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Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this report drew Ag Commissioner candidate Corey Hill’s fundraising totals from a previous month. The current and accurate total is reflected in the graphic above. 

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

All data drawn from the Federal Elections Commission campaign finance database: 


Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Alabama BeefPAC, the political arm of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, has announced its support for Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen in the 2026 lieutenant governor’s race and Katherine Robertson in the race for attorney general.

“Wes has a proven, conservative, business-friendly track record,” said Alabama Cattlemen’s Association President Keith Glover of Hale County. “We are confident his experience in various political roles has prepared him to lead our state and carry out priorities important to Alabama agriculture.”

Allen thanked cattle producers across the state for their support in his bid for lieutenant governor. “I am incredibly honored to receive the support of the hardworking men and women from across this state that raise the cattle that feed us,” Allen said. “Food security is national security. By supporting thousands of jobs and contributing more than $2.5 billion to Alabama’s economy, the state’s beef cattle industry plays a vital role in agriculture—Alabama’s leading economic driver.”

Alabama BeefPAC also announced its support for Katherine Robertson in her campaign for Alabama attorney general. Robertson is a Republican candidate for the office and has served in the Attorney General’s Office for more than a decade.

“I have appreciated the close relationship that our Association has had with the Attorney General’s Office throughout Katherine’s ten years of leadership. Katherine knows first-hand the challenges that our cattlemen face, but she’s also proven to be adept at delivering solutions. We know exactly what we’re going to get with Katherine as Attorney General—a hard worker, a dedicated conservative, and an effective advocate. We are pleased to support her in this race,” said Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Beasley.

Robertson shared her appreciation for the organization’s backing. “As the granddaughter of a cattleman, I am deeply honored by the support of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who feed our state and nation and understand the importance of standing up for them. As Attorney General, I will continue to protect property rights, fight excessive regulations, and will do everything in my power to ensure that rural Alabama and our agricultural industries thrive,” Robertson said.

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association does not issue candidate endorsements directly and instead supports candidates through its political arm, BeefPAC.

Allen is running in a Republican primary field that includes Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate and former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl, while Robertson is seeking the attorney general’s nomination in a field that includes former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell and Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey.

The Republican primary election will be held on May 19, 2026.

Wes Allen, who currently serves as Alabama Secretary of State, announced that he has received the endorsement of 20 Republican sheriffs from across the state in his campaign for Lt. Governor.

“I am honored to have the support of these law enforcement officers,” Allen said. “Upholding law and order should be a top priority of any administration and these sheriffs know they can always count on me to do what is right under the law.”

Sheriffs endorsing Allen include:

Allen is running in a Republican primary field that includes Ag Commissioner Rick Pate, former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl, and others.

The Republican primary election will be held on May 19, 2026.

Manufacture Alabama announced its endorsement of Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen in his campaign for lieutenant governor, citing his record on business policy and government reform.

“Manufacture Alabama is endorsing Wes Allen for Lieutenant Governor due to his track record of supporting pro-business policies and his results-driven approach to governing,” said Jon Barganier, president of Manufacture Alabama. “As Secretary of State, he has provided steady leadership and delivered on his promises to reduce red tape for businesses, cut spending and improve election security. He understands the positive impact of the manufacturing industry, and we are pleased to support his campaign efforts for Lieutenant Governor.”

Allen said he was honored by the endorsement and emphasized the importance of the manufacturing sector to Alabama’s economy.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Manufacture Alabama,” Allen said. “Our state’s manufacturers, large and small, provide good-paying jobs to hardworking Alabamians across the state and are essential in keeping our state and nation competitive in a global market. As Lieutenant Governor, I will always put Alabama first and our manufacturing sector is a key part of that.”

Allen has served as Alabama’s secretary of state since January 2023 after winning the election in 2022.

Prior to that role, he served nearly a decade as Pike County probate judge and one term in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing District 89. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama and a master’s degree from Troy University.

Manufacture Alabama represents hundreds of companies across the state, ranging from international corporations to small, family-owned operations and advocates on behalf of the manufacturing sector’s legislative, regulatory and operational interests.

Election year is here, and with that opportunity comes the need for volunteers to help make the process possible.

As the May 19, 2026 primary election approaching, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen is encouraging residents to serve as poll workers, emphasizing the vital role they play in administering elections across the state.

