Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl appears to be gearing up for a run for lieutenant governor.
In a letter to Republican State Executive Committee members sent Tuesday afternoon, Wahl said he “wanted to reach out personally to let you know that I am seriously considering a run for Lieutenant Governor.”
The letter was the first concrete sign that Wahl is planning a run for statewide office, but it is by no means the first sign. Rumors have swirled for weeks that he was contemplating a run for lieutenant governor but was also seeking to lessen the risk of such a run by seeking a leave of absence as state party chairman to do so.
In Tuesday’s letter, though, Wahl said that should he decide to run he would be forced to step down as party chair, because ALGOP bylaws “are not entirely clear on whether a chairman taking a leave of absence would satisfy the requirements outlined in our standing rules.”
Wahl will also face additional questions concerning his identity and curious past decisions to obscure his apparent legal name – Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl.
In May, al.com reported that Wahl received a traffic citation in 2023 which showed his legal name, on a Tennessee driver’s license, to be Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl. In a text exchange, Wahl acknowledged that Nehemiah is his name.
APR later reported that Wahl had never used that name when filing required state documents, such as statements of economic interest. Instead, Wahl signed those documents as “John” – a name whose origin has never been explained by Wahl. But Wahl did use the name Nehemiah Ezekiel to register to vote … in Tennessee.
The discrepancies raise a number of legal questions, not least of which is whether Wahl could meet the state’s 7-year residency requirement to run for lieutenant governor. If Wahl held a valid Tennessee driver’s license in 2023, according to Tennessee state law, he would be required to be a state resident.
Should Wahl join the race, he will enter a crowded field. Secretary of State Wes Allen, Ag Commissioner Rick Pate, pastor Dean Odle and Nicole Wadsworth are already in the race, with Allen considered the favorite at this early point.
