June 10, 2026 - GOP Primary Runoffs Next Week
The May 19 GOP Primary Election resolved the elections for several important statewide offices. These aspirants are home-free for a coronation to their respective offices in the fall. They will be coronated November 3, because winning the GOP nomination in the Heart of Dixie is tantamount to election. Every statewide office in Alabama is held by a Republican.
Four statewide races have been decided. Tommy Tuberville for Governor, Caroleene Dobson for Secretary of State, Young Boozer for State Treasurer, and Andrew Sorrell for State Auditor, were all elected on May 19.
The most interesting battles of the year will be decided next week in the June 16 GOP Primary Elections. The runoffs for U.S. Senator, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, State Agriculture Commissioner, as well as a seat on the Public Service Commission, are in play.
The marquee race of the year has been the U.S. Senate contest to fill the Seat of Senator Tommy Tuberville. From the beginning of the year, when the race began, the all-powerful “Daddy Warbucks” Club for Growth has been all in for Congressman Barry Moore. This group has become omnipotent in Republican primaries in ruby red Republican states throughout the nation.
In the past decade since their creation, The Club has progressed from being a big dollar contributor to being a mega-dollar contributor as well as a very sophisticated campaign organization. Up until the 2025 Presidential election, they and Trump were not necessarily on the same page. However, after they bankrolled Trump’s reelection campaign, Trump and The Club are on the same team. It is no coincidence that The Club and President Trump endorsed Barry Moore on the same day,shortly after he announced last year.
Barry Moore and his teammate wife, Heather, have run a perfect, flawless campaign fueled by unlimited money. As expected, he led the field in the first primary with 40% of the vote. His closest challengers, Attorney General Steve Marshall and Navy Seal Jared Hudson, garnered 25% each, which was an impressive showing given the financial disadvantage they had to overcome.
Hudson has the unenviable luck to have edged Marshall out of the runoff. Hudson has a hard task to compete with unlimited money and the Trump endorsement. Barry Moore is exactly what The Club and Trump look for in a candidate – a proven Freedom Caucus Conservative. While all signs point to a Moore victory, some recent polling suggests Hudson has a fighting chance.
It was thought that the Club for Growth only got involved in national contests. However, they revealed a wrinkle in their game plan by diving big time into the Alabama Lt. Governor’s race this year. They took the then GOP Chairman John Wahl into their fold and did it impressively.
Wahl, an unknown butterfly farmer from Northwest Alabama, was known in the GOP inner circle as Chairman of the Party. However, The Club spent $2 million, along with the Donald Trump endorsement, and propelled Wahl into a 41% vote against seven opponents. Alabama veteran, thoroughbred workhorse, Secretary of State Wes Allen finish second to Wahl with 38% of the vote. This will be the best and closest contest next Tuesday. It will be old school, Alabama retail politician Wes Allen versus new school, new money Club for Growth/Trump endorsee John Wahl.
The Attorney General’s race has been the most competitive and contentious contest of the year. Assistant Attorney General Katherine Robertson and former Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell are headed into a finale Battle Royale next week. Robertson led Mitchell 40% to 34% in the first primary. Early in the race, prognosticators predicted the numbers would be reversed, with Mitchell at 40 and Robertson at 34. However, with lots of out of state right wing money, and the ALFA endorsement, and better TV ads, she moved into the lead, which is what the late polling portended. Blount County District Attorney, Pamela Casey, ran a good, under-financed campaign and finished a strong third. As expected, Pam Casey has endorsed Judge Jay Mitchell in the runoff.
Jim Zeigler garnered an impressive 45% of the vote in the race for Public Service Commission place two. Ole Zeigler has been around the block a few times in Alabama politics. He was elected to the Public Service Commission at age 25 and served one term. He has run statewide eight times and served eight years as State Auditor. He has parlayed his numerous statewide races into a significant 45% to 24% advantage over Chris Beeker.
Next Tuesday will tell the rest of the story to this year’s momentous elections.
See you next week.
June 3, 2026 - Alabama Girls State – An Unparalleled Legacy
Alabama Girls State is being held at the University of Alabama this week.
For more than eight decades, thanks to the American Legion Auxiliary, Alabama Girls State has quietly built one of the most powerful leadership pipelines in the state.
