The widow of Air Force Major John “Alex” Klinner voted Tuesday for Doug Jones in the Alabama governor’s race, as well as for other candidates who pledge to end the “illegal” war linked to Iran. Major Klinner died in a KC-135 crash during a combat operation in Iraq on March 12. His widow, Libby Klinner, expressed her motivation to vote with her late husband’s values in mind.
Libby Klinner, 33, shared on Instagram that her vote was for Alex. “He and I discussed politics often due to its impact on our lives as a military family and as parents,” she wrote. “Today, I voted for the candidates he would have supported.”
Klinner supported Doug Jones over Republican Tommy Tuberville. This race seeks to fill the seat of outgoing Governor Kay Ivey and revisits the 2020 Senate race where Tuberville had a significant victory over Jones. “I voted for candidates who promise to end this illegal war. They accept everyone, regardless of their appearance or beliefs, prioritize people over profit, support public schools, and genuinely respect the military,” Klinner added.
She further stated that her husband’s opposition to Tuberville stemmed from the senator’s alignment with the former Trump administration. Libby noted, “Alex struggled serving under an administration that viewed military members as expendable. It’s heartbreaking he died because of these circumstances.”
Libby Klinner’s hope is that voters reconsider their choices and “vote like Alex,” supporting candidates aligned with his ideals. “Please get out and vote!” she urged in her post.
Earlier in September, President Trump minimized the severity of the Iran conflict, despite American casualties. “A lot of people don’t call it a war,” he said. “I call it a military conflict—it’s small potatoes.” These remarks were supported by Vice President JD Vance, who contested the term “war” for operations that began in February.
Trump compared the Iran conflict to Vietnam, highlighting the lower casualty count. “We lost 18 souls,” he noted. “One is too many, but Vietnam cost tens of thousands.” The Department of Defense identified Major Klinner and five other Air Force personnel who died in the Iraq crash.
Jones’ campaign acknowledged Klinner’s endorsement, expressing gratitude. “Thank you for speaking out,” the campaign responded on Instagram. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Alex, you, and your family. Doug will always support our service members and military families.” Major Klinner, a father of three and an Alabama native, was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
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