{{Short description|Chair of the Alabama Republican Party (2021–26)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John Wahl | office = Chair of the Alabama Republican Party | term_start = February 27, 2021 | term_end = January 23, 2026 | predecessor = Terry Lathan | successor = Scott Stadthagen | birth_name = Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|30}} | birth_place = Athens, Alabama, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican }} '''Nehemiah Ezekiel "John" Wahl'''<ref>https://www.alreporter.com/2025/05/20/opinion-why-is-john-wahl-using-an-alias-on-sworn-state-documents/</ref> (born 1986) is an American political strategist and butterfly breeder who served as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party from 2021 to 2026.<ref name="ALJan">{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2021/01/butterfly-farmer-john-wahl-running-for-chairman-of-alabama-republican-party.html|title=Butterfly farmer John Wahl running for chairman of Alabama Republican Party|last=Cason|first=Mike|work=AL.com|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NPRSept23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/07/1196635596/alabama-republican-party-john-wahl-trump-desantis-gop-black-voters-young-voters|title=This butterfly farmer wants to strengthen the Republican Party's hold on Alabama|last1=Bustillo|first1=Ximena|last2=Moore|first2=Elena|work=NPR|date=September 7, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1818292174519177419|user=ALGOP|title=Wishing a very happy birthday to our Chairman and Alabama’s premier leptozoologist, @chairmanwahl! 🇺🇸🦋|date=July 30, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> In January 2023, he was elected as a vice-chair of the Republican National Committee, representing the RNC's southern region. Wahl was the youngest Republican state party chair in the United States during his tenure.<ref name="NPRSept23" /> In 2024, he was also elected chair of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) by his fellow board members.<ref name="Yaffee">{{Cite web |last=Yaffee |date=2024-09-20 |title=John Wahl elected as Alabama Public Library Service chairman, vows to protect children and promote reading |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/john-wahl-elected-as-alabama-public-library-service-chairman-vows-to-protect-children-and-promote-reading/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Yellowhammer News |language=en-US}}</ref> Wahl is currently a candidate in the Republican primary for the 2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election following his endorsement by President Donald Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2026-01-28 |title=John Wahl launches lieutenant governor bid with Trump’s endorsement |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2026/01/28/john-wahl-launches-lieutenant-governor-bid-with-trumps-endorsement/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=Alabama Political Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Wahl was born in Athens, Alabama;<ref name="ElectAPR">{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2021/03/01/john-wahl-elected-as-chairman-of-the-alabama-republican-party/|title=John Wahl elected as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=March 1, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> his first name is Nehemiah, though he has gone by the given name John since childhood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aldailynews.com/wahl-says-campaign-for-lieutenant-governor-has-raised-1m-records-show-517k-in-major-contributions-so-far/|title=Wahl says campaign for lieutenant governor has raised $1M; records show $517K in major contributions so far|last=Sell|first=Mary|work=Alabama Daily News|date=January 29, 2026|access-date=January 29, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-13 |title=Why does Alabama’s GOP chairman have a Tennessee driver’s license? |url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/05/why-does-alabamas-gop-chairman-have-a-tennessee-drivers-license-under-a-different-name.html |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=al |language=en}}</ref> He is the brother of Noah Wahl, a fellow political strategist and the current chair of the Limestone County Republican Party. As a teenager, Wahl was a door-to-door grassroots activist for the Republican Party. Wahl was later a part of WT&S Consulting, a political consulting and polling firm associated with the Alabama Republican Party.<ref name="Cullman">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cullmantimes.com/news/pivotal-role-wahl-seeking-helm-of-state-gop-post-trump/article_dd89dd20-76f0-11eb-aa67-cf71485dbd43.html|title=Pivotal role: Wahl seeking helm of state GOP post-Trump|last1=Bunch|first1=Riley|last2=Henderson|first2=Amy|work=The Cullman Times|date=February 25, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> He was also the chair of Stop the Small Business Tax PAC, a political action committee that defeated a local property tax increase in Athens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2015/08/17/athens-is-next-battleground-over-taxes/|title=Athens is Next Battleground over Taxes|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=August 17, 2015|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-26 |title=Voters in Athens rejected a property tax increase in a special election |url=https://www.waff.com/story/29881456/voters-in-athens-rejected-a-property-tax-increase-in-a-special-election |access-date=2025-09-14 |website=www.waff.com |language=en}}</ref>