“Poll workers are essential members of the elections administration team. They work hard from sun up to sun down on Election Day at every polling place across our state,” Allen said.

“As Secretary of State, I will always support our hardworking election officials across the state and ensure they have everything they need to administer the safest and most secure elections in the country.”

Allen also highlighted the state’s Heroes at the Polls program, which is designed to help counties recruit Alabama veterans to serve as poll workers.

RELATED: Alabama poll workers to receive pay raise

“Our veterans have defended our constitutional right to vote time and again. This makes them uniquely qualified to safeguard election integrity as voters exercise their constitutional right,” Allen said.

“The integrity, patriotism, and strong work ethic required for military service make our veterans ideal candidates to serve as poll workers.”

To qualify, poll workers must be registered voters in the county where they wish to serve and are appointed by a county appointing board consisting of the probate judge, sheriff, and circuit clerk.

Poll workers are also required to attend training administered by their county probate judge prior to each election.

Qualified individuals interested in serving can apply by completing a poll worker application available through the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

The Business Council of Alabama has endorsed Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen in his campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

ProgressPAC, BCA’s political arm, announced the endorsement Thursday, citing Allen’s record on election security, fiscal responsibility, and reducing regulatory burdens on businesses.

“Wes Allen understands that efficient government and a strong business climate go hand in hand,” said ProgressPAC Chairman Kevin Savoy. “As Secretary of State, he implemented key reforms like improving election security, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and cutting unnecessary spending. We are confident that he will bring similar pro-business, results-oriented leadership as Lieutenant Governor.”

Allen, who has served as Alabama’s 54th Secretary of State since 2023, has focused his tenure on election integrity reforms and limiting government bureaucracy. His work has included withdrawing Alabama from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), launching the Alabama Voter Integrity Database, and supporting legislation to require paper ballots and prohibit internet connectivity for election tabulators.

He has also backed measures to outlaw ranked-choice voting and absentee ballot harvesting, expand Alabama’s crimes of moral turpitude law, and reduce fees and reporting requirements for political candidates.

Helena Duncan, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, said Allen’s approach aligns with the organization’s priorities.

“Wes Allen has proven himself to be a principled elected official and a steady leader,” Duncan said. “His commitment to accountability, fiscal discipline, and limited government will serve Alabama well as Lieutenant Governor.”

Allen said the endorsement reflects shared goals between his campaign and Alabama’s business community.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Business Council of Alabama and the thousands of small businesses and large employers that they represent,” Allen said. “We share a common goal of working each day to make Alabama the best state in the country to work, to live, and to raise a family.”

Before becoming secretary of state, Allen served as Pike County probate judge and represented his district in the Alabama House of Representatives.

One of the many duties of Alabama’s Secretary of State is to be the chief election official for the state. As part of that responsibility, the secretary manages the vital state voter rolls.

Secretary Wes Allen announced Tuesday that he and his staff identified 186 noncitizens registered to vote in Alabama, using the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program and has directed their immediate removal from Alabama’s voter file.

According to his office, voting history records further indicate that 25 of the 186 noncitizen voters not only registered illegally but also illegally cast ballots in Alabama elections.

Allen said he will refer all instances to local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities.

“Our elections must be decided by American citizens and only American citizens,” Allen said.

“While liberal organizations and media outlets claim noncitizen voting is not a problem, my office has proven otherwise. Under my watch, illegal registration and illegal voting by noncitizens will not be tolerated in Alabama. My office will continue to identify these violations, refer them to law enforcement, and ensure the full force of the law is applied.”

Secretary Allen initiated the process of identifying the noncitizens registered to vote in Alabama shortly after entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with DHS-USCIS. The MOU authorizes the Secretary of State’s Office to utilize the SAVE program for voter-file maintenance.

Each individual identified through SAVE was provided an opportunity to respond by submitting documentation proving U.S. citizenship. Secretary Allen instructed local boards of registrars to remove those individuals who failed to provide the required documentation. The Secretary of State’s Office has confirmed that all 186 removals have been completed.

Allen’s referral of the cases to law enforcement go to the State Attorney General’s office or the local District Attorney.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Wes Allen is reminding Alabama that AJ McCarron isn’t the only former football player in the race for Lt. Governor in 2026.

