Kiel selected to national Republican ‘Emerging Leaders’ program

For Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), his selection as one of 38 Republican legislators from across the United States to be part of a national ‘Emerging Leaders’ program isn’t about climbing up the political ladder. 

Instead, Kiel sees it as an opportunity to listen, learn and share ideas with fellow legislators from other states in order to better serve and represent the people of House District 18.

Last week, Kiel was named one of 38 Republican legislators selected to the 2026 GOPAC ‘Emerging Leaders’ program.

Participants are nominated by the Republican legislative leadership in their states based upon their ‘demonstrated promise in positively impacting their state and rising within the Republican ranks.’

GOPAC is a Republican state and local political training organization. Classified as a 527 organization, GOPAC is a non-profit, tax-exempt entity organized to influence the nomination, election and/or appointment of candidates to local, state or federal office, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

Founded by then-Delaware Gov. Pete du Pont in 1978, GOPAC was designed to cultivate promising young leaders within the Republican ranks and build a ‘farm team’ of candidates with the knowledge and drive necessary to make Republicans a governing majority party.

Led in the 1990s by Newt Gingrich, GOPAC is credited with a role in the Republican Revolution seen across the country in 1994.

Graduates from GOPAC’s ‘Emerging Leaders’ program have a track record of assuming leadership roles in their legislatures as well as successful runs for higher office.

“I see this as an opportunity to learn from other people in the trenches like I am—folks doing what I’m doing in other parts of the country, to learn what works for them, what their best practices are and to show them what we’re doing in Alabama,” Kiel said.

Kiel said he would not have accepted the invitation to join the ‘Emerging Leaders’ program if he wasn’t convinced it would help him better serve the people he represents in northwest Alabama.

“This isn’t a step toward any other elected position and I would not have committed to the opportunity if I didn’t think it would help me grow and better serve my constituents,” Kiel said.

First elected in 2018, Kiel will run unopposed for a third term this year, with no Republican or Democratic opponent. He serves as Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Education Committee in the Alabama House, the committee responsible for allocating more than $10.5 billion to Alabama’s K-12 public schools, community colleges and universities.