Robinson, board member of Physicians for Reproductive Health and the director of the Alabama Women’s Wellness Center, about limits on abortion, and she refused to answer the question. She did mention that limits on abortion were related to “white supremacy.”

• This question of when a limit on abortion becomes palatable for abortion advocates is a powerful question because it shows how far they are willing to go on the issue. A vast majority of Americans support reasonable restrictions on the matter, but fervernet pro-abortion activists have forced Democrat politicians into a position that none of them actually believe — that there should be no restriction.

5. Tuberville will vote against Ukraine aid

• U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) announced that he would not support the $40 billion in aid for Ukraine after voting no in a procedural vote earlier this week. The aid package passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week, with U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) being the only Alabama congressman to vote against the package.

• Tuberville noted a “lack of accountability and oversight with this amount of funding.” He went on to add, “[W]e’re going from these amounts to $40 billion with no oversight into how that money will be spent and utilized. It also gives too much money at one time to the State Department for discretionary spending – again, with no oversight. Instead, I think we should take a step back and craft a targeted, strategic funding package that is smaller and more measured over a length of time.”

4. Education attacks come out in Alabama’s sole competitive congressional primary 

• A new attack ad has been released against congressional district 5 candidate Casey Wardynski by Madison County Commission chairman Dale Strong claiming that Wardynski has “failed” children. The attack continues, “As school superintendent, Wardynski defended Obama’s woke curriculum and opposed school choice while Huntsville City Schools superintendent. And while he now claims to oppose Critical Race Theory, Wardynski deployed a radical re-education program at Huntsville City Schools teaching white privilege and other CRT lies.” 

• Wardynski responded to the allegations through his campaign manager Chad Niblett, who stated, “Career politician Dale Strong knows that nobody has done more to fight federal intrusion in our schools than Casey Wardynski. Noticeably missing from BLM ally Dale Strong’s misleading ad is anything about how students actually performed under Superintendent Wardynski…Under Casey Wardynski’s leadership, graduation rates sored from 66% to 88%, Huntsville went from having zero Blue Ribbon Schools to having nine, scholarships went from $31 million to $55 million, and HCS became number one in the nation for cyber security education. Dr. Wardynski led this historic progress and fought Obama’s DOJ and DOE on their transgender agenda, all while Dale stayed quiet. It’s clear that when Dale talks about schools, kids are the last thing on his mind.”

3. Alabama seeing the highest gas prices ever

• AAA recorded that overnight, the national average price for a gallon of gas increased four cents, making the new national average $4.56 per gallon. This same time last year, the national average for a gallon of gas was $3.45.

• In Alabama, the price of a gallon of gas is now at the highest average on record at $4.28 per gallon. Only a month ago, the average price was $3.82 per gallon, and it was at $2.85 in May of 2021.

2. Liberals are about to get nuts

• New reports show that the Department of Homeland Security is preparing for acts of political violence throughout the country as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to officially overturn Roe v. Wade. A memo sent by DHS to public officials and lawmakers on May 13 stated that those who have already made threats over the leaked opinion indicating Roe v. Wade will be overturned “are likely to persist and may increase leading up to and following the issuing of the Court’s official ruling.”

• The memo also detailed the threats that had already been received, with some of them being threats to “burn down or storm” the U.S. Supreme Court. This only continues the violence already seen at some pro-life organizations and protests held outside of Supreme Court justice’s homes.

1. U.S. Senate race is far tighter than most thought it would be

• In less than one week, the U.S. Senate primary vote will be held in Alabama, and the latest polling from Emerson College Polling shows that candidate Katie Britt has continued to hold her first place position. Unexpectedly, all three candidates are separated by less than seven points.

• In the survey, Britt was at 32%, while candidate Mike Durant and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) were very close at 26.4% and 25.1%, respectively. The poll was only conducted from May 15-16 and shows that 14% of people are still undecided. However, a majority of the undecided voters are more in favor of Britt, with 39.4%, while Brooks has 26.7% and Durant has 17.7%.

In her final TV ad of the 2022 primary election cycle, Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Katie Britt is making her pitch to voters as to why she should become Alabama’s next junior senator.

Britt’s 30-second spot touches on the first-time candidate’s positions regarding abortion, gun rights, illegal immigration and energy policy.

“Growing up here in Alabama, I learned your word is your bond,” says Britt in the ad. “I’m running to be your senator, so you deserve to know where I stand. I’ll protect life, defend our Second Amendment, fight for stronger borders, and make sure that America is energy independent.”

