State Sen. Tom Whatley Drops His GOP Primary Defeat Challenge

State Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) – Photo from Alabama Legislature

State Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) has dropped a challenge to his one-vote defeat in the Republican primary.

Whatley withdrew before the latest re-hearing in the dispute, party officials said. Auburn City Councilman Jay Hovey is now the Republican nominee in the race.

Whatley had filed a challenge after losing the primary race by a single vote. Party officials then declared the race a tie, overruling local officials over the eligibility of a voter who said she was wrongly left off voter rolls.

Party officials planned to decide the race by a coin flip.

The party scheduled a re-hearing at Hovey’s request after the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said they had no record of the woman completing the voter registration process. Whatley withdrew before the re-hearing was held, party officials said.

Patsy Kenney had cast a provisional ballot for Whatley. She said she registered to vote when she went to get her Alabama driver’s license. ALEA said she did not complete the process of getting a license and voter registration is sent only after, “the credential is issued and the customer signs the required declaration.”

A lawyer for Kenney said she is reviewing options.

Hovey will face Democratic nominee Sherri Reese in November.

(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)