By trade, Wahl is a butterfly farmer and operates a farm in western Limestone County, a business he started when he was still in high school. Butterflies bred on Wahl's farm have supplied various zoos, botanical gardens, and exhibits across the country with over 40,000 butterflies annually.<ref name="Decatur">{{Cite web|url=https://www.decaturdaily.com/news/limestone_county/the-business-of-butterflies-limestone-county-home-to-rare-branch-of-farming/article_faa1ca9b-a5c2-5b4a-b48d-5af3d58baaea.html|title=The business of butterflies: Limestone County home to rare branch of farming|last=Belanger|first=Evan|work=Decatur Daily|date=May 22, 2016|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> Wahl has also served on the board of the International Butterfly Breeders Association.<ref name="ALJan" /> Wahl's farm has been featured by various media outlets seeking to cover the niche industry of butterfly farming, including ''Mental Floss'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/51464/inside-butterfly-farm|title=Inside a Butterfly Farm|last=Higgins|first=Chris|work=Mental Floss|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=April 9, 2023|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409182245/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/51464/inside-butterfly-farm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Simply Southern TV, and Smarter Every Day.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhyyPPPgL_w |title=Butterfly Farming IS AMAZING - (Full Life Cycle) - Smarter Every Day 96 |date=2013-06-30 |last=SmarterEveryDay |access-date=2025-09-14 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Wahl describes the industry as one of the "most beautiful" job opportunities, which he contrasts with his work in politics.<ref name="ALJan" />
==Political career== Wahl held senior roles in multiple state and local campaigns before becoming actively involved with the Alabama Republican Party.<ref name="Cullman" /> In the 2012 election cycle, Wahl was selected to serve as field director for the Alabama Republican Party. Two years later, he was elected to the party's State Executive Committee. Following the 2016 election cycle, Wahl was chosen as the vice chairman for the Alabama Republican Party's division for the 5th congressional district. In 2019, Wahl was elected as senior vice chairman of the party at the executive committee's winter meeting.<ref name="ElectAPR" /> He defeated Bill Harris from Autauga County for the seat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/alabama-republican-party-elects-officers/|title=Alabama Republican Party elects officers|last=Ross|first=Sean|work=Yellowhammer News|date=February 23, 2019|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref>
During the 2020 United States presidential election, Wahl was one of Alabama's nine Electoral College representatives supporting President Donald J. Trump. He also played a senior role on Tommy Tuberville's successful campaign for U.S. Senate, and later served on Senator Tuberville's transition team in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wkrg.com/news/your-local-election-hq/john-wahl-elected-to-replace-terry-lathan-as-chairman-of-alabama-republican-party/|title=John Wahl elected to replace Terry Lathan as chairman of Alabama Republican Party|last=Riales|first=Bill|work=WKRG-TV|date=March 1, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> When Terry Lathan announced that she would not seek another term as chair of the Alabama Republican Party, Wahl ran and won the Chairmanship to replace her on February 27, 2021.<ref name="ElectAPR" /> Wahl said that, as party chair, he would focus on tax relief, border security, election integrity, and pushing back on socialism as some of his main priorities.<ref name="ALJan" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2021/02/alabama-republican-party-to-elect-new-state-chairman-today.html|title=Alabama Republican Party elects butterfly farmer state chairman|last=Cason|first=Mike|work=AL.com|date=February 27, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/alabama-7f069e76dd2bd2502965cdd1cb660e82|title=Wahl elected chairman of Alabama Republican Party|work=Associated Press|date=March 1, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref>
During his first term as party chair, Wahl oversaw the Alabama Republican Party in launching a new minority outreach team,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/alabama-republican-party-will-launch-new-minority-outreach-team-10-21-2021|title=Alabama Republican Party will launch new minority outreach team|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=1819 News|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> and led the "Operation Restore America" campaign, a group of volunteers assembled to assist with national and other out-of-state elections in 2021 and 2022, including the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, which was won by Republican Glenn Youngkin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/virginias-gubernatorial-race-was-first-victory-for-alabama-gops-restore-america-11-03-2021|title=Virginia's gubernatorial race was first victory for Alabama GOP's Restore America plan|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=1819 News|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/algop-chairman-says-republican-wins-in-virginia-are-wins-for-all-republicans-11-05-2021|title=ALGOP Chairman says Republican wins in Virginia are wins for all Republicans|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=1819 News|date=November 6, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> Wahl also managed the Republican Party's involvement in the 2022 Alabama elections, including a debate over congressional redistricting for the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama. The conflict eventually led to a Supreme Court case, ''Allen v. Milligan'', in which Republicans were initially granted a stay for 2022, but the district map was overturned in 2023.