She concludes, “I’m running this race for my kids and for yours. I love this state, and I believe in this state. Together, we’ll create more opportunity for Alabama and make America safe and secure. I’m Katie Britt, and I approve this message. And I would be honored to earn your vote.”

Watch:

In a statement reflecting on her campaign, Britt spoke to what she asserted to be the “incredible momentum” that her candidacy had received from the grassroots.

“We have been working nonstop on the campaign trail for nearly 12 months now, travelling to all 67 counties to visit with hardworking Alabamians and learn more about how their next U.S. Senator can help them thrive,” said Britt. “The momentum we are feeling on the ground every day is incredible – it is clear that the people of Alabama want fresh blood to usher in the next generation of conservative leadership and shake things up in Washington.”

“The future of Alabama is on the ballot, and I’d be honored to earn your vote on May 24,” she continued. “In the Senate, I will fight tirelessly to defend our Christian conservative values, advance the America First agenda, and preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.”

Britt will appear on the May 24, 2022, GOP primary ballot along with U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville).

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

As voters inch closer to making a final decision as to which candidate they will cast their ballot in favor of in the upcoming U.S. Senate GOP primary election, two of the race’s leading contenders are taking direct aim at one another in competing television spots.

Until this point, only super PACs supporting the race’s top three candidates have launched attack ads against opposing GOP rivals. That trend ended last week as former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt took a shot at U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant over his past comments relating to the Second Amendment.

Britt’s ad slams Durant for comments he made during a 2011 speech at the U.S. Army War College regarding a foreign citizenry’s relationship with an occupying military. The speech detailed actions the U.S. military took while Durant was deployed in East Africa during the Somali Civil War.

“I’m Katie Britt, and I will always defend the Second Amendment. New Hampshire liberal Mike Durant won’t,” the ad features Britt saying before transitioning to a clip from Durant’s speech.

“The first thing that needs to be done is to disarm the population,” Durant says. “If we could do that in some of our U.S. cities, that would be a pretty good step towards law and order.”

Britt concludes, “Mr. Durant, our Second Amendment is what ensures law and order — protecting us from government tyranny and criminals. I approve this message because I’ll stand up to the gun-grabbers in D.C. And Mike Durant — he’ll join them.”

Watch:

While drawing heat from his opponents over the comments, Durant has maintained that his words were “mischaracterized” and defended his Second Amendment stance by saying that he “shot more rounds every month [in Somalia] than most people shoot in their lives.”

Shortly after Britt’s ad dropped, the Durant campaign went on the offensive in a TV spot of its own.

The ad hits Britt over a contribution that was made to a super PAC supporting her candidacy by a donor that has made public statements decrying the Alabama Legislature’s 2019 passage of a pro-life bill.

Durant’s ad also takes issue with Britt over a University of Alabama student government association (SGA) resolution, which passed during her tenure as SGA president, enabling morning-after pills to become available to students at the university’s health center.

“The ads for Katie Britt are paid for by a big pro-abortion donor. Why? Because Katie Britt has a pro-abortion record,” says the ad’s voice-over. “She let abortion pills be supplied to teenagers, supported pro-abortion candidates for office and refused to say if she’d stop Biden’s election which resulted in a pro-abortion court justice. Our next senator could cement a pro-life majority for generations. Innocent babies deserve better than Katie Britt.”

Watch:

In a recent response to the claims, Britt told 1819 News that she “had no control of” the resolution as SGA president and asserted that she was “100% pro-life,” something she has maintained throughout the entirety of the race. Additionally, the question was raised as to whether Britt held the authority as SGA head to issue a presidential veto.

Britt and Durant will face U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) in the Republican primary May 24, 2022. Should no candidate earn a plurality of the vote, a runoff election will occur June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

The issue of illegal immigration has quickly emerged as one of the hottest subjects in Alabama’s 2022 U.S. Senate Republican primary.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), a candidate for Alabama’s open Senate seat, released a television advertisement Tuesday highlighting his position on the issue.

The 30-second spot touts Brooks being recognized as having the strongest border security record in Congress by NumbersUSA, a prominent anti-illegal immigration advocacy organization.

“No one has fought illegal immigration harder than Mo Brooks,” says the ad narrator. “Mo cosponsored the Deport Foreign Criminals Act, the No Social Security for Illegals Act, fought the Gang of Eight amnesty bill, fought to fund President Trump’s border wall. NumbersUSA gave Mo the highest rating in Congress on securing the border. Mo Brooks — Our true, proven conservative.”

