BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones has threatened to sue Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Randy Kelley over allegations that Jones misled donors about the destination of their contributions. The dispute, which has further exposed divisions within the party, centers on Kelley’s claim that Jones solicited funds under the guise of supporting the state party while directing them to his own political action committee.
Jones, through his attorney Barry Ragsdale, has demanded a retraction of Kelley’s statements, calling them “false” and “knowingly untrue.” In a letter sent Monday, Jones gave Kelley five days to issue a public retraction or face a libel lawsuit. Kelley has refused to back down, citing a conversation with a donor who allegedly misunderstood one of Jones’s fundraising appeals as being for the Alabama Democratic Party.
Jones has denied any wrongdoing, stating that his fundraising communications clearly identified that donations were intended for his PAC and not the state party. He also noted that his last fundraising email was sent before the end of 2024, months before Kelley’s accusations.
The feud marks another chapter in the ongoing turmoil within Alabama’s Democratic Party. Under Kelley’s leadership, the party has faced criticism over governance issues and conflicts with national Democrats. Kelley previously accused Jones of influencing the Democratic National Committee to reject Alabama delegates last year—an allegation Jones dismissed as baseless.
While Jones’s PAC has supported several Democratic candidates in Alabama, including U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, tensions between him and Kelley have continued to escalate. Jones expressed frustration that Kelley chose to make public accusations rather than addressing any concerns privately.
For many Democrats in Alabama, this latest clash is seen as a distraction from critical issues facing the state and efforts to rebuild the party in a Republican stronghold. As both sides dig in, the dispute threatens to further divide a party already struggling to present a united front ahead of future elections.