HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Nicole Jones Wadsworth returned to her hometown of Huntsville Saturday morning to address a packed room at the Madison County Republican Men’s Club’s annual Elbert Peters Breakfast, a longstanding gathering of grassroots conservatives in North Alabama.

Speaking to friends, neighbors, and longtime supporters, Jones Wadsworth reflected on her roots in the Huntsville community, recalling how her own children, also in attendance, grew up attending the Elbert Peters Breakfast alongside her family and friends. The event, she noted, has long served as both a political touchstone and a place where generations of conservative leaders come together, which made the opportunity to speak there as a candidate especially meaningful.

Nicole Jones Wadsworth highlighted her professional career in site selection, industrial recruitment, and economic development, emphasizing her work in helping attract and retain businesses across Huntsville and North Alabama. Dr. Jones Wadsworth pointed to the region’s continued growth as a national leader in aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, noting that strategic site selection and strong local partnerships have played a key role in sustaining that momentum.

Central to Nicole Jones Wadsworth’s remarks was her Build a Better Alabama plan, a forward-looking agenda focused on improving quality of life across the state. Jones Wadsworth outlined key priorities including strengthening industry recruitment and retention efforts, expanding workforce development initiatives to better prepare Alabamians for high-demand careers, and making strategic statewide infrastructure improvements to support long-term economic growth. Nicole also emphasized the importance of addressing rural healthcare access and bolstering public safety, issues she described as essential to ensuring every community in Alabama can thrive.

Underscoring her message, Nicole Jones Wadsworth shared with attendees that everything she advocates for is grounded in real-world experience from the private sector, through her company, board and committee service, or as an individual—and that is the kind of proven, results-driven leadership Alabama needs in its next lieutenant governor. What makes Jones Wadsworth different is she put in the work to earn the vote and understand the needs of Alabamians in urban and rural areas, noting visits to all 67 counties over 25 times on her own dime before entering the race in May 2025.

The morning gathering carried a note of tradition and continuity, but also remembrance. Program chairman Shane Kennedy acknowledged the absence of longtime figure Rep. Howard Sanderford, who had faithfully served for years in the ceremonial role of escorting speakers to the greeting line. In his place, Congressman Dale Strong stepped in to carry on the tradition, which underscored the close-knit nature of the Madison County Republican community.

Closing her remarks, Nicole Jones Wadsworth reiterated her commitment to the principles that have shaped both her career and her community—thoughtful economic growth, pathways to employment, and effective leadership from the private sector—telling attendees that the same grit that helped build Huntsville into a national success story can help move Alabama forward.