Watch:

In a statement announcing the ad, Brooks campaign co-chair Stan Mcdonald asserted that the candidate holds a proven record of “unapologetically” prioritizing the needs of Americans as a member of Congress.

“No one in America can match Mo Brooks’ record in the fight for immigration policies that firmly and unapologetically place Americans’ interests first,” proclaimed Mcdonald. “Alabamians know that Mo Brooks will fight for the America First agenda. No one in Congress has fought harder to secure our border than Mo Brooks, and you can take it to the bank that he’ll do the same in the Senate.”

Brooks, along with former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt and U.S. Army veteran Mike Durant, is vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa).

The three candidates will appear on the Republican primary election ballot May 24, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Pro-choice activists vow a “summer of rage” if Roe v. Wade overturned

• As pro-choice activists continue to protest in Washington, D.C., some at the “Bans Off Our Bodies” event were claiming they would start a “summer of rage” if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the ruling.
• The executive director for the Women’s March, Rachel Carmona, made this claim at the protest, and went on to say, “We will be ungovernable until this government starts working for us, ungovernable…Today is day one of an uprising to protect abortion rights. It is day one of our feminist future and it is day one of a summer of rage where we will be ungovernable, ungovernable. And we will not stop until the politicians on our side start acting like they’re on our side.”

6. People prefer voting in person

• According to recent early primaries across the United States, there seems to be a lower demand for absentee voting or voting by mail, and a majority of people are favoring voting in person. The primary in Georgia is set for May 24, and only about 85,000 voters have requested early ballots. But in 2020, there were about 1 million people who requested these ballots.
• There have been changes in regulations surrounding mail-in ballots since 2020 due to their controversial nature during the presidential election and the coronavirus pandemic ending. There was a similar decrease in demand for these ballots in other states like Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana as well.

5. Part of transgender health care bill blocked by judge

• Attorney General Steve Marshall has already said that he will file an appeal to a decision made by U.S. District Judge Liles Burke of the Northern District to block a portion of the Alabama ban on some medical treatments for transgender youth.
• Burke wrote, “Defendants produce no credible evidence to show that transitioning medications are ‘experimental.’ While Defendants offer some evidence that transitioning medications pose certain risks, the uncontradicted record evidence is that at least twenty-two major medical associations in the United States endorse transitioning medications as well-established, evidence-based treatments for body dysphoria in minors.” Marshall’s office said that he was “already working on filing an appeal in defense of the law.”

4. Baby formula shortage has a long-term health impact

• The shortage of baby formula in the United States continues, as some have begun blaming the Food and Drug Administration for their handling of a plant shutdown and the Biden administration’s lackadaisical response altogether. Biden and Democrats seem more interested in price-gouging and investigating the businesses involved than the actual issue at hand — the baby formula shortage. While the administration is claiming this would be resolved in weeks, the company that makes formula for Walmart and Amazon said they expect the shortage to last the “balance of the year.”
• A group of GOP doctors, along with U.S. Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), stated, “It’s a crisis. We’re very concerned about the nutritional metabolic effects that may impact, even some adults that use various types of formula.” Meanwhile, the Biden administration is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to mitigate the crisis and increase domestic production of formula, which seems like a questionable use of that authority. But what is taking so long for a decision?

3. Britt is still leading; Ivey leads, barely avoiding runoff

• A new poll released by ForestPAC shows that in the U.S. Senate race, candidate Katie Britt is still leading for the primary, but it also shows that Governor Kay Ivey could barely avoid a runoff. The survey was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates. In the Senate race, Britt is at 37%, Mike Durant is at 30.6% and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) is at 20.6%, with 11.8% undecided. In the gubernatorial race, Ivey is at 51.8%, Tim James is at 15.2%, Lindy Blanchard is just behind at 15%, Lew Burdette has 8%, Dean Odle is at 3.2%, with 6.8% still undecided.
• Britt has been the frontrunner for multiple polls in a row, but this poll by the Britt-supporting Forestry Association has Durant in second place and Brooks a distant third. Other polls have had that flip-flopped. This race will go to a runoff, but what that runoff looks like is up in the air.

2. Brooks under assault from Senate GOP leadership and their PACs

• A report shows that Alabama’s Future PAC, which The Hill describes as “almost entirely funded by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and the Senate Leadership Fund, the top super PAC dedicated to electing Republican candidates,” has spent close to $4 million attacking U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville).
• This spending is incredibly foolish given that the GOP is in a position to take back the U.S. Senate but has a good number of open seats they have to win to pull it off. Shelby’s focus here makes sense because Katie Britt is his choice and former chief of staff, but for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to be doing this seems like a poor use of resources given the 2022 battlefield.