<ref name="1819a">{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/algop-disappointed-in-scotus-redistricting-ruling-wahl-vows-to-work-hard-to-win-all-seven-congressional-seats|title=ALGOP 'disappointed' in SCOTUS redistricting ruling; Wahl vows to 'work hard to win all seven congressional seats'|last=Taylor|first=Caleb|work=1819 News|date=June 8, 2023|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/alabama-republican-party-files-motion-in-support-of-states-position-in-redistric-02-01-2022|title=Alabama Republican Party files motion in support of state's position in redistricting case|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=1819 News|date=February 1, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.annistonstar.com/news/election/u-s-supreme-court-grants-alabama-s-request-to-block-order-for-new-congressional-districts/article_281e2a98-886c-11ec-8635-47250c903645.html|title=U.S. Supreme Court grants Alabama's request to block order for new congressional districts|last=Cason|first=Mike|work=The Anniston Star|date=February 7, 2022|accessdate=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-alabama-elections-house-elections-john-roberts-ec7de9d81ce904d6a660ab98be12b845|title=Supreme Court sides with GOP in Alabama election map case|last1=Sherman|first1=Mark|last2=Gresko|first2=Jessica|work=Associated Press|date=February 7, 2022|accessdate=April 9, 2023}}</ref> Wahl was also an advocate for closed primaries<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/algop-chair-wahl-calls-for-closed-primaries-county-voter-mapping-software-requirements-in-wake-of-controversial-primary-season|title=ALGOP chair Wahl calls for closed primaries, county voter mapping software requirements in wake of controversial primary season|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=1819 News|date=July 7, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> (which the party approved in August 2022),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2022/08/15/algop-votes-to-close-primaries-starting-in-2024/|title=ALGOP votes to close primaries starting in 2024|last=Holmes|first=Jacob|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=August 15, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> school choice, and adoption reform in Alabama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/algop-chair-john-wahl-school-choice-closed-primaries-and-adoption-reform-among-next-sessions-priorities/|title=ALGOP chair John Wahl: School choice, closed primaries and adoption reform among next session's priorities|author=Yaffee|work=Yellowhammer News|date=August 12, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> By 2023, Wahl had helped raise over $2.8 million for the Alabama Republican Party.<ref name="YHNFeb">{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/wahl-re-elected-to-state-gop-chair/|title=Wahl re-elected to state GOP chair|last=Shipley|first=Austin|work=Yellowhammer News|date=February 27, 2023|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref>
In January 2023, Wahl was selected as a vice chair for the Republican National Committee, leading its southern division.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2023/01/30/algop-chairman-elected-as-rnc-vice-chairman/ |title=ALGOP chairman elected as RNC vice chairman |work=Alabama Political Reporter |date=January 30, 2023 |access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> Wahl said that he was looking forward to working on a "fresh vision" for the Republican Party in the 2024 election cycle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/alabama-republican-party-leader-john-wahl-named-vice-chair-for-national-gop.html|title=Alabama Republican Party leader John Wahl named vice chair for national GOP|last=Cason|first=Mike|date=January 28, 2023|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> At the Alabama Republican Party's 2023 winter meeting, he was re-elected as chair for another two-year term. Wahl faced no opposition and was elected by acclamation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/politics/2023/02/john-wahl-reelected-as-alabama-gop-chairman.html|title=John Wahl reelected as Alabama GOP chairman|last=Griesbach|first=Rebecca|work=AL.com|date=February 25, 2023|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref name="YHNFeb" /> In September 2023, Wahl was profiled in a series of NPR articles highlighting the youngest Republican State Chairman (Wahl himself) and the youngest Democratic State Chair (Anderson Clayton of North Carolina). Wahl said that his goals for the future of the Alabama Republican Party would include attracting Black voters from Alabama's Black Belt region, as well as younger voters.<ref name="NPRSept23" />
