GOP steering committee removes Jessie Battle from Senate District 10 race

February 15, 2026 – HOOVER, Ala. - The Alabama Republican Steering Committee voted to remove Jessie Battles from the Republican Primary ballot in Senate District 10. A number of polls had placed Battles as the early front runner. Battles exit means that grassroots Republican organizer Amy Minton is now facing incumbent state Senator Andrew Jones (R-Centre) in the May 19 Alabama Republican Primary.

Battles was accused of working as a political consultant for former House Democratic Minority Leader Craig Ford (D-Gadsden) in his unsuccessful 2018 run for state Senate against Jones. Ford had switched his party affiliation from Democratic to independent, but the party loyalty rule applies to anyone supporting a candidate against a Republican.

The 21-member state executive committee on Sunday voted that Battles had violated GOP rules prohibiting persons from contributing to, working for, or running as candidates challenging any Republican. Battles was also accused of working for Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin in one of his mayoral runs. Mayors don't run in partisan races; but Woodfin is a known Democrat.

The party loyalty rule applies within the last six years. The state Steering Committee claimed on Sunday the right to look even beyond the six year window. In Battle's case the 2018 general election was seven and a half years ago – still recent enough for Steering Committee to use their discretion to find against Battles.

There are no write-in candidates allowed on a primary ballot and candidate qualifying is over. This means that either Andrew Jones or Amy Minton will be the Republican nominee for Senate District 10.

Jones shared on social media: "I just learned that one of my two opponents has been removed from the Republican ballot by the Alabama GOP. Apparently someone associated with one opponent's campaign filed a candidacy challenge on the other opponent due to some past work for the Democrats. If you know me, you know I've certainly never been shy about a hard-fought campaign, and I had been looking forward to a vigorous debate on the issues with BOTH candidates. In the end though, as a result of this removal, only two of us will appear on your May 19 Republican ballot."

"TO ANY VOTER WHO IS NOW CONSIDERING WHOM TO SUPPORT: Our campaign welcomes you with open arms," added Jones. "I know you might not have agreed with me on every decision I've made, but I'm confident that our campaign has the vision and experience to build a stronger Etowah, Cherokee, and DeKalb. Let's not go back to the failed politics of the past! I invite YOU to be a part of ANDREW & YOU! Come join us!"

"I'm honored to be endorsed by FarmPAC," said Minton on social media, "The political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation. This endorsement reflects my commitment to faith, family, freedom, and conservative principles that put Alabama families first. I'm asking for your vote to represent Senate District 10 and to be a strong, conservative voice you can trust."

Jones is a cattle farmer in Cherokee County. He is seeking a third term in the Alabama Senate. Monton is active with a variety of conservative groups and Republican groups. She is on the Alabama Public Library System board where she has been very vocal in her defense of children and making sure that libraries don't place sexually explicit and age inappropriate books in the children's section.

There is no Democratic candidate in this race, thus the Republican Party is winner take-all.

To comment or to ask a question email: brandonmreporter@gmail.com