What begins as a weeklong immersive experience in government has,over time, become something far greater. In Alabama, it has become the premier breeding ground for future governors, senators, judges, and civic leaders. Yet, its true legacy is not found in the mock elections or simulated cities, it is found in the remarkable women who leave and then go on to shape Alabama.
Alabama Girls State legacy has an indelible footprint that is unparalleled in America. It is unheard of for any state to have the two highest officeholders in the state – Governor Kay Ivey and U.S. Senator Katie Britt – as devoted Girls State Alumni.
Governor Kay Ivey was elected Lt. Governor of Girls State in the early 1960s and chosen as a Senator to Girls Nation. Ivey has remained deeply involved for decades, returning every year as a counselor, director, and speaker for more than 40 years. Kay has a personal dedicated commitment to Girls State
Kay’s closest friend is Dr. Cathy Randall of Tuscaloosa. Their bond and friendship was created through their involvement with Alabama Girls State. Few figures embody the legacy of Alabama Girls State more fully than Dr. Cathy Johnson Randall. As a student, she was elected Governor of Girls State and went on to become President of Girls Nation. She later emerged as one of Alabama’s most respected business and civic leaders, serving on major corporate boards and leading philanthropic efforts across the state.
Cathy Randall credits her Girls State experience as the basis of her remarkable career. Through her Girls State connections, she was introduced to her husband, the late Pettus Randall, who was,coincidentally, a former Governor of Boys State and President of Boys Nation. All three of their children attended the program and succeeded magnificently.
One of the Girls State success stories, Senator Katie Britt, is one of Dr. Cathy Randall’s and Governor Kay Ivey’s proteges. They have both mentored her since her days as Girls State Governor.
Katie Britt exemplifies the modern continuation of Alabama Girls State legacy. As a student, Katie Boyd Britt of Enterprise was elected Governor of Alabama Girls State. She later became President of the Student Government Association at the University of Alabama, and in 2022, she was elected as one of the youngest U.S. Senators in the nation.
The influence of Alabama Girls State extends into the Judiciary as well. U.S. Federal Judge Anna Manasco was elected Governor of Girls State and President of Girls Nation. She is among those who have carried the program’s lessons into the legal system. State Judges Kelli Wise, Beth Kellum, and Sue Bell Cobb all attended Girls State.
Governor Kay Ivey’s Chief of Staff Liz Filmore is a Girls State Alumnus. In 2021, she became the first woman to ever serve as Chief of Staff to an Alabama Governor.
Caroleene Dobson, who is on the cusp of becoming Alabama’s next Secretary of State, is the brightest rising star on the Alabama political horizon and was a Girls Stater. Caroleene was elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries at Girls State. She has stayed involved in the Girls State program, serving as a counselor, and has spoken to the delegation for many years.
Catherine Gayle Thrash Fuller, governmental affairs for Alabama Power Company, attended Girls State and was also Senator to Girls Nation. Her mother, Cindy Thrash, was Governor of Girls State and Senator to Girls Nation.
Ashland Ross was a Girls Stater, and was elected Vice President of Girls Nation in 2023.
Dr. Katelyn Braswell attended Girls State and was elected Vice President of Girls Nation in 2001.
Kasdin Miller Mitchell was Governor of Girls State and President of Girls Nation in 2002. Recently, she was pointed to a federal judgeship in Texas by President Trump.
The glue that is the keeper and sustainer of Alabama’s phenomenalGirls State legacy is Lee Grant Sellers. Lee and her husband, Alabama Supreme Court Justice Will Sellers, are Kay Ivey’s most loyal and trusted friends and advisors.
Lee Sellers was, herself, a Girls Stater and a Senator to Girls Nation. Lee Sellers has served as the Director of Girls State for the past 25 years. Her leadership has ensured continuity, mentorship, and a strong sense of community among Alabama Girls State participants, past and present.
Alabama Girls State is more than a program. It is a tradition and its alumnae have helped shape the direction of Alabama for generations.
Somewhere in this week’s session, another future leader is beginning her journey.
See you next week.
May 27, 2026 - May Primary Answered Questions for Big Election Year
The dust has settled from the momentous May 19 primaries, and there were very few surprises in the statewide results.
