Our much-anticipated 2026 Primary Elections are next Tuesday, May 19. We have been awaiting this for a while. This is our big election year in Alabama politics. All our constitutional offices are on the ballot. Also, all our legislative seats are up for election. Most states elect their Governor in the same year as the Presidential election year. Alabama, and several of the other southern states, have their Governor’s race in what is termed nationally as the ‘off–year’ election year. We refer to this year in Alabama as our gubernatorial year.

In bygone years, more Alabamians would cast their ballot in gubernatorial year elections than in presidential years. We were more interested in who was governor, than who was president. More importantly, Alabamians were more interested in who was sheriff of their county.

The winners of our statewide Republican primary next week will be elected. Winning the GOP primary in the Heart of Dixie is tantamount to election. However, most of the hotly contested contests will be headed to a June 16 runoff. On June 16, it will be all over but the shouting. The general election will be nothing but a coronation.

We were looking forward to an intriguing governor’s race this year. With Kay Ivey term-limited, the brass ring of political office in Alabama is open. Senator Coach Tommy Tuberville made the unorthodox and bewildering decision to not seek a second, six–year term in the U.S. Senate, and chose to run for governor. Coach Tuberville will stroll to election as governor next Tuesday with only unknown, token opposition.

Tuberville’s open senate seat will be the marque race next week. Early on, it looked like a close two–man race between First District Congressman Barry Moore, and two-term AttorneyGeneral Steve Marshall. However, the all-powerful, deep pocketed, dark money, Right Wing National Club for Growth came to the table. They brought a barrel of money into the state,along with President Donald Trump, who is in their lap, as are most GOP senators in Republican states in America. They own most, if not all of the Republican members of the U.S. Senate. The Club for Growth has backed, from the get-go, Congressman Barry Moore for the senate race. These conservative billionaires and multi-millionaire ‘no government’ oligarchs will spend what it takes to make Barry Moore our next conservative GOP Senator. They have out spent all of the other candidates put together by a ten to one margin for Moore.

Therefore, Barry Moore will lead the field, significantly, next week. However, he will probably be forced into a runoff. However, the surprise of the night may be young Jared Hudson. He may make the runoff instead of Steve Marshall. He is coming on strong with a little money, and movie star good looks. Hudson will be harder than Marshall for the Club for Growth and Barry Moore to beat in a runoff. However, they will spend what it takes to prevail. They have unlimited deep pockets.

Former Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell will lead the field in the contested open Attorney General’s race. He is facing two formidable female opponents. Assistant Attorney General Katherine Robertson will probably run second to Mitchell, and be in a runoff. Blount County District Attorney Pam Casey will run a strong third. Pam Casey will team up with and endorse Mitchell in the runoff. Mitchell and Casey detest the fact that most of Robertson’s money has come from out–of–state, dark money PACs, and they have had to raise their money the hard way, from Alabamians.

The Lt. Governor’s race will be a close and interesting battle royale. It will be a three-man contest between current Secretary of State Wes Allen, Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, and Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. Chairman Wahl has been the beneficiary of over a million dollars of Club for Growth money and President Trump’s endorsement.

Caroleene Dobson will waltz to victory as Secretary of State of Alabama next Tuesday. She may be the largest vote getter. Caroleene Dobson is the real thing. This young lady exudes class, integrity, and humility, with a six generations deep, Black Belt pedigree, and Harvard education. She is the brightest star on the Alabama political horizon. She has future Governor written all over her.

Young Derek Chen should prevail in the race for State Auditor.

Young Boozer will be elected to an unprecedented fourth term, next week, as State Treasurer.

The Agriculture Commissioner race will be too close to call. Christina Woerner McInnis, Jack Williams, and Corey Hill are all well qualified. It will be interesting to see which two make the June 16 runoff.

Y’all vote. See you next week.