Stadthagen Steps Down to Seek ALGOP Chair

State Representative Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) is stepping down as House Majority Leader to run for Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, a move that reshapes Leadership inside the State House and signals a new chapter for the Morgan County lawmaker.

Stadthagen announced that he would relinquish his caucus leadership post to pursue the top job within the Alabama GOP. He said the decision clears any concerns about conflict between serving as Majority Leader and campaigning for Party Chairman.

Relinquishing the Majority Leader post, he noted, will erase any questions about potential conflicts of interest between the two positions and allow him more time to meet with party Leaders across the state.

“As House Majority Leader, we increased the social media presence of our caucus members, increased the news media presence of our caucus members, and provided them with unprecedented detail about the bills and measures that come before the Alabama House,” Stadthagen said. “Those are the same goals I plan to pursue as ALGOP Chairman — increasing the Alabama Republican Party’s social media and news media presence and providing Executive Committee members and grassroots Republicans with a new layer of detail and transparency about the party’s operations.”

Stadthagen was first elected to the Alabama House in 2018. During his time in office, he sponsored and passed legislation requiring public school students in Alabama to use restrooms aligned with their biological sex. The measure also barred classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through fifth grade.

He also passed legislation prohibiting hostile foreign nations from acquiring certain property in Alabama and expanding criminal penalties for unlawful entry onto critical infrastructure sites.

In 2023, the American Legislative Exchange Council named Stadthagen one of its “50 Under 50” legislators nationwide, citing his work in advancing conservative policy.

Within the House, Stadthagen serves on the Fiscal Responsibility Committee, the State Government Committee, and the influential Rules Committee, which controls what legislation reaches the chamber floor for debate.

His departure from the Majority Leader role follows recent shifts within the House Republican Caucus, which occurred as debate over a stalled Public Service Commission reform bill reportedly created internal tension.

State Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan) was later elected House Majority Leader, filling the vacancy created by the Leadership transition.

Stadthagen and his wife, Amy, have one daughter, Collins Ann.