In an age of viral outrage and empty slogans, Gov. Kay Ivey has quietly done the unthinkable — she’s governed.
Love her, dislike her or stand somewhere in between, one thing is clear: she remains the most effective chief executive Alabama has seen in decades. While others give fiery floor speeches or chase headlines, Ivey stays focused on the hard, often thankless work of policy. And in Montgomery, that still counts for something.
She’s often labeled “Meemaw,” a nickname that folksy Southern charm invites — but that’s where the illusion ends. Anyone who’s worked around her knows she’s no genteel Southern grandmother content to smile and nod. Cross her, and you’ll find out quickly that she didn’t get to the Governor’s Mansion by playing to stereotypes. She knows her mind. She knows how to use power. Not for show — but for results.
This year’s legislative session was no exception.
After speaking with Gina Maiola, the governor’s communications director, it’s clear that Ivey came into 2025 with a plan — and left with results.
“Governor Ivey had an impressive legislative session, and she was able to deliver several wins for Alabamians,” Maiola said. It’s not just spin. The governor’s legislative checklist has more green marks than red pens.
With the very first bill she signed into law — the controversial “What is a Woman” bill — Ivey underscored her ongoing commitment to what she and her supporters call Alabama family values. You may not agree with the bill, but you can’t say she didn’t act with conviction.
In her 2025 State of the State address, Ivey did what few elected leaders will — she made promises tied to real people. She told the story of Army veteran Jae Barclay, who overcame addiction, homelessness and despair. “We must do more for our veterans. We must do better,” she said.
And she did. This year, Ivey pushed legislation that will open four new veterans resource centers across the state. These one-stop hubs will connect veterans with mental health services, housing support, job training and VA benefits — not just honoring their service, but helping them live with dignity.
That same practical focus showed up in her push for paid parental leave for teachers and state workers — a long-overdue win for working families.
“She championed the bill to provide long-overdue paid parental leave for our teachers and state workers,” Maiola said. In a state where family values are often preached but rarely legislated, Ivey made them real.
She put real money behind real needs — core services, education and working Alabamians. She delivered targeted tax relief. She gave local leaders more tools to protect fast-growing coastal communities. While not everyone agrees with her approach, she took further steps to enforce immigration laws and strengthen election security — not with speeches but with signed bills.
On education, Ivey has shown consistent and serious leadership. For years, she’s worked to expand early childhood education, improve literacy and math proficiency, and create clearer pathways to college and career. She’s not content to patch holes — she’s building a new foundation.
With the passage of the FOCUS Act this session, she took another step — reinforcing classroom discipline, creating safer school environments and ensuring that teachers, not bureaucrats, set the tone.
But that’s just part of her broader vision.
Ivey has long pushed for dual enrollment programs, technical certification and strong partnerships between high schools, community colleges and Alabama industry. Her focus isn’t only on diplomas — it’s on futures.
“She has always made education a top priority,” Maiola said. “She believes every Alabama student should have the tools to succeed — whether that means going to college or straight into a meaningful career.”
That mindset — focused on outcomes, not optics — is what sets Ivey apart.
“Going into the Session, Governor Ivey stated bolstering public safety would be her number one priority,” Maiola added. “And in working with legislators on both sides of the aisle, she signed into law several bills to do just that.”
She ended the session with a flourish. As the “Safe Alabama” public safety package cleared the Legislature, her “Back the Blue” bill passed in the final hours — with House members staying late into the night to get it to her desk. That doesn’t happen unless a governor is in command.
It’s not that she always gets it right — no one does. But Kay Ivey governs like someone who understands the job: not to perform, but to protect. Not to divide, but to deliver.
She’s the opposite of what modern politics rewards. Maybe that’s her greatest strength.
She’s tough. She’s steady. And she’s not done yet.