1. Rash of mass shootings have Biden asking for unity 

• There were multiple mass shootings this weekend across the United States, including at a flea market in Texas (between people who knew each other) and a church in California. After the supermarket shooting in Buffalo that was found to be racially motivated, President Joe Biden has called for unity. Ten people were killed in the shooting carried out by an 18-year-old white man who penned a manifesto, and law enforcement officials have said that the shooter specifically went to a place that would have more black residents.
• Biden said, “We must all work together to address the hate that remains a stain on the soul of America. Our hearts are heavy once again, but the resolve must never, ever waver.” Among the victims in the shooting, there was an Alabama native by the name of Pearl Young. She was 77 years old and from Fayette.

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and 256Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories, including:

— With Mike Durant falling in the polls, is the race for the U.S. Senate runoff now wide open?

— Does a new poll in the Alabama gubernatorial race show Governor Kay Ivey is vulnerable?

— Why does the media seem to be supporting more protests against the Supreme Court?

David Driscoll, founder of The Driscoll Group, joins the show to discuss the impact of negative advertising on the political races, as well as everything happening in Alabama politics this week.

Jackson closes the show with a “Parting Shot” directed at people who seem to think abortion is the only issue people will care about in 2022.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

According to newly released polling commissioned by ForestPAC, the political arm of the Alabama Forestry Association, former Business Council of Alabama head Katie Britt continues to lead the hotly contested U.S. Senate GOP primary race.

The poll, which was published Friday, was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates May 9-12 and consisted of 500 likely Republican primary voters. Respondents were interviewed evenly between landline, cellphone and text message.

Poll results are as follows:

• Katie Britt — 37.0%
• Mike Durant — 30.6%
• Mo Brooks — 20.6%
• Undecided — 11.8%

While largely mirroring a survey conducted by the same polling firm last week, the results suggest that the race is continuing to experience a significant amount of volatility. The race has seen an abnormal amount of polling shifts and momentum swings from all three candidates.

In the early stages of the race, prior to Durant’s entry, polling suggested that Brooks held a 43-point lead over Britt. In the months that followed, however, the race tightened after Britt’s campaign caught steam and the former “Black Hawk Down” pilot launched his candidacy.

Brooks’ lead took a swift downhill turn shortly after as he lagged behind in the fundraising battle and was being outspent by a significant margin. The North Alabama congressman’s numbers continued to slide after he lost the support of former President Donald Trump.

Fast forward to mid-March, polling showed Durant had taken the lead for the first time. After sustaining a barrage of negative ads against his candidacy for nearly two months, Durant’s lead slipped in favor of Britt. Brooks now continues to hold steady around the 20-point range.

Regarding Alabama’s gubernatorial primary race, the ForestPAC-commissioned poll shows Gov. Kay Ivey narrowly avoiding a runoff election.

Poll results are as follows:

• Kay Ivey — 51.8%
• Tim James — 15.2%
• Lindy Blanchard — 15.0%
• Lew Burdette — 8.0%
• Dean Odle — 3.2%
• Undecided — 6.8%

It is noteworthy that the incumbent governor continues to earn a majority of the support among the Republican electorate even as she has sustained a bombardment of attack ads from her opponents, namely James and Blanchard.

According to the poll, the negative ad campaign against Ivey has yet to take her below the 50% threshold.

Perhaps one of the most significant takeaways from the survey is that Burdette, former CEO of Books-A-Million, continues to experience an upward trend in the polls.

The primary election will take place May 24, 2022. If no candidate receives a plurality of all votes cast, a runoff election will be held June 21, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Those free crack pipes are apparently just a conspiracy theory

• President Joe Biden and his administration have been accused of using taxpayer money to fund and distribute safe-smoking kits, and there have been accusations that these kits include free crack pipes to recipients. White House press secretary Jen Psaki recently brushed off this concern.
• Psaki said, “No federal funding has gone to it. This policy does not allow for free crack pipes to be included.” She went on to say, “I would just note that this is a bit of a conspiracy theory that has been spread out there. It’s not accurate. There’s important drug treatment programs for people who have been suffering from what we’ve seen as an epidemic across the country. And money is not used for crack pipes.” This, of course, is a lie.

