The Alabama Republican Party Candidate Committee has dismissed a primary election contest filed by Jarrod Schulte challenging John Wahl’s candidacy for lieutenant governor, concluding the filing did not meet the legal requirements necessary to move forward.
The committee met Sunday to review Schulte’s contest and determined his statement of contest was not facially valid under Alabama election law.
“Contrary to recent media reports, Mr. Schulte’s filing was the only original Statement of Contest submitted to the ALGOP with the security for costs required by Alabama law to commence a primary election contest,” ALGOP said in a statement.
The party said a primary election contest is not an ordinary campaign dispute but a formal legal process that seeks to overturn the result of a popular election. Alabama law sets strict requirements for such contests, including those contained in Alabama Code Sections 17-13-70 through 17-13-89.
“A contest of a primary election is a serious and extraordinary legal undertaking that seeks to set aside the results of a popular election, and Alabama law lays out strict criteria that must be met in order to institute one,” the party said.
After reviewing the filing, the committee concluded Schulte’s statement of contest failed to satisfy those requirements.
“As a result, the Committee concluded that the Statement of Contest was not facially valid and that Mr. Schulte’s contest should be denied and dismissed without conducting a hearing,” ALGOP said.
The decision leaves Wahl’s candidacy undisturbed and closes Schulte’s challenge within the party’s contest process before it reached an evidentiary hearing.
“The ALGOP remains committed to transparency and following the legal procedures that govern Alabama elections, including contests of those elections,” the party said.
