Powell Opts Against Independent Run In Senate District 21 Race After GOP Ballot Snub

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa businessman Tripp Powell announced during a press conference at the Embassy Suites on Monday that he will not continue forward as an independent in the Alabama Senate District 21 race.

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This follows the widely-publicized move by Alabama Republican Party officials to drop Powell's name from the May 24 ballot earlier this month, due to a $500 donation he made to the 2018 Democratic Primary campaign of Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox when he ran for governor.

The race will now feature longtime incumbent State Sen. Gerald Allen and Democratic nominee Lisa Ward in the Nov. 8 General Election.

"My first instinct was to fight this decision ... but the history of such challenges says they are virtually never successful," Powell said Monday.

The decision effectively handed the party's nomination to Allen and was met with widespread backlash, especially among a segment of Republican voters in Tuscaloosa.

"I am the same Republican today as I was two weeks ago before the committee made that decision," he said. "I cannot, I will not become someone else just to seek election to this office."

Patch also spoke with other candidates who reported conflicting reasons for being dropped off the ballot or to overlook another challenge.

Despite the obvious confusion around decisions made by the 21-person Alabama GOP Steering Committee, Powell said it changes nothing with respect to his lifelong conservative leanings.

"I do not agree with the decision of this 21-person committee, but if I am, in fact, a Republican, I must agree with the process followed by the Republican Party," he said. "If I disagree with that process, then I should take steps to change it. But I can't stop being a Republican ... I will continue responding to the call to public service, just not in this race. I will remain true to my values and beliefs. And, as a Republican, I wish the party well in this election cycle."

Check out our coverage from those races below:

ALSO READ: Cullman GOP Ballot Decision Conflicts With Party Dropping Powell

ALSO READ: 'I Am A Republican': Candidate Details GOP Primary Ballot Snub

COLUMN: The Political Assassination Of Tripp Powell

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