Myrex, Doors-Churches Program Matches 1915 Los Angeles Record

Photo above: A graph of the largest jumps in turnout from primary to runoff in history, and a photo of the entire Freedom and Family Action team with the winning candidate Cindy Myrex (in red), who made history Tuesday.

After Cindy Myrex opened her victory remarks Tuesday with several minutes of thanks for our team—by name—for working targeted homes and churches throughout Cullman County, Alabama. President John Pudner stated he was unaware of any winning candidate in history who had increased her vote total in a runoff by more than Myrex just did.

Note: We rarely go a month without a new post, but most of the team has been on leave in Alabama making history.

Since 1994, an average of only 59.7% of the people who vote in a primary show up for a subsequent runoff between two candidates after no one reaches 50% in the initial race. In our years of running and studying political runoffs—and after searching historical records last night via a (admittedly potentially flawed ChatGPT) search—yesterday’s election appears to be only the second in history where turnout more than doubled the typical runoff. Cullman’s 121.9% of the primary vote last night edges past the 1915 Los Angeles mayor’s race record of 121.7%, when Charles E. Sebastian defeated Frederick Whiffen 46,498 to 41,989.

As we monitored turnout during the day, I texted a politico backing opponent Clint Hollingsworth that whoever lost this race would be shocked their turnout wasn’t enough to win. Hollingsworth’s campaign delivered an extraordinary result—117% of his primary total—enough to top Myrex’s primary vote count. That may be the only time in history a candidate has gained more votes in a runoff than their opponent received in the primary, and still lost. 

Talk about a tough loss—Myrex not only overcame that surge, but won decisively, 59% to 41%, thanks to an unheard-of 143% of her primary vote total.

It appears this is the second-largest increase for a winning candidate ever—besting Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ 124% in 2019—falling short only of Los Angeles Mayor Charles E. Sebastian’s all-time high 166%. If anyone knows of a bigger increase, we’ll gladly add it here.

Making History in the Deep South

Since moving headquarters from Auburn, Alabama, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in late 2021, our team has returned twice to run deep-South elections—and in both cases made history. In December 2022, we ran the campaign that elected the first Republican this century besides our friend Sandy Stimpson in Mobile Alabama to win a majority-Black congressional, state legislative, or mayor’s race. That was Shreveport, Louisiana, which is 57% Black. Since then, one other Republican has followed our lead, winning a city that is 51% Black.

Myrex, Alabama Farmers Federation, and Volunteers

Historic wins like this only happen with a candidate who commands respect and friendships that inspire people to volunteer their time. Our “Doors–Churches–Handwritten Postcards” program is helping campaigns make history because it’s truly unique.

Holly Klucarich runs our national efforts, and within days of taking on this project, she arrived with a team of eight canvassers. Every day, volunteers were amazed they could simply show up to drive rural routes—or, for others comfortable using a canvassing app, direct the driver, and then run up to homes or into churches with pastor-to-pastor letters. Thanks to recent IRS guidance, churches can even endorse candidates—though we simply ask pastors to encourage their congregations to vote.

Alabama is one of the few states allowing groups to coordinate with candidates and each other, which set the stage for a reunion from decades in Alabama politics. Pudner’s former employer, the Alabama Farmers Federation, was the only group to step forward for Myrex in the primary, even as many normal allies were on the other side.

The second key recommendation for Cindy came from Pudner’s former Alabama GOP colleague, Britney Garner—our favorite consultant in the state. When Britney vouched for Cindy, we knew she’d be a great candidate, and we also knew Britney would already be helping her with many key activities, including the third piece of our program: 1,000+ handwritten postcards each week.

Sometimes people ask why we are so transparent what makes our program work, and we simply reply it requires such hard work that if anyone wants to try to copy us have at it. For example, the opposing campaign not only outspent Myrex campaign heavily, but they spent almost twice as much on digital marketing as we did on our entire canvassing  operation as well as the modeling behind it.

While our team worked on behalf of the Alabama Farmers Federation for this project, the next one may be on behalf of our new group. During our time in Alabama, Trever Nehls—twin brother of Texas Congressman Troy Nehls—was elected chairman at the first board meeting of Freedom and Family Action. The Board charged the team with registering to do business in Alabama and possibly another state, so future projects could be run by this new 501(c)(4). Our plan is not to go “national” but rather answer calls from a couple of places that do not feel they have an organization that can run programs similar to what our team does in state for the Wisconsin Faith and Freedom Coalition.

Holly will continue to oversee national projects while joining Wisconsin efforts when needed for voter registration or major campaigns like the 2024 presidential race. Spencer LaVerde will continue to lead Wisconsin operations but also took leave to join Holly’s team in Alabama, along with Pudner.

The Board also directed the team to register to lobby in Wisconsin, where LaVerde and Pudner already lobby, and will soon announce the first new legislation proposed by the group.

To reach the team on any Freedom and Family Action matter, email info@freedomandfamilyaction.com.

Below: images of the cards from the four team members mentioned.