The turnout was low, which has become the norm for midterm election years in Alabama. The 23% turnout was about what it was four years ago. There were close to 900,000 votes cast. The partisan participation was about 60% Republican, and 40% Democratic, which parallels what the division of voter preference is in our state. This 60/40 split is right on course for what the results will be in the general election in November. This 40% threshold for Democrats has been the standard for the past few decades, and it will probably not change this year. However, the Democrats have come to life this year. The past few gubernatorial elections, they have not even fielded a slate of candidates. They have secured a complete and qualified and viable lineup of state candidates for the fall. However, the results will more than likely be the same – 40/60.
Winning the Republican Primary is tantamount to election in the Heart of Dixie. The winners of the GOP primaries for the statewide office on May 19 will move on to a perfunctory coronation on November 3. However, the most interesting and competitive races will be decided on June 16 in the primary runoff elections.
The Governor’s race was never in doubt. Coach Senator Tommy Tuberville coasted to an expectant landslide victory against two unknown GOP aspirants. He got an amazing 86% of the vote without spending any of his campaign fund. He has $10 million in his campaign war chest, which he will use to destroy the hapless Doug Jones in the Fall.
One of the most impressive performances of the May 19 primary was turned in by former GOP Chairman John Wahl in the Lt. Governor’s race. He led an eight-person field with 41% of the vote. He will meet the presumptive front runner, Wes Allen, in the runoff, who got 38%. Their runoff contest will be one of the best on June 16. Wahl’s dynamic success was fueled by the big bucks Club for Growth along with the Trump endorsement. These two dynamics will continue to be with him in the runoff. This combo is tough to beat.
The Attorney General’s race resulted in the way that the late polling portended. Katherine Robertson led Jay Mitchell 40% to 35%. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey got a strong 25% of the vote. It will be interesting to see where her votes land in the June 16 runoff between Mitchell and Robertson.
The Agriculture Commissioner’s race came out as was expected. The three-person race was between three unknown, but well-qualified candidates. Christina Woerner McInnis and Corey Hill finished in a dead heat with 35% each and will head to a June 16 runoff.
Veteran State politico Jim Zeigler led a four-person field for a seat on the Public Service Commission. He received an impressive 45% of the vote to second plan finisher ChrisBeeker’s 24%. They will meet again in the June 16 runoff.
In the other Public Service Commission race, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, walloped his fellow Cullman Countian incumbent Public Service Commissioner Jeremy Oden by an impressive 75% to 25% margin.
Young Boozer coasted to an unprecedented fourth term as State Treasurer with a 68% to 32% victory over Steve Lolley.
State Auditor Andrew Sorrell matched Boozer with a 68% to 32% victory over Derek Chen, even though he was outspent 10 to 1.
Caroleene Dobson won the Secretary of State race over two opponents. She received an impressive 66% of the vote.
The marque race of the year is for the open U.S. Senate Seat being vacated by Senator Tuberville. The results mirrored the polling in the weeks leading up to the May 19 primary. As expected, Congressman Barry Moore led with 40% of the vote. His challengers, Attorney General Steve Marshall and former Navy Seal Jared Hudson, finished in a dead heat for second with 25% each. Hudson edged Marshall out of the runoff by an eyelash. However, the Club for Growth money and Trump endorsement will propel Barry Moore to an easy victory on June 16.
The real victor of the May 19 primary is one Donald J. Trump. The Trump endorsement continues to be golden in the Heart of Dixie. His endorsement propelled John Wahl, Tommy Tuberville, and Barry Moore into impressive victors.
See you next week.
May 20, 2026 - Representative David Faulkner – A Case Study in Effectiveness
The 2026 Regular Legislative Session has concluded. This is an election year in Alabama. In an election year, it is common to see lawmakers introduce bills that create friendly headlines but do little to impact the health and welfare of their constituents.
State Representative David Faulkner of Mountain Brook bucked that trend in impressive fashion when he decided to file and pass a bill to create common sense regulations for Alabama’s overnight summer camps.