In March 2025, Wahl was again re-elected as Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party for a third term.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2025-03-03 |title=John Wahl re-elected as Alabama GOP chairman for third consecutive term |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2025/03/03/john-wahl-re-elected-as-alabama-gop-chairman-for-third-consecutive-term/ |access-date=2025-09-14 |website=Alabama Political Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Voter ID=== In fall 2022, opinion columnist Kyle Whitmire published a series of stories reporting on Wahl's Anabaptist extended family members, who objected to voter ID on religious grounds. Wahl supported voter ID laws as chair of the Alabama Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/09/alabama-gop-chairs-family-said-voter-id-was-mark-of-the-beast.html|title=Alabama GOP chair's family believed voter ID was mark of the beast, brother said in deposition|last=Whitmire|first=Kyle|work=AL.com|date=September 27, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> Wahl, who has used "John Wahl" on official forms in Alabama, had previously been identified as "Nehemiah Ezekiel Wahl" on his Tennessee-issued drivers license, including for past voter registrations. Wahl instead used "John Wahl" on a number of Alabama official documents, including ethics disclosures, which ask for a full legal name.<ref name="APR2025-05-30">{{Cite web |last=Britt |first=Bill |date=May 30, 2025 |title=Why is John Wahl using an alias on sworn state documents? |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2025/05/20/opinion-why-is-john-wahl-using-an-alias-on-sworn-state-documents/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Alabama Political Reporter}}</ref><ref name="AL2025-05-13">{{Cite news |date=May 13, 2025 |last=Whitmire |first=Kyle |title=Why does Alabama’s GOP chairman have a Tennessee driver’s license? |url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/05/why-does-alabamas-gop-chairman-have-a-tennessee-drivers-license-under-a-different-name.html |access-date=2026-02-22 |work=AL.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515023400/https://www.al.com/news/2025/05/why-does-alabamas-gop-chairman-have-a-tennessee-drivers-license-under-a-different-name.html |archive-date=2025-05-15}}</ref> In order to vote in Alabama, he presented a state employee ID card identifying him as John Wahl, which Whitmire attests was created by Wahl himself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/10/alabama-gop-chairman-made-the-photo-id-he-used-to-vote.html|title=Alabama GOP chairman made the photo ID he used to vote|last=Whitmire|first=Kyle|work=AL.com|date=October 3, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> He later described this ID as legally issued by the State Auditor's office, as he had worked with them in a volunteer capacity.<ref>{{cite podcast |host=JT (Jeff Tyson)|date=January 28, 2026 |title=John Wahl clears the air on 'homemade fake ID' allegations from Wes Allen |work=Alabama Morning News with JT |publisher=WERC-FM |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/742-alabamas-morning-news-with-28158320/episode/john-wahl-clears-the-air-on-homemade-fake-id-allegations-from-wes-allen-319801065 |access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref>
The question of Wahl's ID attracted national attention after John Merrill, the Secretary of State of Alabama, said that Wahl's card from the State Auditor's office was not a valid photo ID.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/republican-chairman-under-fire-fake-homemade-id-vote-alabama-1748863|title=Republican Chairman Under Fire for Using Fake Homemade ID to Vote|last=Li Bartov|first=Shira|work=Newsweek|date=October 4, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> In October, 2022, Limestone County poll worker who inspected Wahl's ID was later fired after raising concerns about its validity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waaytv.com/news/limestone-county-poll-worker-fired-after-concerns-about-id-belonging-to-algop-chairman-john-wahl/article_b39ec5d6-4523-11ed-a27a-4b8fefb6e84a.html|title=Limestone County poll worker fired after concerns about ID belonging to ALGOP Chairman John Wahl|last=Harry|first=Brittany|work=WAAY-TV|date=October 6, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref><ref name="ADN2026-02-22">{{Cite news |last=Sell |first=Mary |date=January 27, 2026 |title=Wahl to make candidacy announcement today; Allen raises issue with 'homemade fake ID' |url=https://aldailynews.com/wahl-to-make-candidacy-announcement-today-allen-raises-issue-with-homemade-fake-id/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |work=Alabama Daily News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=AL.com |last=Whitmire |first=Kyle |title=Alabama GOP chair refused to show license to vote. That became a problem for poll workers. |date=September 27, 2022 |url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/09/alabama-gop-chair-refused-to-show-license-to-vote-that-became-a-problem-for-poll-workers.html}}</ref> In an interview with Phil Williams, Wahl reiterated that the ID had been approved by Limestone County's probate judge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/just-being-cruel-algop-chairman-john-wahl-responds-to-hit-piece-mocking-familys-beliefs|title='Just being cruel': ALGOP chairman John Wahl responds to hit piece against his family|last=Taylor|first=Daniel|work=1819 News|date=October 3, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> Later, he called the claims 'rubbish.'<ref>{{cite news |last=Everett |first=Grayson |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/john-wahl-shows-alabama-id-as-he-attacks-rubbish-claims-by-news-media/ |work=Yellowhammer News |title=John Wahl shows Alabama ID as he attacks ‘rubbish’ claims by news media |date=May 15, 2025 |access-date=May 10, 2026}}</ref> Bill Britt, in an opinion piece for ''Alabama Political Reporter'', alleged in 2026 that Wahl was registered to vote in Tennessee and Alabama at the same time, under two different names.<ref name="APR2025-05-30">{{Cite web |last=Britt |first=Bill |date=May 30, 2025 |title=Why is John Wahl using an alias on sworn state documents? |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2025/05/20/opinion-why-is-john-wahl-using-an-alias-on-sworn-state-documents/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Alabama Political Reporter}}</ref> Though two secretaries of state have repeated the claims, there has not been a formal investigation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goddard |first1=Taegan |title=Alabama GOP Chair Used Fake ID to Vote |url=https://politicalwire.com/2024/06/12/alabama-gop-chair-used-fake-id-to-vote-2/ |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=Political Wire |date=June 12, 2024}}</ref>