This morning, he released his first campaign video entitled, “Undefeated,” which serves as the punchline of the ad.

According to his campaign, the 30-second spot will run on digital platforms throughout the state.

“I enjoyed my days as an Alabama football player,” Allen says. “But it’s my record off the field that matters.”

Watch full video here: 

Allen marks through a list of conservative accomplishments, including cutting “wasteful spending,” tightening election security, and supporting the state’s ban on sex-change surgeries for minors.

“When it comes to my record against liberals, I’m undefeated,” Allen says.

Allen’s first video ad also comes with a big financial edge.

This week, courtesy of a major contribution from the Alabama Farmers Federation’s FarmPAC, Allen crossed over the $1 million cash-on-hand goal line.

By comparison, Rick Pate, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, currently has raised $532,000 cash on hand, to AJ McCarron’s balance, less than $100,000.

Allen, who was elected statewide for the first time in 2022 as Secretary of State, previously served in the Alabama House for a term, and prior to that, as Probate Judge in Pike County.

AJ McCarron, a total political newcomer — both in running for office and voting — announced his campaign in October, playing to familiar themes, such as wanting to be “quarterback” for U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s administration as Governor.

Allen lettered at Alabama as a walk-on receiver in the late 1990s.

Beyond the differences in he and McCarron’s on-field experience, Allen’s first video banks on reminding voters that their political experience also could not be more different, now 160 days out from the 2026 Alabama Republican Party primary election.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

The Alabama Forestry Association has endorsed Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen in his bid for lieutenant governor, citing his long record in public service and support for Alabama’s timber industry.

Allen, the state’s 54th secretary of state since 2023, previously served one term in the Alabama House of Representatives and nearly a decade as Pike County probate judge.

“Over the course of his time in public service, Wes has been a friend of forestry,” said Chris Isaacson, AFA president and CEO.

“I recall working with him when he, as Probate Judge, served as a liaison with the county commissions around the state as we passed legislation to improve access to road infrastructure. When he was in the House of Representatives, he was one of the most fiscally responsible members and was a staunch proponent of limited government initiatives. Wes understands and supports our industry and we are pleased to endorse him to be the next Lieutenant Governor.”

“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the Alabama Forestry Association,” Allen said.

“These hardworking men and women help drive Alabama’s economy and I am thankful for their support. Those that work in our state’s forestry sector recognize that I have a proven record of cutting red tape, eliminating wasteful spending and working to create an environment that allows businesses to thrive and Alabamians to work without unnecessary, burdensome government interference.”

Allen is a graduate of the University of Alabama and Troy University.

He and his wife, Cae, have two children. He is seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in the May 19, 2026 primary.

According to the association, forestry is one of the state’s largest economic drivers, generating $36 billion in total economic output annually. Forests cover more than two-thirds of Alabama, supporting manufacturers, landowners, loggers, and other forestry professionals.

 Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

The President of the United States is required to be a natural-born U.S. citizen through a specific provision in the U.S. Constitution. A naturalized citizen cannot serve as commander-in-chief by law.

However, other elected offices are open to both naturalized and native-born citizens. In Alabama, three officials want to change that.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, State Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Dothan), and State Rep. Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise) have brought a bill that would require almost all officials in Alabama to be natural born.

Only local officials, such as Mayors, city council members and county commissioners, were not included in a ban through newly-introduced SB21.

“For the same reasons our founding fathers sought to ensure that our nation’s leader was a natural born American citizen, we believe the same standard must be required of those operating in the highest levels of our state government,” Allen said in a statement on Monday.

“I am confident that the vast majority of Alabamians join us in wanting to strengthen our state Constitution to put Alabama first and to counteract any potential future influence from abroad.”

While the Secretary of State does not get to vote on or introduce bills himself, the office commonly takes the lead on legislation affecting elections.

The issue of having non-American-born individuals running for office is a hot one at the moment.

A startling example up north is Ugandan-born Zohran Mamdani, who is leading all polls for Mayor of New York. Mamdani is a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist who won the Democrat Mayoral primary.

If passed by both houses of the Alabama Legislature, Allen’s proposal would be put to a statewide vote in November 2026.