House Bill 381, also known as the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Act, was recently signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey, after receiving nearly unanimous support in the Alabama Legislature. The legislation is named after young Sarah Marsh of Birmingham, who was tragically killed in the Texas floods at Camp Mystic last summer. Her parents, Jill and Patrick Marsh, met with Representative Faulkner late last year to discuss the lack of oversight of Alabama overnight camps. When the idea of filing legislation was discussed, David did not hesitate to fully commit to the effort.
The limited oversight of these camps would truly surprise many readers. This lack of oversight does not necessarily mean they are operating unsafely. In fact, Alabama is blessed to have many fine camp operations in the state, from the Baldwin County coast to the mountains of Mentone. Our children have been truly enriched by their experiences at these camps and will continue to be for many years to come. The Sarah Marsh Heavens 27 Actsimply codifies the need for these camps to have adequate safety plans, staff background checks, and other commonsense licensure requirements. Thankfully, most of these tasks are already being done by the camps.
Another strong element of the bill is an expert-led advisory council to assist the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, who is tasked with implementing the licensing requirements of the bill. On this portion, Rep. Faulkner spent dozens of hours negotiating with a wide array of stakeholders from around the state, including camp owners. Local emergency management officials play a crucial role in planning for potential weather disasters, and their voice is critical in these discussions. They are truly heroes.
As the Vice Chairman of the powerful Rules Committee, David is often called upon by Speaker Ledbetter and other House leaders to either mediate legislation or draft amendments and substitutes to improve a bill before it reaches the floor. His background as a seasoned litigation attorney serves him in this role. Beyond the camp safety effort, Faulkner has not shied away from sponsoring other very important and monumentallegislative acts.
Recently, Rep. Faulkner passed another significant and poignant legislative act. He sponsored the monumental Lulu’s Law – a measure aimed at enhancing beach safety by establishing a shark alert system for Mobile and Baldwin Counties. The Act was named in honor of Lulu Gribbin, a 15-year-old from Mountain Brook who survived a shark attack off the coast of Florida during the summer of 2024. Lulu and her parents are some of Faulkner’s constituents. Lulu’s Law is one of the most meaningful acts of this quadrennium.
In addition, Faulkner an urban legislator became the hero and darling of the Alabama Farmers Federation when he sponsored and was the stalwart leader in the House of Representatives for passage of the Alabama Farmers Federation Health Plan in the 2025 Legislative Session.
Representative Faulkner is a true case study in effectiveness and continues to win deep respect from colleagues and constituents alike. He is a legislative statesman whose influence will only continue to grow in the coming years.
See you next week.
May 13, 2026 - Primary Elections Are Next Week
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.
May 6, 2026 - Barfoot and Hatcher Outsmart Federal Courts
A couple of years ago, Democratic Party legal groups found a sympathetic federal panel in the Northern District of Alabama, and that court created a new minority Democratic Congressional District. That district came into existence a little over a year ago.
The Constitution grants the power to draw and determine Congressional and Legislative districts to legislatures in each state. Our duly elected Alabama Legislature had created, for several decades, districts that yielded six Republicans and one Democrat.
Using the auspices of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the federal court ruled, and then drew new maps that led to a new Congressional Democratic district. That seat is now held by Mobile Democrat Shomari Figures. Our delegation now has five Republicans and two Democrats.
Having had success with congressional realignment, these same Democratic legal groups focused on the Alabama State Senate. Again, they were successful with the same Federal Judge, however, with a limited focus. The Court zeroed in on the Montgomery River Region. This Republican district of Senator Will Barfoot was comprised of the white areas of east Montgomery, Pike Road, along with Crenshaw and Elmore counties. After the interventionist decision by the same Federal Judge that changed Alabama’s Congressional lines, the jurist commenced, again, to redraw the lines.
The court dissolved the Barfoot Senate District 25 and created anew Democratic Montgomery-based State Senate district, combining the former River Region district with areas where there was burgeoning growth of the black population of Montgomery. Currently, the area has two very competent, diligent, and popular State Senators. However, the drafter made Democrat Hatcher’s District 26 a winnable Republican district and made Barfoot’s District 25 a very likely Democratic district.
After a month or so of mulling over the new lines, Barfoot and Hatcher, who get along well together and work well together representing Montgomery, said, “why don’t we just swap Senate district numbers?”
