Phillip Ensler, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, is calling on Republican counterpart John Wahl to donate $450,000 in campaign funds from a donor who has since been charged with strangling and suffocating his wife.
Christopher Drummond was charged in Mountain Brook in July on charges of domestic violence that allege he strangled his wife. He is separately charged in Birmingham on a felony charge of domestic violence strangulation in connection with a September 1, 2025 event.
“There is no place in this race for money tied to violence of any kind. Alabama has many domestic violence organizations in need of resources,” Ensler said in a statement. “Wahl’s campaign should donate the money he received from Drummond to help victims of domestic violence.”
Wahl issued a statement responding to Ensler’s call, saying he would not be donating the money and accusing Ensler of using a personal situation for political gain.
“Philip Ensler’s attempt to drag my campaign into someone else’s domestic dispute is disappointing, inappropriate, and beneath the office he is seeking,” Wahl said. “Christopher and Alexis Drummond have both been friends of mine and my wife’s for years, and we care deeply about both of them. The campaign contributions in question were made while they were still together.
“These are real people going through a deeply personal situation. They deserve privacy and peace, not to have their personal lives dragged into the public spotlight so a politician can score political points. This is their story to tell, not Philip Ensler’s story to exploit for a campaign attack. If Philip Ensler wants to attack me, he should debate the issues affecting the people of Alabama, not exploit the private pain of others for his own political gain.”
Drummond is the son of one of Alabama’s most prominent families and companies, the Drummond Company, which manufactures coal.
According to a civil suit filed by Drummond’s wife, Alexis Drummond, he previously had been convicted of similar charges in Europe and spent 45 days in jail. She is also seeking a divorce, including a protection from abuse order.