According to SB21’s official description, “Offices of Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court; judge of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals; judge of a circuit court or district court; member of the Legislature; Attorney General; State Auditor; Secretary of State; State Treasurer; Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries; member of the State Board of Education; and local sheriff, district attorney, circuit clerk, or constable required to be held by a natural born citizen of the United States,”

According to Allen, the goal is to mirror the U.S. Constitution’s standard for the presidency and insulate state leaders from potential foreign influence.

The bill has been pre-filed in the Alabama Legislature ahead of the January 2026 legislative session. State Sen. Donnie Chesteen is the sponsor in the Senate, and State Rep. Rhett Marques will carry a companion bill in the House.

The bill would restrict candidacy for most offices from an estimated 80,000 Alabamians who are naturalized U.S. citizens.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen is welcoming former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron to the 2026 Lt. Governor’s race by drawing a sharp contrast on experience and record. 

McCarron launched his campaign on Thursday, entering a field of contenders that include two tenured incumbents, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, and Secretary Allen. 

First-time candidate and 35-year-old AJ McCarron released an announcement video that introduced himself politically as an outsider, a supporter of President Donald Trump, and someone uniquely positioned to be a “quarterback” for a future Tommy Tuberville governorship. 

Allen, a former state lawmaker, probate judge, and first-term Secretary of State, said his record is much different than McCarron’s.

“This race is about more than talk. It’s about real action. An endorsement of President Trump is only valuable if you follow it up with the real action of voting for him, which I have done,” Allen said in a statement to Yellowhammer News. 

“I don’t just talk about standing up for conservative values. I have a solid record and voter record to support a strong, proven record of getting things done through hard work and common sense decision making. I have eliminated red tape and wasteful spending in the Secretary of State’s Office, developed the most secure elections system in our nation’s history and led the charge to ban puberty blockers and sex change procedures on minors in our state. I take action again and again. I fight for what is right on economic and social fronts and I get the job done.”

According to official voter data from the Secretary of State’s office, McCarron registered to vote on October 20, 2025, and has not voted in any primary or general elections in Alabama.

Current Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth said Thursday of McCarron’s announcement, “This race just got interesting.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama announced Thursday its endorsement of Secretary of State Wes Allen for lieutenant governor.

“Secretary Allen has a proven track record of standing with Alabama’s small business community,” said ABC of Alabama Chairman Tim Harrison. “He has been committed to cutting red tape, supporting voter integrity, and investing in workforce development efforts in the construction industry. That’s why we are endorsing him for Lieutenant Governor today.”

Secretary Allen responded to the endorsement, saying, “The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama represent the hardworking Alabamians who quite literally build this state, and to have their endorsement is an honor.”

Allen has served as Alabama’s secretary of state since 2023. Before that, he spent nearly ten years as Pike County probate judge and later represented District 89 in the Alabama House of Representatives.

During his time in office, Allen has worked with local officials across the state to ensure Alabama’s elections remain among the most secure in the nation.

“At ABC, we like proven leaders, and Wes Allen has proven that he can deliver results and collaborate with job creators to move Alabama forward,” Harrison added.

ABC of Alabama represents the state’s construction industry, which supports 200,000 jobs and accounts for 5% of the state’s economic output. The organization advocates for the industry and its workers across the state.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

According to fresh polling, sitting Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall holds an early lead in the state’s U.S. Senate race while the rest of Alabama’s 2026 statewide races remain up in the air.

The Alabama Poll was recently re-established by Michael Lowry, a former Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville).

Between August 24 and August 26, it surveyed 600 Alabama residents likely to vote in the May 2026 Republican primary.

The poll found that Marshall is winning the battle for U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Auburn) soon-to-be-vacated seat with the support of 37% of respondents.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore is in second with 16%, while former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson trails with 7%.

Marshall, who has served as Alabama’s attorney general since 2017, has spent over eight years in statewide office and enjoys the advantage of name recognition — just 21% of respondents say they do not know who he is.

Moore, on the other hand, has represented the state in the U.S. House since 2021, but his name recognition is limited outside of south Alabama — 40% of respondents say they don’t know who he is.

Hudson, who ran for sheriff of Jefferson County in 2022 but has never held office, has a lot of ground to make up on the name recognition front — 62% of respondents say they don’t know who he is.