Senator Will Barfoot initiated the maneuver. He studied it and ran it by several folks and political powers, and everybody told him, “That dog will hunt.” When Hatcher contemplated the plan, the amicable, pragmatic Democrat
had no problem changing his Senate district number from 26 to 25. Afterall, the ruling had moved most of his constituents to the new District 25 anyway. Furthermore, these voters do not care what the district number is, they just know Hatcher is who they want as their State Senator.
Senator Will Barfoot made one of the boldest and shrewdest moves seen in Alabama politics in a long time. Barfoot outwitted the Federal Judge and turned the tables on her, saving a Republican Seat in the State Senate and in turn, saving and preserving Hatcher’s familiar Democratic district. Barfoot and Hatcher did what you call “making lemonade out of lemons.”The people of that area will have continuity and selfless public servants with Hatcher and Barfoot representing them in the Alabama State Senate.
Senator Barfoot’s statement in announcing the changing of State Senate numbers was one of the most succinct and accurate summations I have ever seen or heard. Barfoot, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he is running for reelection to the Senate from Seat 25 to Seat 26 because the Court ruling “makes no sense.”
Barfoot went on to add, “I cannot allow one of the most conservative counties in Alabama – Elmore County – to be denied the conservative representation it deserves simply because Federal Courts issued a badly flawed ruling. Allowing a Democrat to represent Elmore County in the Alabama State Senate would be like Bernie Sanders representing Alabama in the U.S. Senate and casting liberal votes that do not reflect the views of the citizens they swore an oath to serve. When that happens, grassroots voices are silenced, and conservative views are ignored. I’m running in District 26 to ensure that conservative Republicans in Elmore County and throughout the area are represented by a conservative Trump Republican and not a woke liberal Democrat who fights against everything they believe and embrace.”
The new district lines that were dictated from the Federal Judge were drawn by an untrained 18-year-old college freshman Democrat, who used an online app and submitted the map to the Courts for consideration.
This novice mistake allowed Will Barfoot and Kirk Hatcher outsmarted the Federal Courts and made lemonade out of lemons.
See you next week.
April 29, 2026 - Very Few Open or Contested State House Races
Like the Alabama State Senate, the State House of Representatives will have very little turnover. Our state legislative seats are becoming analogous to congressional seats when it comes to incumbency. Over 80% of the legislature is unopposed. The partisanship makeup and faces will be pretty much unchanged. The House will have a supermajority Republican complexion. It will remain 75% Republican. There will be a strong continuity of leadership in the House of Representatives between this quadrennium and the next quadrennium.
The leadership on both sides of the aisle will be returning. The Speaker of the House will, again, be the respected and powerful Nathaniel Ledbetter, a Republican from Dekalb County. He will have the affable gentleman from Mobile, Chris Pringle, by his side as Pro Tem. The major Committee Chairmen will remain the same. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) will chair the Rules Committee. Representative Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) will chair the Budget Committees.
The Republican Leadership will return, including House Majority Leader Paul Lee (R-Dothan), Andy Whitt (R-Huntsville), Matt Simpson (R-Mobile), David Standridge (R-Blount), Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road), Alan Baker (R-Escambia), Chip Brown (R-Mobile), Chris Sells (R-Butler), Ginny Shaver (R-Cherokee), David Faulkner (R-Jefferson), Chris Blackshear (R-Russell), Steve Hurst (R-Munford), and Jamie Kiel (R-Franklin). Veteran Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) will prevail for a ninth term and will continue to lead the conservative Wiregrass delegation.
There are three young rising stars in the Republican ranks, who are returning: Brock Colvin (R-Marshall), Parker Moore (R-Morgan), and James Lomax (R-Huntsville). Lomax has an interesting challenger in his Madison County reelection bid. Former legislator and veteran, right wing Congressman Mo Brooks is running against young James Lomax. The youngster is expected to prevail, and the victory will catapult him into stardom.
