The Decent Ballot  /  Alabama  /  Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Alabama

Every Alabama voter sees these races. Your county guide adds the local races, Congress and the legislature.

best choice in the race Seems like good people Compromised Not good people Not enough info

County guides

Not listed? Ask us to cover your county, and use the races below in the meantime.

Who is running statewide in Alabama in 2026

Governor
Doug Jones (D) and Tommy Tuberville (R)
Lieutenant Governor
Phillip Ensler (D) and John Wahl (R)
U.S. Senator
Everett Wess (D) and Barry Moore (R)
Attorney General
Jeff McLaughlin (D) and Katherine Robertson (R)
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place 8
Ashleigh Meyer Dunham (D) and Greg Shaw (R)
Secretary of State
Wayne Rogers (D) and Caroleene Dobson (R)
State Treasurer
Rosilyn Houston (D) and Young Boozer (R)
State Auditor
Violet Edwards (D) and Andrew Sorrell (R)
Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
Ron Sparks (D) and Corey Hill (R)
Public Service Commission, Place 1
James O. Gordon (D) and Matt Gentry (R)
Public Service Commission, Place 2
Sheila D. McNeil (D) and Jim Zeigler (R)

Statewide races

Governor

Vote for one

Open seat: Gov. Kay Ivey is term-limited.

Doug Jones

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

U.S. senator 2018 to 2021; U.S. attorney for northern Alabama 1997 to 2001

As U.S. attorney he convicted two Klansmen for the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Running on health care and the economy, backs a state lottery, and wants nonpartisan members on the state library board.

Sources: UChicago Institute of Politics, Wikipedia, Greene County Democrat

Tommy Tuberville

Not good people Republican

U.S. senator since 2021; former Auburn football coach

Endorsed by Donald Trump for governor, and voted to object to certifying the 2020 presidential election. In 2022 he said Democrats favor reparations because "the people that do the crime are owed that."

Sources: PBS NewsHour, 1819 News, CBS News, Britannica

Lieutenant Governor

Vote for one

Phillip Ensler

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

State representative from Montgomery (House District 74) since 2022; former policy adviser to Mayor Steven Reed

Wants to end the state grocery tax, set a state minimum wage, expand Medicaid and pause data center construction until there are rules for them. Endorsed by the Alabama AFL-CIO and Moms Demand Action.

Sources: Birmingham Times, Alabama Reflector / APR, 1819 News

John Wahl

Not good people Republican

Alabama Republican Party chairman 2021 to 2026; Limestone County butterfly farmer

Endorsed by Donald Trump for this race and was one of Alabama's Trump electors in 2020. While on the state library board, which he now chairs, he was criticized for ties to Clean Up Alabama, a group pushing to pull books from libraries, and a reading-freedom group asked for an ethics investigation in 2023.

Sources: 1819 News, Cullman Times, Wikipedia

U.S. Senator

Vote for one

Open seat: Sen. Tommy Tuberville is running for governor.

Everett Wess

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Birmingham attorney; Midfield municipal judge for eight years; state president of the Alabama New South Coalition

Running on voting rights, health care and public schools, and says he'd put Alabama ahead of any president. Opposes Trump's plan to import foreign beef, saying it would hurt Alabama cattle farmers.

Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Alabama Political Reporter, Campaign site

Barry Moore

Not good people Republican

U.S. representative since 2021; state representative 2010 to 2018

Endorsed by Donald Trump, and calls himself the first elected official in the country to endorse Trump in 2015. Objected to certifying the 2020 election on January 6, 2021, and later voted against Congressional Gold Medals for the police who defended the Capitol that day.

Sources: 1819 News, Alabama Political Reporter, Campaign site, Wikipedia

Attorney General

Vote for one

Open seat: Attorney General Steve Marshall is term-limited.

Jeff McLaughlin

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Guntersville attorney; state representative 2001 to 2011

As a legislator he wrote the ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers, the campaign money law that now carries his name. Takes no corporate or PAC money this time and says he'll back local police and sheriffs.