Thus, Moore will have to spend more time and money establishing himself with voters than Marshall will. 40% of poll respondents remain undecided, and Moore will accumulate supporters as his name recognition grows, but the Congressman faces an uphill battle.

Marshall is a popular incumbent, enjoying a favorability ratio of 47% to 14%. He sports a ratio of 33% to 18% in the Mobile media market — Moore’s home base. 

To shake up the race, Moore will attempt to score the backing of Donald Trump, as will Marshall. It is currently unclear whether the president plans to choose sides, but his endorsement would almost certainly be decisive, as 88% of respondents approve of the commander-in-chief.

Moore proudly claims  to be the first elected official to have endorsed Trump, having spoken at his 2015 Mobile rally as a State Rep., and is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, widely regarded as the chamber’s most conservative bloc.

Marshall is a leading legal figure in the American conservative movement. He fought a wide range of Biden-era policies in court, saying that “any day” he can sue Joe Biden “is a good day.”

In the race for lieutenant governor, sitting Alabama secretary of state Wes Allen leads sitting Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate 28% to 12%, but 61% of voters say they’re still undecided.

Allen represented HD89 from 2018 to 2022 prior to becoming secretary of state, while Pate was the mayor of Lowndesboro for 15 years before being elected to his current position in 2019.

Jay Mitchell holds a 13% to 7% lead over Pamela Casey in the battle for Attorney General, with Katherine Robertson trailing at 6%.

Mitchell, a former justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is the frontrunner, while Casey, District Attorney of Blount County, and Robertson, former chief counsel for the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, have a lot of ground to cover to catch up. 

Despite a slow start in the polls, Robertson has Marshall’s endorsement.

According to campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Division, she received a $1 million donation in June, the largest single contribution ever reported in a statewide race.

Mitchell, the race’s fundraising leader with nearly $2 million on hand, has criticized Robertson for taking out-of-state “dark money” contributions — her summer windfall came from the Nashville-based First Principles Action Inc., a group with no donor list.

Current state auditor Andrew Sorrell and Caroleene Dobson, the Republican nominee for Congress during last year’s AL-2 election, are competing to replace Allen as Alabama’s Secretary of State.

Sorrell, who represented HD3 from 2018 until 2022, holds a slight advantage, with 20% of respondents pledging him their support. At 16%, Dobson is close behind him. 64% of voters remain undecided.

The candidates poll nearly identically in favorability and name recognition, but Dobson has a fundraising advantage with $647,266.76 on hand compared to her opponent’s $301,872.75.

The race for agriculture commissioner has the highest percentage of undecided voters, with 77%.

Three contenders lead the way: State Sen. Jack Williams (R-Wilmer), businesswoman and farmer Christina Woerner McInnis, and Douglas Mayor Corey Hill. Williams, who has served in the state legislature since 2014, leads the polls at 10%, while McInnis sits at 7% and Hill sits at 6%.

With $505,467.31 on hand, Williams has the most available campaign funds. McInnis has $448,153.31, and Hill has $122,096.71.

Charles Vaughan is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News.

A coalition of Alabama business leaders has announced support for Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate in his campaign for Lt. Governor in 2026, citing his record as a business owner and commitment to economic growth.

The group, called Business Partners for Rick Pate, launched this week and is actively recruiting other leaders from across the state. Members say they back Pate because he is the only candidate in the race with decades of firsthand experience founding, expanding, and operating a company.

“The business community needs a doer, not a talker serving as lieutenant governor, and Rick Pate is the only candidate who has signed the front of a paycheck so others can sign the back,” said coalition member Ken Upchurch, chairman and CEO of W.K. Upchurch Construction.

Supporters highlighted Pate’s record as founder of Pate Landscape Co., which he ran for 38 years before entering public service. They pointed to his pledge to cut excessive regulation, expand workforce development, and invest in infrastructure such as roads, ports, broadband, and industrial parks.

The coalition also emphasized Pate’s commitment to promoting affordable and reliable energy for Alabama businesses.

“Alabama has made great progress in recent years in expanding our workforce development programs and focusing on labor force participation, and Rick Pate is the only candidate with the experience to sustain and build upon that momentum,” Upchurch said.