Some other Republican stalwart legislators who are becoming major players in the House are Susan DuBose (R-Shelby), Corley Ellis (R-Shelby), Phillip Pettus (R-Lauderdale), Randy Wood (R-Calhoun), Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile), Allen Treadway (R-Jefferson), Frances Holk Jones (R-Baldwin), Jennifer Fidler (R-Baldwin), Donna Givens (R-Baldwin), Mike Shaw (R-Jefferson), Marcus Paramore (R-Pike/Dale), Ed Oliver (R-Tallapoosa), Mayor Jeff Sorrells (R-Hartford), Kenneth Pascal (R-Shelby), Danny Crawford (R-Limestone), Russell Bedsole (R-Shelby), Mark Gidley (R-Etowah), Leigh Hulsey (R-Shelby), Bill Lamb (R-Tuscaloosa), Ron Bolton (R-Tuscaloosa), and Troy Stubbs (R-Elmore).
There is a cadre of superstars, who came to the House during the past quadrennium who have tremendous potential and will be sterling legislators. This list includes Bryan Brinyark (R-Tuscaloosa/Fayette), Kristin Nelson (R-Chambers), Norman Crow (R-Tuscaloosa), Jeana Ross (R-Marshall), Cindy Myrex(R-Cullman), and Heath Allbright (R-Cullman).
There will be a few interesting House races. Democrat Marilyn Lands will be striving to defend her purple Huntsville Seat. Alva Lambert is attempting to capture a Democratic seat in Montgomery for the Republicans. The best race in the House will be in the Houston/Henry County seat. Incumbent Rick Rehm is being challenged by popular Henry County former Probate Judge David Money.
The Democrats will return a stellar cast of outstanding and veteran legislators. The Democratic leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) will be returning. He is special.
There are some truly outstanding women coming back, who have all been in the House for decades, including Laura Hall (D-Huntsville), Pebblin Warren (D-Macon/Tuskegee), Barbara Boyd (D-Calhoun), and Mary Moore (D-Jefferson).
There are some very distinguished gentlemen who have immense seniority and wisdom. Included in this list are Thomas Jackson (D-Clarke), Berry Forte (D-Barbour), Mayor Sam Jones (D-Mobile), A.J. McCampbell (D-Marengo), Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), Jeremy Gray (D-Lee), and Kenyatte Hassell (D-Montgomery).
The Alabama House of Representatives will be stock full of wise leaders, and will be led by a wise, stable, strong as new rope, Speaker of the House in Nathaniel Ledbetter.
See you next week.
April 22, 2023 - State Senate Will Have Very Little Turnover
This is a big election year in Alabama politics. All our constitutional state offices are up for election. However, more importantly, all of our legislative seats are up for election. All 35 State Senate seats and all 105 House seats are on the ballot.
With Alabama being one of the most Republican states in America, the partisanship is reflected in the makeup of our State Senate and State House. We have a supermajority Republican makeup in both bodies. In the Senate, there are 27 Republicans and only 8 Democrats. That makeup will change very little, if any, in this year’s four-year term election cycle.
In fact, the faces will not change much either. Over 80% of the legislature is unopposed. Our state legislative seats are becoming analogous to congressional seats when it comes to incumbency. Very few incumbents are ever defeated or even challenged. There are only two State Senate Seats open because of retirement.
Veteran state Senator Tom Butler is retiring from his Madison/Limestone seat. His seat will be taken by Republican John Roberts. Roberts got in the race early and cleared the field. Early on, he received the support of every major special interest group. John Roberts will amazingly be elected without opposition to an open state senate seat.
The best state senate race will be for the open Senate District 34 in northern Mobile County. Senator Jack Williams of rural Mobile County is giving up this seat to run for State Agriculture Commissioner. It is a two-man race to replace Williams in thisRepublican seat.
Former lawmaker, Rusty Glover, a Republican stalwart from Semmes, previously served three terms in the State Senate and one in the Alabama House. He is a former teacher. He is being backed by both ALFA and AEA and may be a slight favorite in this race.
Doug Harwell, a businessman, will be a formidable candidate in this race. He owns a concrete and asphalt contracting company and is a former Mobile County Board of Education member.This race will be a donnybrook.
Several incumbents will face opposition. First on the list, isSenator Andrew Jones (R-Cherokee). He has done a good job and is popular in his district but has garnered the wrath of the political giant Alabama Farmer’s Federation (ALFA). Most of the other special interest groups are sticking with him and he will probably prevail. He has $500,000 in campaign money and has worked his district diligently during the quadrennium. Jones has a viable opponent. His challenger Amy Minton is the ALFA backed candidate. She is currently on the Alabama Public Library Service Board.