6. Formula shortage for you, formula available for illegals

• The lack of baby formula on store shelves is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for American politicians. The Biden administration has been looking at addressing the issue and has held talks with major retailers but has yet to actually address the issue.
• While this has infuriated parents, the fact that photos have emerged of stacks of formula supplied at the southern border of the United States has a member of Congress fuming. U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) posted on Facebook, “They are sending pallets, pallets of baby formula to the border. Meanwhile, in our own district at home, we cannot find baby formula.”

5. Majority of Americans oppose transgender health care for youth

• A new survey suggests that a majority of people in the United States support the idea of banning doctors from prescribing certain hormone treatments, puberty blockers and physical surgeries for transgender minors. The poll was conducted by the American Principles Project Foundation.
• The poll showed that a ban is supported by 56% of people, while only 34% are against a ban. There were also 63% of respondents that said minors were not old enough to make these types of medical decisions, but 22% said that denying minors the ability to transition is transphobic.

4. Brooks subpoenaed by the January 6 committee

• The U.S. House committee investigating the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot previously asked for U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) to testify and aid their investigation, but he denied their request unless they meet his demands. Brooks is involved in a U.S. Senate primary that is less than two weeks away. The congressman suggested a new demand by the committee is being done in an effort to impact the race.
• However, the committee now plans to subpoena Brooks and several other congressmen. Brooks responded to the report and confirmed that he hasn’t actually been served yet, saying, “Eighteen months have passed since the 2020 election without the partisan Witch Hunt Committee bothering to seek testimony from me.”

3. Mike Durant would have voted but he was too busy

• One of the many attacks against former frontrunner in the U.S. Senate race Mike Durant was that he never voted in primaries, which is backed up by voting records. He claims this is because of his obligations to his family and his business.
• In remarks to Republican Women of North Shelby County, Durant explained, “It’s a very difficult thing, and as a business owner raising a family, I didn’t feel like I had the time to truly understand who the candidates were in the primary. What I cared about is the Republicans won in the general [election]. That’s what I cared about. I’m not going to cast a blind vote for people I can’t fully vet. I just didn’t have time to do it. That’s just the reality. I was focused on growing a business from zero to 700 people in 14 years. If you’ve ever done that — there’s probably very few of you in this room that can say you have.”

2. Durant’s sister has spoken out on abuse and Durant’s denial

• U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant and his sister, Mary Ryan, previously made headlines when reports and details of their father’s sexual abuse of Durant’s sister resurfaced, and now Ryan has spoken out about what she calls Durant’s “denial” concerning the abuse. In the past, Durant had confronted his father about the abuse, and his father confessed to the acts.
• Ryan spoke to the Alabama Political Reporter and said that Durant has been “painting me in a completely untrue light.” She added, “If he’s going to throw me under the bus to get votes, that’s not OK and I need to tell the truth about what’s actually going on.” Previously, Durant defended his father as “not the monster Mary is trying to paint him to be.” From reports, Ryan said that she was sexually abused from childhood until her teenage years. In light of Durant’s defense of their father, Ryan said that he’s “delusional,” adding, “When people are so ashamed and in such deep denial, they will create a whole false reality in their heads about a convenient story of ‘this is my life.’ That’s what Mike did. When he’s talked about our father as though he’s some good guy, that’s what he’s doing.”

1. Mike Durant really doesn’t want anyone thinking he’s associated with the Lincoln Project 

• After saying he had no idea who the Lincoln Project was, U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant has had the Lincoln Project inserted into his campaign even further. While Durant has denied these claims of association with the anti-Donald Trump organization, he’s gone one step further by sharing a postcard, allegedly written by Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson, criticizing him. However, Wilson recently commented on the postcard, casting doubt on its authenticity.
• Part of the postcard reads, “Do you honestly believe aligning yourself with Trump is really such a hot idea? You are making a deal with the devil and are disgracing yourself in the process.” Durant posted a picture of the card, saying, “Rick Wilson sent this cowardly postcard from Mexico. We should finish the wall and once we do, he and the Lincoln project should stay there.” Despite these strong words from Durant, Wilson has responded by saying he didn’t send the card and it wasn’t his handwriting, and added, “If you were smart, you’d have asked me if this was real…but it’s rather evident your advisors at Jamestown Associates (Jason Miller’s old firm) aren’t that sharp. But you know, I’m a generous and helpful guy behind my cruel and cutting exterior. So, [Mike Durant], because of your play, I am officially giving you My Total And Complete Endorsement. Now watch what the other campaigns do with that. Good luck!”