“The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Despite our differences, I’ve always gotten along with Alabama Democrat Phillip Ensler.
I didn’t take it personally when he defeated my mother’s close personal friend, Charlotte Meadows, in a 2022 Alabama House race. In a way, I believe that loss was a blessing for Meadows – God directing her steps into the next beautiful phase of her life. Also, the district had been redrawn by the Alabama Legislature to favor Democrats, so I couldn’t really blame Ensler for seizing the opportunity to win a sure thing.
Yet, I confess that the change was a bit of a whiplash, personally. Alabama House District 74 is where I still reside, and with that change in 2022, my state representative went from a Christian conservative woman who helped my mother change my diapers to a progressive young Jewish man from New York City who came to Alabama through the Teach for America program.
But, like I said, I’ve always gotten along with Ensler.
Since 2022, I’ve had him on my radio show several times. Our conversations are always cordial despite our obvious political differences, and we’ve even found common cause on things like anti-swatting legislation and the rise of cryptocurrency.
Indeed, we had struck up enough of a relationship that when Ensler announced in July 2025 he wouldn’t be seeking reelection for State House because he was leaving Alabama to move back to New York City, I invited him on my show to essentially say goodbye.
“My father passed away a little over two years ago, up in New York, and a lot of my aunts and uncles and cousins are all up here,” Ensler told me, “and I just feel strongly about being back closer to a lot of them.”
“That’s going to be the hardest part about moving,” Ensler told me, “is all the relationships that I formed both, as you mentioned in the Jewish community, which I’m Jewish, but certainly in the larger Montgomery community.”
“I know people understand that being close to family, there’s nothing more important than that,” he said.
At the time, I took Ensler’s goodbye in good faith, describing his decision following the interview this way:
Got to make those tough decisions sometimes, especially when I think at every level, the personal is more important than the political or the personal tends to bring you back to where you really need to be following family and can never fault a man for that.
Five months later, Ensler announced he was running for lieutenant governor, not in New York, but in Alabama.
“Huh, I thought he was moving,” I said to myself upon seeing the news. “I guess it doesn’t matter if you’re from Florida, Tennessee, or going back home to family in New York City – everybody can run for state office in Alabama!”
“My heart is here in Alabama,” Ensler said upon announcing his candidacy.
After easily winning his primary race earlier this year, Ensler is now the Democrat nominee for Alabama lieutenant governor, campaigning as Doug’s best bud like his name is Skeeter or something.
Indeed, it seems Doug Jones’ gubernatorial candidacy was a factor that changed Ensler’s heart to stay in Alabama for one last campaign and join his swan song with Jones’ final ode to the Southern liberal boomer.
Again, I take none of this personally, and I hope Ensler doesn’t take it personally when I say that I see a bright political future for him – in New York City.
Ensler knows he will lose in November. He knew before he announced he was staying after he announced he was leaving.
So, why run? What exactly is his heart planning?
Could it be that running for statewide office in Alabama is actually a fabulous way to exit stage left?
Could it be that running statewide as a progressive Democrat in ruby-red Alabama is one heck of a story to sell back home to the folks in NYC should he run for city council, state assembly, or Congress?
Think about it. A native New Yorker leaves home after joining Teach for America and becomes a champion for civil rights, healthcare, gun safety, and inclusion in Montgomery, Ala. – the birthplace of the civil rights movement where they still haven’t quite achieved Dr. King’s dream (though you should check out their lynching museum on your next fun vacation). Yet, Ensler was willing to do the work! He fought the Republican machine! Now, he has returned home, not only with common sense legislative and campaign experience under his belt, but a whole network of Democrat donors, consultants, activists, operatives, and Jones ready to work with him.
I wish Ensler all the best in his promising political career – in New York.
I can’t really blame him for seizing the opportunity to lose a sure thing to his benefit. The only way he wins in November would be through divine intervention.
May God establish his steps no matter which way his heart may plan – even if Alabama was a steppingstone along the way.
Joey Clark is a native Alabamian and is currently the host of the radio program News and Views on News Talk 93.1 FM WACV out of Montgomery, AL, M-F 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. His column appears every Tuesday in 1819 News. To contact Joey for media or speaking appearances, as well as any feedback, please email [email protected]. Follow him on X @TheJoeyClark or watch the radio show livestream.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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