Gov. Kay Ivey sworn in for second full term as Alabama's governor

Gov. Kay Ivey, Alabama’s 54th governor, took the oath of office on the front steps of the Capitol building on Monday morning for the third time in her career.

This begins her second full term in the office — she was serving as lieutenant governor when she assumed the governor's office after then-Gov. Robert Bentley resigned in 2017. After filling out Bentley's term, she was elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Ivey, 78, is also the state’s second female governor and the second governor from Camden.

“Four years ago, in this very spot, I said that our people are our greatest resource and the fabric that holds our state together during both our best days and the more difficult ones,” Ivey said, addressing a crowd of a few hundred people. “Standing here four years ago, I could have never imagined what was to come, but I am certain we came out stronger because of you, the good people of Alabama.”

Ivey spoke of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in at least 21,000 deaths in the state. She also mentioned the tornado that crossed through central Alabama on Thursday, devastating Selma and parts of Autauga County. Seven deaths have been reported from the storm, but Ivey said she’s confident the areas hit will “come back stronger.”

Looking forward, Ivey said she will champion rural broadband access and education over the next four years. Over 61,000 individuals and businesses “will now have broadband access,” she said, and by the end of her term, Ivey promised that Alabama will rank in the top 30 states in reading and math.

Up to this point, Alabama has never been ranked in the top 30 states for reading or math. In 2022, the state came in at 47th and 49th, respectively.

To achieve her goals, Ivey emphasized the importance of parental involvement in a child’s education and reading at a young age. She also announced a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library — a program that will mail a “high-quality, age-appropriate book” each month to all registered children, up to 5 years old, at no cost to the child’s parents or guardians.

“We cannot let our students continue to struggle and rob them of the chance to acheive their dreams,” Ivey said. “I pledge to you that we will no longer accept the existence of a failing elementary school in our state.”

Since she has been governor, Ivey said the state has cut over $500 million in taxes, brought in business investments totalling $40 billion and created around 73,000 new jobs.

She touted continued improvement to roads and bridges in all 67 counties, moving forward with constructing new prisons and making reforms to the criminal justice system.

Still, Ivey said it can feel like Alabamians are living in “an unreal time.”

“Never would I have thought that the day we elected a female governor and a female United States senator (Katie Britt), we would also have to fight for our girls to have a fair chance when they compete in sports,” Ivey said.

In 2021, Ivey signed a ban on transgender athletes in the state participating in K-12 sports. Alabama became one in a line of 18 conservative states to enforce similar laws.

Moments later in her speech, Ivey mentioned that years ago, not far from where she stood in the heart of downtown Montgomery, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called for equality for all.

“It is my hope we can embrace our history and be able to fully explain to every child how exceptional our country is today, while also embracing what lies ahead throughout the rest of this century,” Ivey said.

Attorney General Steve Marshall declares 'greatest accomplishments'

Other state constitutional officers were also present on the Capitol steps on Monday to be sworn into office.

Attorney General Steve Marshall took his oath, vowing to continue upholding the U.S. and Alabama constitutions as he enters his sixth year in the office. Marshall called himself and his office the “last line of defense,” taking inspiration from attorneys general who banded together in opposition of Obamacare in 2011.

Marshall noted that he has refused to take part in a $26 billion opioid settlement to resolve lawsuits against drug companies over harm caused by addiction to opioids.

He also proclaimed that he has “fought for life” alongside Mississippi and the United States Supreme Court.

“The Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade will remain one of my proudest accomplishments, and I’m fighting the far-left gender ideology of the Biden administration to defend our law prohibiting dangerous experimentation on our children that’s being challenged by the United States Department of Justice,” Marshall said. “Frankly, Merrick Garland needs to pack up and get out of here.”

In June of last year, Marshall’s office decided to use the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down Roe v. Wade to defend the state’s ban on hormone therapies for transgender youth. The bill also bans genital surgeries on minors, though those weren't being performed on transgender youth in Alabama prior to the bill.

All officials sworn into office

Other officials sworn into office were Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Secretary of State Wes Allen, State Treasurer Young Boozer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, Alabama Public Service Commissioner Chip Beeker, Alabama Public Service Commissioner Jeremy Oden and State Auditor Andrew Sorrell.

State Board of Education members Marie Manning, Wayne Reynolds, Yvette Richardson and Tracie West took oaths of office as well.

The event was followed by the Inaugural parade down Dexter Avenue, and the Inaugural Gala was scheduled to take place at the Renaissance Hotel on Monday night.

Hadley Hitson covers the rural South for the Montgomery Advertiser and Report for America. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to the Advertiser or donate to Report for America. 

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Gov. Kay Ivey and other statewide elected officials sworn into office