Campaign finance disclosures that circulated among Republican insiders in recent days indicate that lieutenant governor candidate Wes Allen’s campaign paid the attorney who drafted the ballot challenge against fellow lieutenant governor candidate and former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl.
Campaign finance records filed with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office reflect that Allen’s campaign paid $20,000 on Jan. 26, 2026, to the law firm of attorney Algert Agricola. Three days later, on January 29, former state representative Gil Isbell filed a 75-page residency challenge against Wahl with the Alabama Republican Party’s Candidate Committee. The legal complaint was prepared by Agricola.
APR independently verified the $20,000 expenditure through filings submitted to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, the agency Allen currently leads.
When the challenge was initially filed, Isbell told members of the press that the complaint was not political and was not being brought on behalf of a rival campaign. The challenge was presented as a good-faith concern regarding residency qualifications.
On Monday, 1819 News reported that Isbell confirmed Allen’s campaign had financed the legal effort.
“This was a joint effort of seeking the truth,” Isbell told 1819 News.
Wahl sharply criticized the challenge in a press statement.
“This is the same kind of lawfare and misuse of the legal system we saw used against President Donald Trump, weaponizing the political process in an attempt to disqualify opponents instead of letting voters decide,” Wahl said. “This was never about an honest challenge or the law. It was about eliminating competition. If you believe you’re the best candidate, make your case to the people. Run on your record. Don’t mislead the public and try to disqualify your opponent. I am committed to running my race and speaking directly to voters about how I plan to make Alabama better.”
In a statement released to APR, Allen said:
“From day one I have been outspoken about my disdain for the fact that Nehemiah ‘John’ Wahl voted with an ID that was not state issued, held a TN driver’s license, registered to vote in TN and simultaneously registered to vote and voted in Alabama using a name that was not legally his. I have issued public statements and made a video to expose these issues. I have reported every expenditure with full transparency. Yet, the question still remains: why did Wahl register to vote in two different states under two different names and why did he vote in Alabama using a name that was not legally his? Those are the answers voters deserve to know.”
Allen’s statement did not reference the campaign’s payment to the attorney who prepared the challenge.
The financial connection was not publicly disclosed at the time the challenge was filed and was not identified in the paperwork submitted to the state Party. The link became evident only after campaign finance reports were reviewed.
Allen and Wahl are part of a crowded Republican primary field for lieutenant governor that also includes Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, Nicole Wadsworth, Dr. Stewart Tankersley and Pat Bishop.
