The Candidate Committee for the Alabama Republican Party recently convened to discuss the potential removal of a Republican congressional candidate from the ballot following a single, past donation to the Libertarian National Committee.
Gerrick Wilkins, one of three candidates running for the Republican nomination in Alabama’s Sixth congressional district, has faced scrutiny over a $250 donation he made to the Libertarian National Committee in September of 2022. It is the only such donation from Wilkins, who has otherwise contributed thousands of dollars to Republican candidates and directly donated over $10,000 to the Alabama Republican Party.
An image of the receipt can be seen here on the FEC website.
Wilkins’ donation placed him at odds with the party’s bylaws, which had been amended by state Republican leadership prior to his donation last year. The amended bylaws prohibited Republican candidates from providing financial support to non-Republican campaigns, causes, or organizations outwardly aligned with another party. Following a close 9 to 8 vote, the Committee ultimately decided not to contest Wilkins’s eligibility, allowing him to remain on the ballot.
Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for first discovering news of this story. Readers of Independent Political Report can read more in the original Alabama Today article.
Probably the best possible outcome for the Alabama GOP as far as their voters selecting their candidates. No one can cry about them preventing people from running but they made it publicly clear that they do not want this guy selected.