Alabama Senate District 26 race to feature highly contested Democratic primary

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September 16, 2020

Qualifying has ended for both major parties in the special election for Alabama Senate District 26.

This seat was vacated by the resignation of State Sen. David “Coach” Burkette (D-Montgomery), who has since been arrested on a campaign finance charge and is expected to plead guilty.

The Alabama Democratic Party has a strong field of candidates running in the race. The seat is considered safely Democratic, as Burkette won 80% of the vote in the 2018 general election.

Linda Burkette, wife of the former senator, has qualified to run for the seat.

Former longtime State Rep. John Knight (D-Montgomery), who lost to Mr. Burkette in 2018, is running for the seat again this time around.

Two current state legislators are also running: State Reps. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) and TaShina Morris (D-Montgomery). Both are freshman representatives. Hatcher ousted longtime State Rep. Alvin Holmes (D-Montgomery) in 2018, while Morris in that cycle upset Malcolm Calhoun.

Additionally, Janet May, a former Montgomery County Democratic Party chair and DNC superdelegate, has qualified to run, as has Deborah Anthony. Anthony also ran for the seat in 2018.

The only Republican to qualify was former City Councilman William Green.

The special primary will be held on November 17; the special primary runoff, if necessary, would occur on December 15; and the special general election is set for March 2.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

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