Wes Allen addresses the Alabama Federation of Young Republicans

May 31, 2025 – HOMEWOOD, AL – Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) addressed the Alabama Federation of Young Republicans at their state convention at the Homewood Public Library. Allen is running for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Over 70 young Republican delegates from across the state were in the room.

"I want to thank you for being involved," said Allen. "It is all about leadership. You have great leadership in the room. Just look at how full this room is. It is all about leadership."

Stephanie Petelos Nabavian of Hoover is the Chairman of the Federation.

"I agree with Stephanie: You are not the party of the future you are now," Allen told the Young Republicans. "Y'all are growing the party. I thank you for all of the things that you are doing to keep Alabama Alabama."

"I was a probate judge running elections," Allen said of his past experience as Pike County Probate Judge.

Allen said that as a former probate judge he has run elections and knows the amount of work involved in that. He said that experience helped prepare him to be Secretary of State.

"I understand it because I have walked it," said Allen.

Allen also served in the Alabama House of Representatives for four year.

"Those four years were tremendous," said Allen.

Allen said that while he was in the Legislature he sponsored the bills banning curbside voting and the one "making sure that Mark Zuckerburg and that outside money is not funding our elections."

As Secretary of State Allen said that he eliminated that annual report to his office that small businesses were required to file.

"We got rid of that," said Allen. "We don't want small business owners to have to file another piece of paper."

Allen said that the Board of Registrars were being trained by one of the Universities when he entered office.

"We cut out that contract when I came in," said Allen. "That saved the office $364,000 by the end of my term. We cut out paid internships. That saved $80,000."

Allen said that he advocated for Senate Bill 142 to get rid of the ERIC system.

Allen said that when he entered office, he created the Alabama voter Integrity Database.

"We are so very proud of AVID," said Allen.

He also advocated for SB361 which prevented people from using a foreign driver's license as a valid voter ID in Alabama.

"We wanted to remove any confusion for that poll worker and that naturalized citizen when he goes to vote," said Allen. "When they get naturalized, they are going to have to update their driver's license."

Allen said that there is a perception that absentee voting is where people go to cheat in elections. His office is aware of that, and they are looking for that. There was recently a conviction in Clay County and indictments in another county.

"We wanted to protect absentee ballots," said Allen.

Allen said that he is working hard to clean up Alabama's voter rolls.

"We found 50,000 voters who have moved to other states," said Allen. "We found 8,500 voters who were registered in Alabama and were registered in Tennessee. There were 11,000 in Georgia, 8,000 in Mississippi, and 5,400 in Louisiana."

"I am the first Secretary of State that is requiring a verified driver's license or a verified social security number," said Allen. "Only United States citizens should vote in our elections. That got me sued in federal court. Fortunately, the Trump administration came in and dismissed that case. The plaintiffs have also dismissed that case.

Allen said that he publicly announced for Lieutenant Governor back in February.

"Governor Ainsworth is term limited from running for a third term," explained Allen. "It is important. It is our hope. It is about keeping Alabama Alabama."

"We want to make sure that Alabama remains a conservative state," said Allen.

"Is there anybody else in this race who has served as a probate judge?" asked Allen rhetorically. "Is there anybody else in this race who has served in the Legislature."

Allen said that when he served in the Legislatuve to he carried the bill to ban gender transition drugs and surgeries on minor children.

Allen said that he did that, "To protect our kids."

"We defended that in federal government," said Allen. "We got it passed in 2022. I am so proud of that legislation."

"Here is what I know about Alabama, wherever I go Alabamians are proud of their families, are proud of their history are proud of their communities."

Allen faces an uphill battle for Lieutenant Governor. Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, economic developer Nicole Jones Wadsworth, and Lee County Pastor Dean Odle are all also running for Lt. Gov. and former Secretary of State John Merrill is reportedly mulling entering the race.