Morgan Murphy addresses St. Clair Young Republicans about his campaign for U.S. Senate

February 12, 2026 – PELL CITY, AL – U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Murphy addressed the St. Clair County Young Republicans about his campaign ahead of the May 19 Republican primary.

Murphy is a former editor of Southern Living Magazine. He also is a U.S. Navy Reserve Captain who served in the first Trump administration as the press secretary for the Pentagon. Murphy expressed his displeasure with then Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and General Mark Millie who were both critical of President Trump. In 2025, Murphy joined President Trump’s second term as the Senior Public Diplomacy Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine.

Murphy said that he was very disappointed working with those two individuals.

Murphy said that in his first quarter campaigning he raised over a million dollars – more than any other candidate in this Senate race raised in their first quarter of campaigning.

Murphy said that when his time with the Department of Defense was over Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) asked him to stay in Washington. He did and became an aide for Senator Tuberville.

The Alabama Gazette asked if Murphy supported ending the filibuster rule in the Senate.

“I told Tommy Tuberville that only six Senators support that – and that include him,” said Murphy.

Murphy said what he does support is overturning the 1974 rule that Senators can filibuster without actually standing there talking. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has a bill to require what is called a “standing filibuster” which would require Senators who are filibustering a bill to actually go to the floor and keep talking. Murphy said that Democrats would have to keep 24 Senators on the floor at all times to keep a standing filibuster in place.

Democrats are presently using the filibuster to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security because they object to the funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which is currently removing illegal immigrants and criminal aliens.

The St. Clair County Young Republicans are headed by Chairman Aaron Lonnergan.

Over 50 Republicans of all ages came out to Buffalo Wild Wings in Pell City for food, fellowship, and to meet Republican candidates.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries candidate Corey Hll also spoke to the groups.

Murphy faces a crowded Republican field for U.S. Senate. Rancher and businessman Rodney Walker, Congressman Barry Moore, Dale Shelton Deas Jr., Attorney General Steve Marshall, former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, and Seth Burton are all running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. The eventual Republican nominee will have to face a Democratic nominee (they also have four candidates) in the November general election.

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