Scott Stadthagen
Scott Stadthagen | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Stadthagen in 2023 | |
| Chair of the Alabama Republican Party | |
| Assumed office March 7, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | John Wahl |
| Majority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives | |
| In office January 10, 2023 – February 18, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Nathaniel Ledbetter |
| Succeeded by | Paul Lee |
| Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 9th district | |
| Assumed office January 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Henry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gregory Scott Stadthagen Jr. August 9, 1977 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Amy Stadthagen (m. 2009) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of West Alabama (BS) |
Gregory Scott Stadthagen Jr. is an American politician who is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, representing the 9th district since 2018. He was elected under the Republican Party and, as of 2026, is the incumbent chair of the Alabama Republican Party.
Stadthagen held the position of majority leader in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2022 to 2026.[1] He resigned from the majority leader position to run for chair of the Alabama Republican Party; Stadthagen was elected and sworn in as chairman on March 7, 2026.[2]
Education and early career
Stadthagen graduated from the University of West Alabama with a B.S. in 2002.[3]
Stadthagen started his business, Hagen Homes Incorporated, in 2005, which he owned until 2018, when he announced his run for the Alabama House of Representatives. He holds many local leadership positions in Hartselle, including Chair of the Hartselle Area Chamber Commerce, member of the Economic Development group of Hartselle, member of the Morgan County Builders Association, member of the Hartselle Rotary, member of the Hartselle Kiwanis, and member of the Leadership of Hartselle Association.[3]
Political career
Stadthagen won the 2018 Republican primary for Alabama House District 9 with 62.4% of the vote before running unopposed in the general election.[3]
Stadthagen has sponsored numerous bills targeting LGBT people as part of the larger 2020s anti-LGBT movement. In February 2022, he introduced House Bill 322,[4] a bathroom bill targeting transgender students.[5][6][7] The bill was later amended by the Alabama Senate to include a restriction of classroom discussion or instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through fifth grade, drawing comparisons to Florida's Don't Say Gay bill.[5][6][7] "The aims of the bill are not controversial — or, at least, they weren’t controversial until the Left made the simple act of going to the bathroom a political issue," said Stadthagen after the bill was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in April.[8] "I refuse to play politics with the safety of Alabama’s schoolchildren."[8] In April 2023, Stadthagen was one of six Republicans who introduced House Bill 401, which looked to ban drag performances in public spaces where minors were present by amending the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act to expand the definition of "sexual conduct" to include drag.[9][10] The proposal did not make it into law.[10]
After winning reelection in 2022, Stadthagen was chosen by the Republican caucus as the majority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives; he was inaugurated in that position in January 2023.[1]
In October 2023, Stadthagen was honored by the American Legislative Exchange Council as one of the top "50 under 50" legislators who represented the conservative think tank's principles and values.[11]
In February 2026, Stadthagen resigned as majority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives ahead of a campaign to become the next chair of the Alabama Republican Party, following the resignation of John Wahl. Stadthagen won the internal election on March 7, 2026, defeating former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill and acting chair Joan Reynolds.[2]
Committee positions
Stadthagen is a member of the Fiscal Responsibility, Rules, and State Government committees.[12]
Elections
Alabama House of Representatives District 9
2018 Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Stadthagen | 4,664 | 62.4% | |
| Republican | Justin Morrow | 1,563 | 20.9% | |
| Republican | James Bowling | 1,245 | 16.7% | |
| Total votes | 7,472 | 100.0% | ||
2018 general election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Stadthagen | 13,297 | 99.1% | |
| Write-in | 127 | 0.9% | ||
| Total votes | 13,424 | 100.0% | ||
2022 general election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Stadthagen (incumbent) | 11,041 | 91.83% | |
| Libertarian | Gregory Bodine | 953 | 7.93% | |
| Write-in | 29 | 0.24% | ||
| Total votes | 12,023 | 100 | ||
References
- 1 2 Holmes, Jacob (November 11, 2022). "Republicans select new leadership in the Legislature". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- 1 2 Britt, Bill (March 7, 2026). "Rep. Scott Stadthagen wins Alabama GOP chair after runoff vote". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Scott Stadthagen". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ Davis, Erin (February 15, 2022). "K-12 bathroom bill up for debate in Alabama Legislature". WSFA. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- 1 2 Garfinkel, Noah (April 8, 2022). "Alabama governor signs anti-LGBTQ measures into law". Axios. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- 1 2 Glenn, John H. (April 8, 2022). "Anti-LGBTQ bills prompt firestorm of criticism from civil liberty organizations". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- 1 2 Yurcaba, Jo (April 7, 2022). "Alabama passes bills to target trans minors and LGBTQ classroom discussion". NBC News. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- 1 2 Stadthagen, Scott (April 20, 2022). "Alabama Rep. Scott Stadthagen on bathroom bill: Stop playing politics with Alabama kids". AL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ Griesbach, Rebecca (April 28, 2023). "Alabama would ban drag performances from schools, libraries, presence of children". AL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- 1 2 Gabbatt, Adam (September 19, 2023). "'Subtle and sinister': Republicans' anti-drag crusade seen as assault on LGBTQ+ rights". The Guardian. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ Poor, Jeff (October 8, 2023). "House Majority Ldr Stadthagen named one of ALEC's '50 under 50' legislators". 1819 News. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ "House Standing Committees". alison.legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved October 11, 2025.