Sources: Campaign site, Wikipedia, Ballotpedia

Katherine Robertson

Not good people Republican

Chief counsel to Attorney General Steve Marshall since 2017

Endorsed by Donald Trump, and her campaign pledges to advance his agenda. Also endorsed by the NRA and the Club for Growth.

Sources: 1819 News, Alabama Daily News, Campaign site

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Place 8

Vote for one

Ashleigh Meyer Dunham

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Jefferson County juvenile court referee; family-formation lawyer

Says judges should weigh the real-world effect of their rulings and criticized the court's 2024 decision treating frozen embryos as children, which halted IVF in Alabama. Endorsed by the Alabama AFL-CIO and former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb.

Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, iVoterGuide, Campaign site

Greg Shaw

Not enough info Republican

Supreme Court justice since 2009; Court of Criminal Appeals 2001 to 2009

Joined the 2024 LePage ruling that frozen embryos count as children under the wrongful-death law. In 2015 he dissented when the court ordered probate judges to follow the state's one-man-one-woman marriage law despite a federal ruling. Endorsed by the Farmers Federation's FarmPAC and the Realtors PAC.

Sources: iVoterGuide, Ballotpedia, Alabama Gazette

Secretary of State

Vote for one

The secretary of state runs Alabama's elections.

Wayne Rogers

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Birmingham attorney and former federal prosecutor; executive assistant to Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway

Wants polls open the Saturday before elections and no-excuse absentee voting brought back. Endorsed by the Alabama AFL-CIO.

Sources: The Old Black Sheep (TOBSAL), Campaign site

Caroleene Dobson

Not good people Republican

Montgomery real estate and energy lawyer; 2024 Republican nominee for the 2nd Congressional District

Praises Trump, saying he "is rebuilding that trust and transparency in Washington," and wants an election crimes unit modeled on Florida's, citing "voter roll maintenance" and fraud claims. Endorsed by Sen. Katie Britt and the Business Council of Alabama.

Sources: 256 Today, Alabama Political Reporter, Alabama Daily News

State Treasurer

Vote for one

Rosilyn Houston

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

30 years in banking, including BBVA USA and as chief HR officer at Santander US; former chair and interim CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Running on transparency and wider economic opportunity. Endorsed by the Alabama AFL-CIO.

Sources: The Ballot Brief, iVoterGuide

Young Boozer

Not enough info Republican

State treasurer since 2021 (and 2011 to 2019); 31 years in banking

Points to growth in the Alabama Trust Fund and a recovered PACT college savings plan. In 2023 he turned down a $30 million state loan to Birmingham-Southern College, calling it a "terrible credit risk"; the college's lawsuit was dismissed and it closed.

Sources: Inside Higher Ed, Lagniappe, Campaign site

State Auditor

Vote for one

The auditor appoints one member of each county's board of registrars, the office that adds and removes voters.

Violet Edwards

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Madison County commissioner since 2020; former journalist and University of Alabama lecturer

First Black woman on the Madison County Commission. Says she'd run the office on accountability and transparency "without politicizing" it.

Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia

Andrew Sorrell

Compromised Republican

State auditor since 2023; state representative 2018 to 2022

His PAC took money from the family behind First Liberty, a Georgia lender the SEC says ran a $140 million Ponzi scheme, then lent the firm $29,000; he says he lost money too and returned the donations. Chaired Alabama's Trump delegation at the 2020 Republican convention.

Sources: Alabama Reflector, Alabama Reflector, Wikipedia

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Vote for one

The department inspects food, grocery scales and gas pumps, and regulates pesticides and livestock health.

Ron Sparks

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Agriculture commissioner 2003 to 2011; 2010 Democratic nominee for governor

Wants to bring back gas pump inspections and the department's law enforcement division, and drop the sales tax on farm equipment. Endorsed by former Republican Attorney General Troy King.

