Stadthagen steps down as majority leader while he pursues State Republican chairmanship

February 12, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) has stepped down as the Majority Leader of the Alabama House Republicans while he pursues the position of Alabama Republican Party Chairman.

Stadthagen will be replaces with Representative Chip Brown (R-Mobile) who is tasked with carrying the highly unpopular legislation to strip Alabama voters of their right to vote for their own Public Service Commissioner (PSC).

The job of the Majority Leader is to make sure that members of the caucus will support the leadership's legislative agenda. The legislature's plan to take over the PSC failed in spectacular fashion when Representatives from both political parties abandoned their earlier commitments to support Brown's legislation when the bill hit the House floor on Thursday.

Alabama Forestry Association

Scott Stadthagen

The bill is being carried by Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) in the Senate. The plan was to introduce the same bill in both Houses and pass them out of both Houses on Thursday to get members on the record for the bill before it hits the second house. That failed.

One state representative told the Alabama Gazette, "The people back home don't want this."

Another member, who cosponsored the bill in the House, said, "People called me and said we were taking their right to vote away," ..... "They can't even name any of the three commissioners."

The controversy was seriously hindering Stadthagen's effort to get elected as Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. That post is elected by the 440 members of the Alabama Republican State Executive Committee. While most of the Alabama public may not know who their PSC Commissioner is (or care) the members of the Alabama Republica Party are very well aware of who their PSC commissioners are and most have had PSC candidates speak to their country GOP party in the past.

Stadthagen is challenging Chairman Joan Reynolds for chair of the Party. The post became vacant on January 23 when former Chairman John Wahl resigned to run for Lieutenant Governor.

Finding a way to salvage his PSC legislation will be goal number one for Brown in his tenure as interim PSC Commissioner.

A source in the State House told the Gazette that stripping voters of their right to vote for PSC Commissioners is a number one goal of the Alabama Power Company. The PSC has been very accommodating to Alabama Power – raising rates whenever the company requested them to. Now Alabama Power customers pay 67% more per kilowatt hour than TVA customers do and more than anybody in the southeast pays.

Legislators like to point to the fact that all three current commissioners were appointed, but that is a little misleading.

Commissioner Jeremy Oden (R) – who was first appointed in 2012 by then Governor Robert Bentley (R). He was re-elected by the voters in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Oden faces Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry in the Republican primary. Public Service Commission President Cynthia Almond (R) was appointed last year when former PSC President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh left to take a position with USDA for President Donald J. Trump (R). Twinkle was last elected in 2024. Last year Commissioner Chris "Chip" Beeker Jr. (R) resigned due to declining health. Governor Ivey appointed his son Chris "Trey" Beeker III (R). The junior Beeker has never run for statewide political office before. He is seen as a political novice and vulnerable. Beeker faces determined challenges from Priscilla Andrews, Jeffrey M. Boyd, Brent Woodall, and Jim Zig Zeigler.

Governor Kay Ivey supports the PSC takeover legislation.

Can Leader Brown use the powers of the Majority Leader's office to resurrect his suddenly floundering PSC legislation which was carried over in the session on Thursday?

The Alabama Gazette attempted to discuss this with Leader Stadthagen on Wednesday; but he declined our request for an interview.

The Republican State Executive Committee will select their next Chairman on March 4. The House Republican Caucus will readdress the leader position on March 7.

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