DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — Republican Shadrack McGill from Jackson County announced today that he will be running against U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby in 2016. Shelby is a lion in the U.S. Senate and is the most senior legislator from Alabama's 9-member U.S. legislative delegation to D.C.  Many would say that he is also the most powerful and influential member of  Alabama's legislative delegation. His committee assignments include Appropriations, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and he serves as Chairman of the Rules and Administration Committee. He is also one of the most prolific fundraisers in U.S. Senate history. Shelby has a warchest with $24 million in campaign funds, all cash-on-hand. Shelby literally has more campaign money than any other member of the entire U.S. Senate.

McGill served in the Alabama Senate from 2010 to 2014, representing Alabama Senate District 8 that includes part of DeKalb County. His most successful year of campaign fundraising was in 2010 when he raised roughly $210,000, half of which came from the Alabama Republican Party who architected the 2010 GOP takeover of the Alabama Legislature. McGill was one of several legislative candidates bankrolled by the Alabama Republican Party in the 2010 overthrow of the Alabama Legislature. His victory came amidst a tidal wave of unlikely GOP victories in 2010 that flipped control of the Alabama Legislature from Democrat to Republican for the first time in 156 years. McGill edged out his opponent, Democrat powerbroker and 28-year incumbent Sen. Lowell Barron by less than 600 votes. Barron's defeat made national news.

McGill would not make national headlines again until 2013 when it was reported that he claimed that women were harassing him on Facebook and Twitter and strippers were banging on his door one night at 1 a.m. His wife, Heather McGill, made a public Facebook post in response to his claims that went viral, warning women to lay off her husband. After retiring in 2014 McGill quietly disappeared from the Alabama political scene. Not much has been heard from McGill since. As in his 2010 Alabama Senate race against Lowell Barron, McGill again faces almost insurmountable odds against U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. McGill was unavailable for comment at press time. Southern Torch will continue to follow this race closely as it develops.