The party voted on Saturday to oppose any gambling legislation
The Alabama Republican Party recently voted to reject any potential expansion of gambling within the state. During their summer business meeting, party members overwhelmingly supported the resolution, with a strong 74% to 26% margin in favor of opposing gambling expansion. This decision came despite objections from figures like State Rep. Debbie Wood and Jenifer Lovvorn, the wife of State Rep. Joe Lovvorn, chairman of the House Rules Committee.
A motion to indefinitely table the resolution was introduced by Lovvorn and seconded by Lee County Revenue Commissioner Oline Price, wife of State Sen. Randy Price. Both Lovvorn and Price were key backers of a failed 2024 legislative attempt to pass a comprehensive gambling bill. The legislation would have expanded gambling significantly, allowing casino operations in multiple locations across Alabama.
Opponents of the resolution argued that it undermined the efforts of Republican lawmakers, who were working to address the state’s gambling policies. They also raised concerns that the resolution might misrepresent past legislative efforts, which, according to some, were designed to expand casino gambling to 10 different locations.
Despite these objections, proponents of the resolution stood firm, emphasizing that it did not oppose the idea of introducing a “clean lottery,” which many in the state see as a separate and potentially less controversial issue. By focusing strictly on casino gambling and larger-scale gambling operations, the resolution aligns with the more conservative wing of the party, which prefers to keep the state’s gambling laws largely intact.
The vote highlights ongoing divisions within the Alabama GOP regarding the future of gambling, with some members favoring limited expansion while others prefer to maintain the state’s current restrictions.
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