Mike Hubbard (politician)

Hubbard was senior class president in his Hartwell, Georgia high school.[4] During high school, Hubbard beat Ralph E. Reed, Jr. to become the Georgia state champion in the Voice of Democracy speech contest.[4] Hubbard went to the University of Georgia on a journalism scholarship, where he helped lead the successful public relations campaign for Herschel Walker’s 1982 Heisman Trophy.[4] After graduating, Hubbard got a job in the Auburn University athletic department and led a successful public relations campaign for Bo Jackson’s 1985 Heisman.[4] Hubbard left Auburn and started a new company, which then won exclusive broadcast rights for all Auburn Tigers sports and made Hubbard a millionaire.[4] Prior to forming Auburn Network in 1994, he served as general manager of Host Communications (1990–1994), and associate sports information director for Auburn University (1984–1990).

In 1996, Patrick Nix, (quarterback for Auburn in 1993), recommended that Hubbard apply his public relations expertise to Bob Riley’s congressional campaign.[4] Riley won and, in gratitude, invited Hubbard to attend the swearing-in ceremony in the Alabama State Capitol, where Hubbard says he was impressed by the "symbols of our nation’s power."[4]

In 1998, Bill Canary provided polling during Hubbard's first election campaign.[5] Hubbard won, taking a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives representing much of Lee County, Alabama.[4]

In 2002, Riley won the Alabama gubernatorial election, and gave Hubbard the leadership of the Alabama Republican Party.[4] Hubbard would later name his youngest son Riley.[5] As leader of the state's Republican party, Hubbard became a member of the Republican National Committee, and received invitations to visit the White House.[4]