Sources: Alabama Daily News, Alabama Political Reporter, Gadsden Messenger

Corey Hill

Compromised Republican

Mayor of Douglas; cattle and poultry farmer and grocery store owner

Backed by the Alabama Grocers Association and the Farmers Federation's FarmPAC, groups the department regulates, and he runs a grocery store himself. Wants fewer federal rules on beef processing and more local meat and dairy processing.

Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Alabama Daily News, Campaign site

Public Service Commission, Place 1

Vote for one

The PSC sets Alabama Power's rates.

James O. Gordon

Not enough info (best choice in this race) Democrat

Mobile chiropractor; state representative 2006 to 2010; Navy veteran

Says he'd make sure utilities operate "fairly, transparently" and in the interest of ordinary customers. Wants Alabamians to get a vote on gambling.

Sources: Campaign site, iVoterGuide

Matt Gentry

Not enough info Republican

Cullman County sheriff 2014 to 2024; former DEA agent and Marine

Beat the incumbent, Jeremy Oden, in the May primary, promising openness and low power bills, and opposed a 2026 bill to make PSC seats appointed. A former deputy's federal suit accusing him of retaliation is pending; he calls it frivolous.

Sources: 1819 News, The Political Group

Public Service Commission, Place 2

Vote for one

Sheila D. McNeil

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Policy consultant; two-term San Antonio city council member; chairs the Madison County Democratic Party

Running on fair rates and open decisions, with a plan for regulating power-hungry data centers. Endorsed by the Alabama AFL-CIO.

Sources: Campaign site, The Political Group, iVoterGuide

Jim Zeigler

Not good people Republican

State auditor 2015 to 2023; PSC member 1974 to 1978

In 2017 he defended Roy Moore against reports he pursued a 14-year-old, saying "Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter." This year he skipped a League of Women Voters forum because the League opposed redrawing the congressional map that had given Black voters a second district.

Sources: Time, Alabama Political Reporter, Wikipedia

Appeals court judges with no opponent

No contest

Unopposed Republicans: Supreme Court Place 7 (Brad Mendheim), Court of Civil Appeals Place 4 (Benjamin M. Bowden) and Place 5 (Matt Fridy), Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 (Mary Windom) and Place 5 (Riggs Walker).

Statewide constitutional amendments

Propositions

We describe these and don't make recommendations. Summaries follow the state's Fair Ballot Commission statements.

  • Amendment 1, lieutenant governor vacancies and legislative pay: If the lieutenant governor's office opens up more than 60 days before the next state election, voters would elect a replacement for the rest of the term (now it sits empty). Also lets the Legislature set the pay of the lieutenant governor and its own officers by joint resolution, and requires a chamber officer to approve lawmakers' travel spending.
  • Amendment 2, merging county school systems: Lets two or more neighboring county school boards vote to merge into one system, after a State Board of Education impact study. If 25% of voters in any of the counties sign a protest, the merger goes to a vote and needs a majority in each county.
  • Amendment 3, Pledge of Allegiance and school prayer: Requires every public K-12 school to lead the Pledge at the start of each day and every school board to adopt a policy allowing student-initiated, student-led prayer. Students could opt out of either. Sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram of Pike Road (Alabama Reflector).
  • Amendment 4, national anthem in schools: Requires every public K-12 school to play or perform the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week during school hours.

When and where to vote

Early voting, mail ballots and polling places are run county by county. Each county guide above has the details for that county. For anywhere else in Alabama, the state's official voter page has registration, ID rules and a polling place lookup: sos.alabama.gov.

Keep it free and independent

Researching every race in a county, checking the sources and keeping the site online all cost money. We take no ads and no money from candidates, parties or PACs, so readers are what keep it going. If this saved you time, a few dollars helps us cover the next county.

Chip in on Ko-fi Or ask us to cover your county

Contributions aren't tax-deductible.