Members of the coalition steering committee include Jimmy and Wayne Bassett of Beck’s Turf, Beau Bevis of Arc Realty, Jeff Brooks of HighPoint Holdings, Mac Caddell of Caddell Construction, Bob Crawford of United Distributors of Alabama, Birmingham, Jack Darnall of Lemoine Program Services, Daniel Hughes of Envolve Communities, Bob Isakson of Lafayette Land Company, Michael Kirkpatrick of Dese Research Inc., Jason Neff of the Law Office of Jason C. Neff, Mindy Newell of Kickback Ranch and Event Center, Jordan Plaster of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC, Gary Savage of BL Harbert International’s U.S. Group, Shep Morris of Morris & Morris Farms, and former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange.

Pate, who has served as Alabama’s agriculture commissioner since 2019, is one of several Republicans competing in the May 19, 2026, primary to succeed Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who is term-limited.

The Alabama Republican Party primary election will be held on May 19, 2026.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

Alabama signaled it will appeal a federal ruling that struck down part of its State Senate map and asked the court to pause its order while the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a closely watched redistricting case from Louisiana later this fall.

In a joint status report filed Wednesday, lawyers for Secretary of State Wes Allen said the state “intends to appeal” last week’s injunction and will ask the district court to stay its judgment pending the Supreme Court’s re-argument in Louisiana v. Callais, set for October 15.

Recent actions by the Supreme Court have signaled the Louisiana case is one where justices may significantly revise how the Voting Rights Act is applied across the country.

Alabama’s filing on Wednesday says election officials would need a remedial Senate map in place no later than November 17 to administer the May 19, 2026 primary without “disruption and confusion.”

It also reports that legislative leaders are weighing whether to convene and produce a new plan in late September or early October.

“Secretary Allen’s staff have reviewed the election calendar and considered which counties will likely be impacted by a remedial map. As the Secretary has said before, it is not possible to provide a date and say with confidence that Alabama can implement a remedial map entered by that date without disruption and confusion,” the state wrote in its report.

“…we do know that the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays will fall during the time that Registrars are re-assigning voters, and it is likely that one or more of the counties impacted by a remedial plan will be required to reassign manually. All this considered, the Secretary believes that a remedial map for the 2026 election would need to be in place on or before November 17, 2025 to mitigate these concerns.”

Plaintiffs told the court they do not oppose appointing a special master as a contingency and proposed an accelerated schedule keyed to the state’s November 17 date.

As previously reported, U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco ruled that Alabama’s 2021 Senate map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the Montgomery area and barred the state from using that plan in 2026.

The court ordered a remedy that includes either “an additional majority-Black Senate district in the Montgomery area, or an additional district there in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a Senator of their choice,” yet while denying the same request for districts in the Huntsville region.

State attorneys argue a stay is warranted while the Supreme Court considers the Louisiana redistricting case, which could reshape how, and whether, race may be considered in redistricting.

Louisiana officials are urging the Court to bar the use of race in drawing districts and the justices have scheduled re-argument for October 15.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Stoking renewed pressure on Alabama’s redistricting process, a federal court judge ruled on Friday that Alabama’s 2021 State Senate map violates the Voting Rights Act in the Montgomery area – but not in Huntsville. 

The ruling bars the state from using the current plan in future elections.

As it did in 2023, the court said the Alabama Legislature must first attempt a fix that adds one additional minority opportunity district in the Montgomery area – and made clear it will impose a map if lawmakers do not meet the court’s standard for remedy, as it also did in 2023. 

U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco framed that remedy in terms of giving the GOP’s legislative supermajority the first chance to redraw under specific parameters. 

RELATED: Federal judges issue final map to Alabama (2023)

“Under the statutory framework, Supreme Court precedent, and Eleventh Circuit precedent, the appropriate remedy is a redistricting plan that includes either an additional majority-Black Senate district in the Montgomery area, or an additional district there in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a Senator of their choice,” Manasco wrote in the ruling. 

“Supreme Court precedent dictates that the Legislature should have the first opportunity to draw that plan. The Legislature enjoys broad discretion (broader than the Court’s) and may consider a wide range of remedial plans.”

The court also spelled out the practical bottom line for any fix.

“As the Legislature considers such plans, it should be mindful of the practical reality… that any remedial plan will need to include an additional district in the Montgomery area in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it,” Manasco wrote.

