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Britt, Johnson join Trump in issuing congressional endorsements
President Donald Trump isn’t the only national Republican weighing in ahead of Alabama’s Aug. 11 special primary elections for Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt are also making endorsements as the newly redrawn districts become the focal point of the state’s political landscape.
Last week, Britt endorsed former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl in the 1st Congressional District and transferred $10,000 to his campaign — the maximum contribution she can make. The move marks a shift from the previous GOP primary cycle, when Britt backed Alabama state Rep. Rhett Marques over Carl before the district was redrawn under a U.S. Supreme Court order.
Carl, who served in the U.S. House from 2021 to 2025, welcomed Britt’s support. He called her a “powerful force” in Alabama politics and said the earlier endorsement dynamics are irrelevant after the court‑ordered redistricting.
“I am very grateful for her endorsement and donation,” Carl said on Tuesday. “With the race shaken up be redistricting, I do not think what happened then, has any bearing on the current state of the race now. We need to move forward now, as Team Alabama, to represent the Great State of Alabama as one.”
Britt made a similar $10,000 contribution to Marques last fall, shortly after he launched his campaign in the former 1st District, which previously included much of the Wiregrass, Baldwin County, and parts of Mobile.
Under the new map, the 1st District now includes Mobile and Baldwin counties, Escambia County, and most of Covington County. Carl is running in the GOP primary against Austin Sidwell, John Mills, and Lucas Burger. The winner will face Democrat Clyde Jones Jr., a pastor from Daphne.
Marques, meanwhile, is running in the GOP primary for the 2nd Congressional District and continues to hold Britt’s endorsement. Both he and Carl also received endorsements Monday from President Trump. Other Republicans competing in the 2nd District are Joshua McKee, James Richardson, Christian Horn, David Mathews, and Hampton Harris. The winner will challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures of Mobile.
Carl and Marques have also secured support from Speaker Johnson. In a post on X supportive of each candidate, Johnson announced that he, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain were jointly endorsing both candidates.