===Lieutenant governor campaign=== In April 2025, ''AL.com'' reported that Wahl was a potential candidate for the 2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election, according to Steve Flowers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/04/who-will-be-alabamas-next-lieutenant-governor-why-it-might-be-the-best-race-on-the-ballot-in-2026.html|title=Who will be Alabama’s next lieutenant governor? Why it might be the ‘best race on the ballot’ in 2026|last=Cason|first=Mike|work=AL.com|date=April 1, 2025|access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> Wahl confirmed to ''1819 News'' that he was exploring the possibility of a campaign for lieutenant governor in May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/algop-chair-john-wahl-strongly-considering-running-for-lieutenant-governor-in-2026|title=ALGOP chair John Wahl ‘strongly considering’ running for lieutenant governor in 2026|last=Taylor|first=Caleb|work=1819 News|date=May 30, 2025|access-date=January 22, 2026}}</ref> In January 2026, President Donald Trump drafted Wahl to run through a Truth Social post, with the President calling Wahl a "true MAGA warrior" and saying that "John has been with us from the very beginning." He ended his Truth Social post by saying, "RUN, JOHN, RUN!"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sell |first=Mary |date=2026-01-23 |title='RUN, JOHN, RUN': Trump endorses Wahl for lieutenant governor; qualifying ends today |url=https://aldailynews.com/run-john-run-trump-endorses-wahl-for-lieutenant-governor-qualifying-ends-today/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=Alabama Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> Wahl filed in the final moments of qualifying, joining a crowded field that included seven other Republican hopefuls.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-23 |title=Fields take shape for Governor, Senate races (and others) as qualifying window closes |url=https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/politics/fields-take-shape-for-governor-senate-races-and-others-as-qualifying-window-closes/525-50a71fbc-12a7-43b9-bcb1-db87b2494c67 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=rocketcitynow.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Wahl's entry into the race necessitated his resignation as chair of the Alabama Republican Party, which he tendered the same day. Wahl was succeeded first by Joan Reynolds in an acting capacity, then Scott Stadthagen following the latter's election as chair.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvtm13.com/article/joan-reynolds-alabama-gop-chairman-wahl/70115825|title=Joan Reynolds named Alabama GOP chairman after John Wahl files for lieutenant governor race|last=Conlon|first=Riley|work=WVTM 13|date=January 23, 2026|access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2026/03/07/rep-scott-stadthagen-wins-alabama-gop-chair-without-runoff/ |title=Rep. Scott Stadthagen wins Alabama GOP chair after runoff vote |last=Britt |first=Bill |work=Alabama Political Reporter |date=March 7, 2026 |accessdate=March 28, 2026}}</ref>
== Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board == In 2022, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey appointed John Wahl to the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Jemma |date=2024-09-20 |title=Alabama Republican Party chair becomes state library board chair |url=https://alabamareflector.com/2024/09/20/alabama-republican-party-chair-becomes-state-library-board-chair/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Alabama Reflector |language=en-US}}</ref> He was later elected chairman of the board during its September 2024 meeting.<ref name="Yaffee"/> Wahl has faced criticism from activist groups for advocating the relocation of books alleged to contain sexually explicit material from children's and youth sections of public libraries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=leadership |first=Read Freely |date=2025-05-12 |title=John Wahl is gaslighting Alabamians about library content: op-ed |url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/05/john-wahl-is-gaslighting-alabamians-about-library-content-op-ed.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=al |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Wahl resides in Limestone County, Alabama, where his butterfly farm is located.<ref name="Cullman" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Terry Lathan}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Alabama Republican Party|years=2021–2026}} {{s-aft|after=Scott Stadthagen}} {{s-end}}
{{Republican State Chairs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wahl, John}} Category:1986 births Category:2020 United States presidential electors Category:21st-century Alabama politicians Category:Alabama Republicans Category:Animal breeders Category:Living people Category:People from Athens, Alabama Category:State political party chairs of Alabama