The court rejected plaintiffs’ effort to force a second Black-opportunity district around Huntsville, ruling that it failed the law’s compactness and configuration tests. 

RELATED: U.S. Supreme Court rejects Alabama Legislature’s maps

“The Black population in the area of District 7 is too geographically dispersed to form a voting-age majority in an additional reasonably configured district. Accordingly, the Court finds that the plaintiffs have not demonstrated a Section Two violation in the Huntsville area.”

As per today’s ruling District 7, a seat currently held by State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), is no longer under threat of being redrawn.

The decision is also notable because the court declined to accept plaintiffs’ arguments using population data that did not originate from the U.S. Census. 

The ruling tightens federal control over one part of Alabama’s State Senate map while leaving Huntsville alone, which is only half of what plaintiffs sought. 

That did not stop the left-wing American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), among the plaintiffs, from declaring victory.

https://x.com/ACLUAlabama/status/1958965054961066198

Today’s ruling is another installment in a series of Voting Rights Act cases from Alabama that began with Allen v. Milligan, the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision which challenged Alabama’s 2021 congressional map and ultimately required Alabama to draw a second minority-opportunity district.

That decision led to a court-ordered congressional map for 2024 and beyond, which resulted in the election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile). 

Alabama’s appeal of the final decision in that case is still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court and will be heard in the 2025-26 Court Term along with the much-anticipated Louisiana congressional redistricting case.

RELATED: Alabama AG believes SCOTUS ruling on Louisiana could affect Alabama redistricting

Various actions by the Supreme Court have led many court watchers to believe that the Louisiana case is one where the Supreme Court may significantly revise how the Voting Rights Act is applied across the country.

As for today’s ruling on State Senate maps, another hearing in the case is set for next Thursday.

In 2023, Governor Kay Ivey convened a special session of the Alabama Legislature less than 40 days after the initial ruling to address the court’s challenge.

Alabama Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) told Yellowhammer News, “We are in receipt of the Court’s order and are in the process of reviewing it.”

“At this time, we are pleased with the Court’s ruling in the Huntsville area and disappointed by the ruling in the Montgomery area. We will determine next steps after a thorough review of the opinion in the coming days,” Livingston said.

Grayson Everett is the editor and chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Ahead of municipal elections next Tuesday, August 26, across Alabama, Secretary of State Wes Allen is encouraging voters to read up on election-related information before going to the polls.

On Tuesday, Allen promoted the official resource site for Alabamians seeking information about their local elections.

“AlabamaVotes.gov makes several important tools available to Alabama’s voters. Before heading to the polls on August 26th, I would encourage Alabama voters to visit our website and verify their voter registration status and polling location,” Allen said.

“Voters can also review information on Alabama’s important photo voter ID requirements on AlabamaVotes.gov.”

Polls will be open on August 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are required to present a valid form of photo identification when voting at their polling place or by absentee ballot.

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten.

Two Phenix City women have been arrested after police say they carried out illegal ballot harvesting tied to suspicious absentee applications in the upcoming August 26 municipal elections.

Phenix City Police launched the investigation after the city clerk’s office reported multiple irregular absentee applications. Detectives say the probe uncovered evidence of illegal ballot harvesting.

Authorities identified Thalia Jenkins Hardin and Valerie Carter as the culprits. According to police, both told investigators they were volunteering for District 3 City Council candidate Jamar Gayles surrounding the alleged offenses.

While city council elections are non-partisan in Alabama, according to election data retrieved by Yellowhammer News, both offenders are Democrats.

Hardin, age 54, has voted Democrat since 2018. She voted in the 2022, 2020 and 2018 Alabama Democratic Party primary elections.

Carter, age 53, has also voted Democrat since 2018, participating in Democratic primaries during the 2024, 2022, 2020 and 2018 election cycles.

RELATED: Alabama Democrat convicted of absentee ballot fraud in County Commission race – AG warns: ‘voter fraud is a direct attack on our democratic process’

Following consultation with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office and the Russell County District Attorney’s office, law enforcement arrested Hardin and Carter. Each faces multiple charges related to absentee voting violations.

The arrests come after Alabama officials tightened rules on ballot harvesting.

In 2024, state lawmakers passed SB1 to make it a crime to pay third parties to handle absentee ballot applications or ballots.

