Madison City Council Candidate Homolak Decries Cease-and-Desist as Lawfare by Opponent McKay
“Michael McKay is attempting to use legal threats to silence not just me—but anyone who dares question his record, his values, or his associations”—Rachel Homolak
In a heated twist to the race for Madison City Council District 4, candidate Rachel Homolak has fired back at a cease-and-desist letter from her opponent, Michael McKay. The letter, dated August 11, 2025, and delivered by defense attorney Matthew Dermody, accused Homolak of defamation tied to her comments about McKay’s associations with left-leaning groups.
Homolak condemned the letter, saying it’s an effort to stifle political discourse.
“Michael McKay is attempting to use legal threats to silence not just me—but anyone who dares question his record, his values, or his associations,” Homolak said. “That should alarm every citizen of Madison. If this is how he treats dissent as a candidate, imagine what he would do with a vote on the City Council.”
Homolak raised concerns about McKay’s links to Purple People Resistance, which has publicly promoted his campaign and holds ties to progressive organizations like Indivisible, 50501, and Read Freely Alabama. Despite presenting himself as a Republican, McKay has not denounced their support—a choice Homolak says may matter to conservative Madison voters.
As of this writing, ALPolitics.com can find no posts in support for McKay on the Purple People Resistance Alabama Facebook page. However, screenshots provided to ALPolitics.com (attached below) seem to support Homolak’s concerns, and suggest these posts may have been deleted.
“I find it deeply concerning that a self-proclaimed Republican candidate would welcome support from a group that has organized anti-Republican protests and routinely promotes progressive, anti-conservative messaging. If a far-left group offered to support my campaign, I would immediately decline,” she said. “I'm not running to win favor with activists—I'm running to represent the values of Madison families.”
She insisted her campaign remains rooted in truth and voter awareness, not defamation. Homolak has categorically denied any malicious intent in her prior statements and views the legal action as an overreach designed to chill speech and distract from legitimate political questions.
Homolak’s team framed the cease-and-desist as an example of “lawfare”—a tactic increasingly used to silence opponents through legal threats rather than political debate.
“This race is about integrity, accountability, and who voters can trust to defend—not dismantle—their First Amendment rights. I will never be intimidated into silence, and I will continue to ask the hard questions—even when my opponent sends a lawyer instead of an answer,” Homolak said.
The District 4 seat is open after two-term incumbent Greg Shaw opted not to run. Homolak and McKay are vying for the position, with the municipal election set for August 26, 2025.
For more information on Homolak’s campaign, visit Rachel4Madison.com.
In keeping with ALPolitics.com’s policy of allowing everyone to have their say in their own words, we encourage the McKay campaign to reach out to us at News@ALPolitics.com with a response to this article, or to set up an interview.