There are other contests where incumbents are having challenges, but they are token opposition and these popular incumbents should be safe.
Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) has atoken opponent.
Senator Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva) has an unknown opponent.
Senator Chris Elliott (R-Baldwin) represents the fastest growing district in the state. With growing pains comes embroilment in local issues. He has a local issue challenger.
Senator Jay Hovey (R-Auburn) won the closest election in state history four years ago. He defeated incumbent Tom Whatley by a single vote. That would portend for him to be challenged. Indeed, Hovey has a serious challenge from popular and well-funded Lee County Commission Chairman Doug Cannon.Cannon is very strong in his home county bailiwick. Lee County comprises the bulk of this senate district. This race may well be decided in Tallapoosa County.
Also in east Alabama, incumbent State Senator Randy Price is being challenged by Veteran former State Senator Gerald Dial. This will be an interesting race.
Incumbent State Senator Dan Roberts will face opposition from Republican businessman Scott Ortis. This District 15 seat is very Republican and includes the upscale areas of Mountain Brook and Vestavia, along with portions of Jefferson and Shelby counties. Senator Dan Roberts and his challenger, Scott Ortis, are both successful businessmen and both reside in Mountain Brook. Roberts is running for his third four-year term. He has been a very pro-business and effective member of the upper body and is emerging as a leader in the Republican Senate Caucus.
It is obvious that the State Senate races attract most of the Special Interest money. The average incumbent senator has over $400,000 in their campaign accounts. That is why it has become like the U.S. Congress when it comes to electability of incumbents.
We will highlight the few open House seats next week.
See you next week.
April 15, 2026 - New First District Republican Congressional District Open This Year
This will be a great political year, with some fantastic, interesting, and close contests. However, there will be only one hotly contested open congressional seat this year in the Heart of Dixie. The other six incumbent congressmen will coast to reelection, either unopposed or with token opposition.
This is not unusual in today’s national politics. It is next to impossible to defeat an incumbent congressperson. The winning percentage for sitting congressmen is 95%. The Russian Communist Politburo does not have that high a reelectability rate.
The new First District Congressional Seat is open and provides for a competitive battle. This recently configured district is a Republican seat. It was drawn by intrusive Federal Judges, who declared that one man, one vote, and all voters are created equally does not apply to Republican voters. They ruled that a black Democratic vote is more important than a white Republican vote. The Federal Judges corralled all the white Republicans into a district, which is irrational for having a concerted voice in Washington. They usurped the majority Republican Legislature’s power, and placed the Republicans in Mobile and Baldwin Counties in with the Wiregrass Republicans. These two regions have nothing in common, especially when it comes to Federal needs. However, this is what these folks have for the time being.
The seat is open because the winner of the seat two years ago, Barry Moore, is running for our open U.S. Senate seat. Moore defeated Jerry Carl two years ago in a close race. Jerry Carl, a two-term former congressman from the Mobile/Baldwin area is pitted against State Representative Rhett Marques. It will be a battle between Mobile/Baldwin Republicans and the Wiregrass Republicans. Moore, who is from the Wiregrass, energized Wiregrass voters to turn out to vote for him better than Carl did with his Baldwin home region voters. It will be interesting to see if Marques can replicate Moore’s success in the Wiregrass. Fort Rucker and agriculture are vitally important to this region.
Shomari Figures won the newly, federally drawn majority/minority Democratic Second District two years ago. He will be easily reelected to a second two-year term this year. He has taken to Congress like a duck to water and done an excellent job. When you look at his resume and life experience, you could expect this success. Shomari was born to iconic Democratic legislative legends. His father, Michael Figures, was President Pro Tem of the Alabama State Senate. His mother, Vivian Figures, took the mantle and has been one of the longest serving and most effective State Senators in Mobile history. He is striving to work across the aisle. He garnered a seat on the Republican laden Agriculture Committee.
Our senior Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell has become a very powerful member of Congress. She has been in her Democratic seat for 15 years. She is in the leadership in the U.S. House Democratic Caucus. If the Democrats take control of the U.S. House in this Fall’s national elections, she will be in the catbird seat when it comes to Alabama’s Congressional power in Washington.
