Carlson Urges Probe of PAC Spending in GOP Races

Republican State Senate candidate Nate Carlson is calling on Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to investigate political spending by the American Conservative Fund, an out-of-state political action committee active in several Alabama Republican primary races.

Carlson, who is running for Alabama Senate District 16, announced Wednesday that he is joining other Republican candidates across the State in asking Allen to review whether the PAC is properly complying with Alabama campaign finance law.

According to a public letter signed by multiple Alabama candidates, the American Conservative Fund has received funding from sports betting companies including DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics. The letter alleges the PAC is spending money to influence Republican primaries for Alabama House and Senate seats.

The candidates’ letter also states those companies contributed a combined $26.6 million to the PAC for use in races nationwide.

“District 16 is one of the economic engines of Alabama, and this race matters,” Carlson said. “When outside groups friendly to Montgomery insiders start spending money in the final days of a Republican primary to spread false attacks, Alabamians deserve full transparency. Voters deserve to know who is funding the attacks, how much is being spent, and which candidates are benefiting from it.”

The dispute centers on whether the PAC has properly filed campaign finance disclosures with the State. The candidates’ letter cites guidance from the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office stating that PACs raising or spending money to influence State or local elections in Alabama must file campaign finance reports with the State, even if they also report to the Federal Election Commission.

The letter further argues that federal PACs supporting State and local candidates should register and report under Alabama’s Fair Campaign Practices Act.

“This is not just about gambling money,” Carlson said. “This is about transparency and whether the same rules apply to everyone. Alabama candidates are expected to follow the law. Outside PACs should not get a special exemption.”

Former Alabama Sen. Gerald Dial recently filed a separate complaint with Allen over campaign mailers tied to the American Conservative Fund in another State Senate race. That complaint alleged the mailers failed to meet Alabama disclosure requirements.

Carlson said the issue is especially important as voters prepare to cast ballots in the final days before Alabama’s Republican primary elections.

“No outside special interest should be allowed to quietly shape Alabama elections from the shadows,” Carlson said. “Secretary Allen should look into this immediately and make sure Alabama’s disclosure laws are being enforced before voters go to the polls.”

Carlson is challenging longtime State Sen. Jabo Waggoner in the May 19 Republican primary for Senate District 16. Carlson is a Birmingham businessman, former Alabama Crimson Tide football player and co-founder of Real & Rosemary and Caveat Coffee.

For more information on Nate Carlson and his campaign, visit https://www.carlsonforalabama.com or follow him on social media.