Skydiving Without a Parachute: Wes Allen’s Campaign Just Hit the Dirt

By Christopher M Peeks November 1, 2025

The Alabama political world was rocked by the news that former Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron has decided to run for lieutenant governor. That announcement must have sent shockwaves through Secretary of State Wes Allen, who is also vying to succeed outgoing Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth—like a man grabbing a live wire. Jolting. Startling. Stopping him in his tracks.

We know this because, with his campaign in free fall—like a skydiver spiraling toward the ground after jumping from a plane without a parachute—Allen made one of the most asinine comments yet about who should be allowed to hold political office.

The Alabama Secretary of State, who brags about his time in the judicial branch (despite having handed out fishing licenses as a probate judge), clearly doesn’t understand constitutional law. If he did, he’d know that saying only natural-born citizens should be allowed to hold state office is unconstitutional.

Nobody’s accusing Allen of winning any spelling bees, but this absurd statement is like a five-year-old grasping at straws from the apron of a server at Applebee’s. Desperate.

On what planet does Allen imagine someone not born in the United States winning an election in Alabama? And exactly what voting bloc is he trying to appeal to with this? In retrospect, does his racist xenophobia not risk alienating level-headed Republicans—those who don’t view individuals who came to this country and became citizens the right way as the enemy? Does he not believe that his own ancestors, who came to this country seeking a better life and became citizens, should have been allowed to hold office? Has he no shame?

Secretary Allen, do you not have any handlers who can advise you not to say anything stupid? If not, may I apply for the job? Because lately, you’re not just putting your foot in your mouth—you have put both feet and your hands between your lip and gums, like a dip a of skoal long cut wintergreen Stop. Just stop.

We’ve got a long way to go until next May, but at the rate you’re going, you haven’t just hit the ground from your dive—you’re tunneling to the center of the Earth.

Christopher M. Peeks

Reporter and Columnist

Alabama Political Contributor

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen opens his mouth once again