It is not a possibility but a probability that the Democrats will take the majority control of the U.S. House in November. Historically, when the sitting President is of one party, and his party has prevailed with a slim majority in his Presidential election, the minority party wins significant seats and flips to the majority in the House. This elective precedent has never failed to occur. In addition, the current Republican majority is razor thin. It is expected that the majority party in the House will be Democratic. Terri Sewell will be powerful. If the Republicans buck the trend, we have a group of very powerful congressmen who will continue in the House leadership.
Representative Robert Aderholt has represented the Fourth District with honor and distinction for 30 years. He is on course to be Alabama’s longest serving and most powerful Congressman in history. He currently chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
Representative Mike Rogers has represented the Third District for 23 years. He chairs the very important Armed Services Committee.
Representative Gary Palmer has done a stellar job of representing the very conservative Sixth District for 11 years.
Representative Dale Strong has only been in his Huntsville based Fifth District for three years but is doing an outstanding job and is well liked by the House GOP leadership, as well as the White House.
See you next week.
April 8, 2026 - Several State Court Seats Up This Year
We have a nine-member State Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court is also comprised of nine members. The nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life. When one retires or dies, which is seldom, the President of the United States makes the appointment to fill the rare vacancy.
Our Alabama Supreme Court does not have this “appointment for life” luxury. They are not appointed, they are elected. However, their terms are for six years. Once they are elected, they seem to never get opposed for reelection. They run in staggered years.
Since we are a one-party state, all nine justices on our Alabama Supreme Court, as well as all five members of the Court of Criminal Appeals and all five members of the Court of Civil Appeals are Republicans. Since all 19 of these justices are elected in statewide Republican primaries, they are bona fide conservatives.
The description of conservative applies to the two State Supreme Court justices up for reelection this year. Justice Greg Shaw and Justice Brad Mendheim are up for reelection on May 19. They have done an outstanding job and deserve another term.
Justice Greg Shaw will be returning for his final six-year term on the bench. Our Alabama law prohibits a judge from running for another term after they reach age 70. Shaw will reach that plateau during his next six years on the Supreme Court.
Greg Shaw has been a steady mainstay conservative senior judge on the Supreme Court. He is on the May 19 ballot seeking his fourth term on the High Court. Shaw has been doing appellate work for the State of Alabama for 40 years now – 16 years as a Staff Attorney for the Supreme Court, eight years as a Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, and 16 years as a Justice on the Supreme Court. He is very well qualified.
Judge Brad Mendheim is pursuing his second, full six-year term. He is unopposed. He was born to be a judge. He was born and raised in Dothan. His father was a local pharmacist. He became a Circuit Judge for Houston and Henry Counties at a young age. He served as a Wiregrass Circuit Judge for a decade. He is very well respected in his hometown. He is a pillar of the First Baptist Church of Dothan. He is only 57 years old and should be a mainstay of the Supreme Court for several more decades.
Both Brad Mendheim and Greg Shaw are immensely qualified, proven conservative Republican jurists.
There are two female jurists running for reelection to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals – Mary Windom and Beth Kellum. These women work long, hard hours, as this appellate Court has an immense workload.
Mary Windom is running for her fourth, six-year term on the Court. She is the presiding judge on the five-member panel. She does an excellent job.
Beth Kellum is running for her fourth term on the Court of Criminal Appeals. Beth is a Tuscaloosa native and is approaching the record for longevity on this appeals panel. She got there at a young age.
Beth Kellum and Mary Windom both have done a stellar job as judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals and deserve another term.
The five member Court of Civil Appeals has two of their malemembers up for reelection. Judges Ben Bowden and Matt Fridy are unopposed.
Ben Bowden was recently appointed by Gov. Ivey to the Court of Civil Appeals. He will be reelected on May 19 to a full six-year term. Ben Bowden is imminently qualified. He has been Probate Judge of Covington County and was also a Circuit Judge prior to joining the Court of Civil Appeals. He is a good man.
Matt Fridy is seeking his second term on the Court of Civil Appeals. Matt served as a legislator from vote rich Shelby County prior to joining the Court of Civil Appeals. He is a real gentleman. Judge Fridy has a judicial law clerk, Madison Clark, who has a bright future in judicial politics in Alabama.
The May 19 primary elections are right around the corner.
See you next week.