The email that Emily Davis sent to AL Governor Kay IveyPhoto byMontgomery Advisor

On Friday May 24th, Alabama Governor's Office released a copy of the email after Ms. Davis' consent, it was published by Victor Hagan for the Montgomery Advisor.

Quick Recap of Events

Emily Davis, a 29-year-old single mother and Florence resident, said she emailed Gov. Kay Ivey's office via the website's contact form, expressing her concerns about the state's middle class as a single mother and lobbying for a rent cap and other regulations.

"A single income used to suffice, it simply will not anymore. You were elected as our representative and you have to do something. Something has to change."

In response, she received a letter including, among other things, information about state-run child protective and adoption programs. The letter also stated that Ivey's staff had contacted the Alabama Department of Human Resources on her status. Davis posted a TikTok video on Sunday criticizing Ivey's office's response. By Wednesday, the video had nearly 300,000 views on TikTok, and Davis had also released many follow-up videos answering viewers' comments.

"So, about a month ago, I took it upon myself to reach out to our governor, Kay Ivey to let her know how the 'middle class' is struggling, and how there needs to be a rent cap," Davis said in the original video. "There needs to be more assistance than what there is, and there literally is no middle class anymore. We're struggling... we cannot afford anything."

Ivey's office responded to Davis' email on May 15 with the following:

Photo byEmily Davis | TikTok

Ivey's office said that the letter was "misinterpreted" and that "the governor’s office’s intent was very simply to connect an Alabamian in need with potential state agency resources that may be helpful."

"That's what you do when people reach out to you and let you know how the middle class is surviving," Davis said on her TikTok. "You tell me to put my kid up for adoption or utilize foster care?"

Davis said in her first email she "flat out told her [I] did not qualify for any of these programs" and that her child's father is actively involved. Due to the nature of the governor's office's contact forum, she does not have a copy of the original message.