Allegations Rock Trump-Endorsed Candidates as Primary Runoff Approaches in Alabama

By Political Desk 

MONTGOMERY, AL (BuzzReport)— Alabama’s Republican primary for governor was thrown into chaos this week as two high-profile candidates endorsed by former President Donald Trump faced serious allegations of voter fraud, raising uncomfortable questions about the party’s commitment to election integrity just days before voters head to the polls.

Tommy Tuberville, the incumbent U.S. Senator abandoning his Senate seat to run for governor, and John Wahl, former Alabama Republican Party chairman and candidate for lieutenant governor, are both under investigation for allegedly casting ballots in states where they do not reside—a charge they have repeatedly leveled against Democratic opponents.

The dual scandals represent a significant blow to the GOP’s messaging on election security heading into Tuesday’s highly contested runoff, and have sparked outrage among some Alabama voters who say the candidates they once championed to combat illegal voting are now accused of the very crimes they decried.

THE ALLEGATIONS

Senator Tuberville is facing questions about his residency after reports emerged that he registered to vote in Florida while simultaneously maintaining an Alabama voter registration. The 70-year-old senator, who has represented Alabama in the Senate since 2021, filed a homestead exemption in Florida in 2022, indicating he considered that state his primary residence, according to records obtained by the Florida Tribune.

Under Alabama law, candidates for governor must be qualified electors and residents of the state for at least seven years preceding the election. Tuberville’s Florida voting record, first reported by the Panhandle Gazette, is now under review by the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.

A hearing to determine Tuberville’s residency status is expected to take place later this month. If found ineligible, Tuberville could be removed from the ballot, though the state Republican Party has indicated it will likely challenge any such determination.

“I followed the rules,” Tuberville said in a brief statement. “I look forward to addressing these questions at the appropriate time.”

John Wahl, meanwhile, is accused of using a fake ID to register and vote in Georgia, where he allegedly cast a ballot in the 2022 midterm elections. Records obtained by the Atlanta Constitution show a Georgia voter registration under an address in Cobb County tied to Wahl, despite his publicly stated residence in Montgomery, Alabama.

Wahl has denied any wrongdoing, though his campaign has yet to provide documentation explaining the discrepancy. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has referred the matter to investigators.

TRUMP’S ENDORSEMENT IN QUESTION

Both candidates received the coveted endorsement of former President Trump, who has made election integrity a central pillar of his political brand since his 2020 defeat. Trump repeatedly claimed without evidence that the election was stolen through widespread Democratic voter fraud, a narrative that helped fuel the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

The irony of Trump’s picks being accused of the very fraud they accused others of committing has not been lost on political observers.

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment, though a spokesperson told a conservative news outlet that the former president “stands by his endorsements” and that the allegations are “nothing more than attacks from the radical left.”

THE WAHL-ALLEN RACE

The voter fraud allegations have added new drama to the lieutenant governor’s race, where Wahl faces Secretary of State Wes Allen—the very official responsible for enforcing Alabama’s election laws.

Allen has made combating illegal voting a cornerstone of his tenure, implementing strict voter ID requirements and launching investigations into alleged fraud. However, despite being aware of the allegations against his opponent, Allen has not called for Wahl to withdraw from the race.

The contrast has not been lost on voters. A recent poll conducted by the Birmingham News found that 34% of Republican primary voters said the allegations made them less likely to support Wahl, though 48% said they would still vote for him.

WHAT ABOUT INTEGRITY?

For some Alabama voters, the allegations have sparked deep concern about the state of political honesty.

“I just can’t see how people can just lie and have no regret about the lies they tell—and people believe these people,” said David Craft, a retired factory worker from north Alabama. “I can’t see myself voting for corrupt politicians for the sake of power.”

Others have shrugged off the allegations as political attacks.

A PATTERN OR ISOLATED INCIDENTS?

The Alabama allegations fit into a complicated national narrative about voter fraud. While studies consistently show that intentional voter fraud is extremely rare—occurring in approximately 0.0003% of all votes cast in the U.S.—both parties have used accusations of fraud to motivate their bases.

In recent years, Republicans have been caught committing voter fraud in several high-profile cases, including a 2020 scheme in Pennsylvania where a GOP political operative was sentenced to prison for forging ballot applications.

WHAT’S NEXT

Alabama voters will head to the polls on Tuesday for the Republican primary runoff. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two will face off in a second round of voting.

For Tuberville, the residency hearing could come after the primary, potentially complicating the general election if he wins. Legal experts say it’s unclear whether a candidate found ineligible after winning the primary would be replaced or disqualified entirely.

For Wahl, the path forward may depend on whether additional evidence emerges and how voters respond. With early voting already underway, campaign strategists say the allegations could shift the outcome in a race that polling shows is essentially tied.

Regardless of the results, political observers say the scandals have already done lasting damage to the GOP’s moral authority on election integrity.

Alabama Runoff election will be held on Tuesday, June 16 for both parties.