J. T. Waggoner

James Thomas "Jabo" Waggoner Jr. (born January 8, 1937) is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 16th District since 1990. He received his B.A. from Birmingham Southern College and his J.D. from the Birmingham School of Law.

J. T. Waggoner
Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate
In office November 3, 2010 – November 2014
Preceded by	Zeb Little
Succeeded by	Greg Reed
Member of the Alabama Senate from the 16th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 7, 1990
Preceded by	William Cabaniss
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office November 9, 1966 – November 9, 1983
Succeeded by	Hoyt Trammell
Constituency	14th district (1966–1974) 51st district (1974–1983)
Personal details
Born	James Thomas Waggoner Jr. (1937-01-08) January 8, 1937 (age 88) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican (since 1984)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 1984)
Spouse	Marilyn Waggoner
Residence	Birmingham, Alabama
Education	Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham School of Law

Career

He assumed office in the Alabama State Senate in 1990. He was the Minority Leader from 1999 until the Republicans gained a legislative majority in November 2010 for the first time since Reconstruction, upon which he became the Majority Leader. He was a Democrat and a member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 1966 to 1983. He switched parties the following year to run unsuccessfully against U.S. Congressman Ben Erdreich in the Birmingham-based 6th district in 1984, receiving 40%.

In May 2019, he voted to make abortion a crime at any stage of a pregnancy, with no exemptions for cases of rape or incest.^[1]

In the State Legislature's 2021-2022 session, Waggoner was assigned to the following committees:^[2]

• Legislative Committee on Public Accounts
• Transportation Committee
• Banking and Insurance Committee
• Confirmations Committee, Vice Chair
• Finance and Taxation Education Committee
• Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee
• Local Legislation Jefferson County Committee, Chair
• Local Legislation Shelby County Committee
• Senate Rules Committee, Chair