Wesley Harrison Allen (born August 15, 1975) is an American politician and former probate judge who is the incumbent secretary of state of Alabama, serving since 2023. He was previously a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, representing the 89th district from 2018 to 2022, and was elected as Secretary of State in 2022.[1]
Wes Allen | |
|---|---|
| 54th Secretary of State of Alabama | |
| Assumed office January 16, 2023 | |
| Governor | Kay Ivey |
| Preceded by | John Merrill |
| Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 89th district | |
| In office November 7, 2018 – November 10, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Alan Boothe |
| Succeeded by | Marcus Paramore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wesley Harrison Allen August 15, 1975 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
|
| Education | University of Alabama (BA) Troy University (MA) |
Education
editAllen earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a master's degree from Troy University. As an undergraduate, Allen played on the Alabama Crimson Tide football team under coaches Dabo Swinney and Gene Stallings.[2]
Early political activities
editIn 2009, Allen was appointed to serve as a probate judge of Pike County, Alabama by then-Governor Bob Riley. Allen won election to a full term as a judge in 2012. In 2018, Allen was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, succeeding Alan Boothe.[3]
Alabama Secretary of State
editOn May 5, 2021, Allen announced his candidacy for secretary of state of Alabama in the 2022 election.[4] Allen came in second out of a field of four candidates in the Republican primary on May 24, 2022, forcing a runoff election with State Auditor Jim Zeigler.[5] The runoff election was held on June 21, 2022, and Allen defeated Zeigler with the largest percentage margin of victory of any Republican primary race held in Alabama on that date, earning 64% of the votes cast.[6] Allen went on to win the general election against Democratic nominee Pamela Lafitte and Libertarian nominee Jason "Matt" Shelby, with Allen attaining 65% of the vote.[7]
Political positions
editElection security
editAs a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, Allen served as the vice-chair of the Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee. As a member and leader of that committee, Allen played a key role in determining which bills would make it to the floor of the House to be debated by the full body and which bills would be voted down during the committee process.[8] Allen used his experience and knowledge as a former Probate Judge, the chief elections official at the county level, to advance several key election security bills. During the 2021 legislative session, Allen sponsored and passed a bill to ban curbside voting in Alabama. That bill was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey on May 26, 2021.[9] In 2022, Allen sponsored and passed HD89, commonly referred to in the media as the "Zuckerbucks" bill.[10] The legislation, signed into law by Governor Ivey, prohibits state and local election officials from accepting private donations to fund election-related expenses.[11] The bill was passed in response to reports in the 2020 election that Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, reportedly directed some $350 million in donations, or "Zuckerbucks," to more than 2,500 election officials throughout the country. Allen has also made several campaign promises during his run for secretary of state that relate to election security. He has promised that no election machine in Alabama will be connected to the internet under his watch. He has also strongly opposes ballot drop boxes and mass mail voting.[12]
ERIC
editAllen vowed that, if elected, his first act as secretary of state would be to withdraw Alabama from membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center, also known as ERIC.[13] Allen asserted that the $25,000 membership fee was a waste of taxpayer dollars and contended that Alabamians would not agree to their information being used by ERIC to maintain accurate voter rolls.[14] Allen also had concerns over the fact that the seed money used to start ERIC was connected to organizations funded by George Soros.[15]
A week after his victory in the 2022 Alabama Secretary of State general election, Allen sent a letter to the Electronic Registration Information Center informing the organization that Alabama would withdraw from participating in the program immediately upon his inauguration on January 16, 2023.[16] Alabama's withdrawal from ERIC became official on that day, following Allen's inauguration as Allen signed a letter to ERIC notifying them of his withdrawal minutes after being sworn in.[17][18]
Second Amendment
editWes Allen is a vocal supporter of the 2nd amendment.[19] Allen voted for and co-sponsored Alabama's constitutional carry legislation which was signed into law in 2022.[20]
Transgender policies
editAllen sponsored the Alabama Vulnerable Child Protection Act, which prohibits doctors from administering puberty blockers to children in Alabama for the purpose of changing their sex. It also bans sex change surgeries from being performed on minors in the state.[21] The bill was passed and signed into law by Alabama's governor in 2022.[22]
Abortion
editAllen believes that life begins at conception and has been vocal about his anti-abortion stance. He voted for and co-sponsored one of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the country, the Human Life Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2019. The law was initially held up by an injunction in federal court but that injunction was lifted after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the Human Life Protection Act became law.[23]
Personal life
editAllen's father, Gerald Allen, has served as a member of the Alabama Legislature since 1994.[24] Allen and his wife, Cae, have two children and live in Troy, Alabama.[25]
References
edit- ^ "SECRETARY OF STATE WES ALLEN OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWS FROM ERIC ORGANIZATION". Western Star News. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "New Member Profile: Rep. Wes Allen for House District 89". Alabama Daily News. January 24, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "Wes Allen". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "Troy Republican Wes Allen running for Alabama Secretary of State". al. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ Burkhalter, Eddie (May 25, 2022). "Wes Allen, Jim Zeigler headed to runoff in GOP race for secretary of state". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Staff, WSFA 12 News (June 22, 2022). "Allen defeats Zeigler in GOP secretary of state runoff". www.wsfa.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "AP projects Wes Allen to win Alabama secretary of state's race". WSFA-12. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee, Alabama House of Representatives". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Lyman, Brian. "Gov. Kay Ivey signs Alabama curbside voting ban. Here's what this means for future elections". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Holmes, Jacob (March 21, 2022). "Voting rights groups continue fight against "Zuckerbucks" bill; Allen dismisses concerns". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Murry, Charles (April 13, 2022). "Governor Ivey Strengthens Election Integrity, Signs "Zuckerbucks" Bill into Law". Office of the Governor of Alabama. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ "Wes Allen promises 'no drop boxes' and 'no mass mailing of ballots' if elected Alabama Secretary of State". Yellowhammer News. June 6, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ WTVY Staff (January 31, 2022). "Candidate promises to withdraw Alabama from national voter information organization". WSFA. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ "Secretary of state candidate vows to withdraw Alabama from 'Soros-funded' group; Merrill denies claim". al. February 1, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Thomas | 02.17.22, Erica. "ERIC under microscope after allegations of liberal agenda, Pt. 2". 1819 News. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Thomas, Erica (November 16, 2022). "Secretary of State-elect Wes Allen notifies voter maintenance program ERIC of Alabama's withdrawal". 1819 News. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Allen keeps a promise". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Daniel (January 17, 2023). "Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen withdraws from ERIC organization". 1819 News. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "Alabama lawmakers take sides in national debate over gun rights". al. March 27, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ lori.jhons (March 10, 2022). "Governor Ivey Defends Alabamians' Second Amendment Rights, Signs Constitutional Carry Bill into Law". Office of the Governor of Alabama. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ "Eagle Forum Supports the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act (VCAP)". Eagle Forum of Alabama. February 22, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Lyman, Brian. "Alabama bill criminalizing transgender health treatments moves closer to passage". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Lane, Keith (June 24, 2022). "Abortion now illegal in Alabama after federal judge lifts injunction". WPMI. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Curtis, Ken (May 7, 2021). "History making lawmaker seeking another office". wtvy.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "Wes Allen". waff.com. April 28, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2021.