Compiled by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen and former Secretary of State John Merrill are engaged in a public dispute that could signal early tensions in the 2026 race for lieutenant governor. Allen is already a declared candidate, while Merrill has said he is considering entering the race.
The disagreement centers on Alabama’s voter rolls and the state’s withdrawal from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state program aimed at improving the accuracy of voter registration. Merrill, who served as secretary of state from 2014 to 2023, defended his administration’s participation in ERIC and challenged Allen’s recent claims that he inherited “bloated” voter rolls. Merrill denied that ERIC has partisan leanings and said Allen’s portrayal of the system was misleading.
In response, Allen criticized Merrill’s tenure and referenced the former secretary’s 2021 admission of an extramarital affair. Merrill had initially denied the affair but later confirmed it after audio recordings were made public. The affair involved explicit texts and audio, but no criminal charges or accusations of non-consensual behavior were made. Following the revelation, Merrill announced he would not run for U.S. Senate in 2022 and did not seek re-election.
Merrill, now working in the private sector as director of public policy for Waggoner Engineering, said his recent comments were focused solely on election policy. He accused Allen of using personal attacks to deflect from the issue. “There was no name-calling and no personal derogatory comments,” Merrill said in a statement. “Secretary Allen’s response resorted to personal attacks instead of addressing the facts.”
The political exchange has drawn attention among observers. Steve Flowers, a former state lawmaker and longtime commentator on Alabama politics, noted that while Merrill is being encouraged to re-enter public office, he remains undecided. Flowers also suggested the current dispute may reflect long-standing political tensions between the two Republican figures.