Secretary of State Wes Allen, the state’s top election official, has consistently communicated that the crackdown protects the absentee process and is clear proof the state is serious about election integrity.

“Election integrity is a top priority,” Allen told Yellowhammer News on Thursday. “If you have been a victim of absentee ballot application harvesting, contact my office or your local law enforcement authorities.”

Authorities say the investigation into Hardin and Carter’s alleged scheme is ongoing.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

One of the best races in this blockbuster election year will be for Lt. Governor. In bygone years, this was a much more powerful position than it is today. For about 50 years, from the 1950’s through the 1990’s, the Lt. Governor controlled the State Senate. 

The Constitution gives the power to the State House and State Senate to organize their own bodies. The Senate relinquished this power to the Lt. Governor when the most brilliant parliamentarian in the annals of Alabama legislative history, Jim Allen, became Lt. Governor.

The legendary Senator, Jim Allen of Gadsden, became Lt. Governor and assuaged that power. He knew how to craftily maneuver the gavel. He was a Wallace ally. He and Governor Wallace worked well together, but Allen had made himself the “King of the Senate.” He garnered control of operations, the calendar, and most importantly, the power to appoint chairmen of all committees. Allen would appoint the Chairman of the Rules Committee, but he would confer with Wallace on this post because Governor Wallace wanted his agenda addressed.

When Wallace was not governor and when a weaker or less experienced governor would arrive, the lieutenant governor would become even more powerful. They had been elected on their own and had the power of the gavel and complete autonomy of the senate because they set the agenda and the committee assignments. 

Legislation is the most important project of special interest groups. Special interests campaign money would flow to the lieutenant governor’s race. In many quadrennium contests, there would be as much money raised in the lieutenant governor’s race as for governor. Not many of the lieutenant governors, or any for that matter, had the parliamentary prowess with the gavel as the great Jim Allen. However, they would have the legendary, 50-year Secretary of the State Senate, McDowell Lee, sitting beside them and instructing them on the rules of the Senate, which are very intricate. Mr. Lee was the Master.

The state senate took the power away from the lieutenant governor in 1999. Steve Windom had been elected Lt. Governor as a Republican, and Don Siegelman was elected Governor as a Democrat, and the State Senate was dominated by Democrats. The Senate took back the power inherently given to the Senate and rested the leadership and committee assignments to their own internally elected President Pro Tem. That person currently is State Senator Garlan Gudger of Cullman. He will be coming back after this election cycle. As will the strong, powerful, effective Speaker of the House, Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Dekalb County). Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger will be the two most powerful people in state government in the next quadrennium. The apparent new Governor, Coach Tommy Tuberville, is very close to Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter. Coach stayed in Ledbetter’s house when he ran successfully for the U.S. Senate six years ago. They are arch political allies. Tuberville will have a harmonious working relationship with the legislature as governor.

The 2026 race for Lt. Governor will boil down to a two-man race between two current popular statewide constitutional office holders. Secretary of State Wes Allen versus Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate will be a real horserace.

Secretary of State Wes Allen is a real thoroughbred. He is a true-blue Republican with an impeccable political pedigree. He is a lifelong Republican. He served as Pike County’s Probate Judge for nearly a decade before being elected to serve District 89 in the Alabama House of Representatives. He was elected overwhelmingly as the 54th Secretary of State in 2022. He is looking to move up to Lt. Governor in this 2026 election year. He is an indefatigable campaigner and a devout Baptist Deacon and dedicated family man.

Rick Pate is a very popular two-term Agriculture Commissioner. He has done an outstanding job in this very important post for eight years. He is a lifelong resident of Lowndes County, a small Black Belt county adjoining Montgomery. He was a longtime Mayor of Lowndesboro prior to being elected Agriculture Commissioner. He has been a successful Agri-businessman in the River Region for decades. He sold his landscaping business when he became Commissioner of Agriculture. He is a workhorse and people like him when they meet him.

There are three “also ran” candidates in the race. Nicole Jones Wadsworth, Patrick Bishop, and Dean Odle are running. Mr. Odle has run statewide before. Nicole Jones Wadsworth is working the state hard and may surprise folks. The race between Pate and Allen may be so close that these three candidates may get enough votes to force a runoff.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.