Arnold Mooney removed from House Republican Caucus

April 9, 2026 – State Representative Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs) denied that he was attempting to record the discussions of a closed-door Republican Caucus meeting last week.

Mooney released a statement to the Alabama Daily news, "Let me be absolutely clear: I did not, nor have I ever, recorded or attempted to record a Republican caucus meeting. That claim is simply false. I believe in respecting the integrity of the legislative process and the trust placed in those who serve, and I have always conducted myself accordingly."

"Unfortunately, in today's political environment, distractions and misinformation can sometimes take attention away from the real work that needs to be done," Mooney continued. "My focus has not changed. I remain committed to representing District 43 with diligence and integrity, and to making decisions that reflect the values and priorities of the people I serve."

Reportedly House Majority Leader Paul Lee (R-Dothan) caught Mooney attempting to record the GOP Caucus meeting while they were discussing a controversial PSC reform bill being opposed (in its final form) by a coalition of grassroots conservatives, environmentalists, and consumer advocates.

Following the altercation between Leader Lee and Mooney the Alabama House Republican Caucus voted to remove Mooney from the Caucus. Mooney remains a Republican and will be the 2026 GOP nominee in District 43. He faces Democrat Taylor Cook in the November general election.

Sources have suggested that Mooney is the fall guy for an ongoing rift in the body over media leaks.

There is a lot of backstory here. This is an abbreviated version:

The Caucus – which has always leaked its proceedings to multiple members of the Montgomery press corps – became paranoid about leaks after some member recorded Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) saying that he "Could give a s---- about the Alabama Republican Party" in a debate with Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) while then Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) was seeking to take a leave of absence from his role as Leader during his (ultimately successful) campaign for Alabama Republican Party Chairman.

Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) – the retired Huntsville police chief - was tasked with leading the investigation into who leaked the profane Ledbetter tirade. While Mooney is getting blamed for that leak now, there is no evidence that conclusively links Mooney and the leak of Ledbetter's "give a s---" comment. Sources have suggested several different members or their political consultants as being the source of the Ledbetter "give a s---" leak. Until last week's spectacle, no one had suggested that Mooney was the leak.

Leaks are a problem only when government insists on governing from the shadows. If three members of a five-member county commission sit down together at their favorite barbecue restaurant to eat lunch that is an actionable violation of Alabama's sunshine law. The Legislature – the body who writes the state's sunshine laws – has exempted itself from any oversight so a supermajority of 76 House members can meet in secret with their staff and whatever lobbyist friends they invite to discuss legislation affecting five million Alabama citizens without the meeting being streamed or any reporters present.

Then any member who leaks information from the caucus meeting is treated as a traitor to the group and can be punished for sharing information with the people that they represent. A simple fix for this would be to pass legislation that requires that the press be given access or the meeting streamed any time five legislators or more are in attendance in a meeting. There is no compelling reason for deliberations on bills affecting all of the citizens of Alabama to be held in secret meetings guarded by capitol security and state Troopers being paid by the taxpayers.

Arnold Mooney is married to state school board member Kelly Mooney (R).

The 2026 Alabama Regular Legislative Session ended on Thursday, April 9.

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