Elliott Responds To Congressional Run Speculation - 'At least spell my name right'
Erica Thomas • May 16, 2026
'At least spell my name right if you're going to start rumors'
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — It's Hail Mary week in the 2026 elections as office hopefuls pull their last desperate moves to gain votes. The Alabama Senate District 32 race is heating up with neither candidate sitting on the sidelines.
Mike Van, who is challenging State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine), made a social media post Thursday directed at his opponent, speculating that Elliott might run for Congress after Tuesday's primary.
"Senator Elliott, Baldwin County voters want to know: Is it really your plan to run for Congress immediately after this election?" Van posted. "The massive amount of money being spent on mailers, advertising, and political promotion has led many people to believe your eyes may already be on a higher office instead of serving another full term in the Alabama Senate. We've all heard the rumors that the day after this Republican primary election, you plan to qualify for Congress. So let's clear it up. Is it true? It's a simple yes or no question."
The post included a photo saying, "Sen. Elliot: Are you really running for Congress?"
Van and Elliott were in the same room just an hour before the post was made. The two were at the Eastern Shore Republican Women's luncheon, but were not seen talking to one another.
However, Elliott responded with a statement about all those advertisements and a spelling suggestion.
"I remain 100% focused on winning my State Senate primary and continuing to provide the residents of Baldwin County with the determined, responsive, and tenacious representation that they expect and deserve in Montgomery," Elliott stated. "If my opponent is going to use social media to start rumors, you would think he could at least spell my last name correctly, especially after all of the signs, billboards, mail, and television ads my campaign has funded. Elliott, after all, is much easier to spell than Vandenheuvel."
The primary election is on May 19. Qualifying for Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 will be held May 20-22. A special election for those races will take place in August, following a redistricting shakeup.
Mike Vandenheuvel reminded voters that as the morning of May 16th, Chris Elliott has yet to directly answer the question.
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