Election time! The Bham Now guide to the Alabama primary on Tuesday, June 5.

Who is going to (actually) work for Birmingham?! Because that’s how you should cast your votes.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Alabama primary elections on Tuesday, June 5. We’ll decide on  nominations for a governor and a whole lot more.

Dems or Reps?

First things first. Tuesday’s primary includes a lot of races. Just take a look at our sample ballots: Democrats, Republicans.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Yeah, buddy. Try saying 10th Judicial Circuit five times fast. If you’re studying up on the candidates, remember this question: What will they do for the Birmingham-metro area?

Go here to find  your polling place.

We’re not the only ones voting, either. 7 other states will hold primaries on June 5, including California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

State Legislature: Senate

The Alabama Senate is currently made up of 35 members: 26 Republicans, seven Democrats, and one independent. Alabama Democrats have 27 candidates running this year. That’s more than double (13) the number of candidates they had running in 2014.

Here’s the thing: Many of the Republican nominees will run unopposed in November because no Democrats qualified. Still, there are signs of life coming from Alabama’s Democratic party.

Pundits speculate this spark comes from progressives jumping into primaries with both feet first, as the Democratic Party redefines itself during the Trump presidency. More women, especially black women, are running for offices, too and that’s something you can see happening across the country.

Alabama has 35 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.

Find your district and your state legislators here.

These state Senate districts are in Jefferson County:

• District 5: Republican Greg Reed (I) is running unopposed. No Democrats filed for this race.
• District 14: Republican Cam Ward (I) is running unopposed. Democrat Jerry Mcdonald is also running unopposed.
• District 15: Republican Slade Blackwell (I) has two opponents: Miranda Carter and Dan Roberts. Democrat Lara Casey is running unopposed.
• District 16: Incumbent Kyle South (R) and Mike Simpson are running.
• District 17: Republican Shay Shelnutt is running unopposed. No Democratic candidates filed for this race.
• District 18: Democrat Rodger Smitherman is running unopposed. No Republican candidates filed for this race.
• District 19:  Democrat Priscilla Dunn (I) is running unopposed. No Republican candidates filed for this race.
• District 20: Democrat Linda Coleman-Madison(I) is running unopposed. No Republican candidates filed for this race.

State Legislature: House

The Alabama House of Representatives is comprised of 105 members. Each member represents a district of approximately 40,000 people. The members of the House are elected to four-year terms.

Jefferson County is represented by these districts in the House:

• District 14: Tim Wadsworth (R) is your current representative. He is being challenged by Richard Corry, also a Republican. District 14 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Graysville, Sumiton
• District 15: Allen Farley (R) is the incumbent. Suzanna Coleman, a Democrat, is challenging him. District 15 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Bessemer, Birmingham, Helena, Hoover, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, Concord (unincorporated), North Johns (town).
• District 16: Kyle South (R) is your current representative. He is being challenged by Mike Simpson, also a Republican. District 16 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Adamsville, Birmingham, Gardendale, Graysville and Hueytown, Mount Olive (unincorporated), West Jefferson (town), North Johns (town), Sylvan Springs (town).
• District 43: Arnold Mooney (R) is the incumbent. He is being challenged by Carin Mayo, a Democrat. District 43 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Birmingham, Helena, Hoover, Indian Springs Village, Pelham, Vestavia Hills.
• District 44: Danny Garrett (R) is your incumbent, and he is running unopposed. District 44 includes these parts of Jefferson County:
  Birmingham, Clay, Irondale, Leeds, Pinson, Trussville and Grayson Valley (unincorporated)
• District 45: Dickie Drake (R) is your current representative. He is being challenged by Ted Crockett (R) and Jenn Gray (D). District 45 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Birmingham, Chelsea, Hoover, Irondale, Leeds, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills.
• District 46: Your incumbent is David Faulkner (R). He is being challenged by Felicia Stewart, a Democrat. District 46 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Bessemer, Birmingham, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills
• District 47: (R) Jack Williams did not file for reelection. He is running for Jefferson County Commission. Tom Byers and David Wheeler are running as Republicans. Mary Lynn Bates and Jim Toomey are running as Democrats. District 47 includes these parts of Jefferson County:
  Hoover, Vestavia Hills.
• District 48: (I) Jim Carns and William Wentowski are running as Republicans . Alli Summerford is unopposed in the Democratic primary. District 48 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, Hoover, Brook Highland.
• District 51: Incumbent Allen Treadaway (R) is unopposed. (D) Veronica Johnson is unopposed. District 51 includes these parts of Jefferson County:
  Birmingham, Center Point, Fultondale, Gardendale, Kimberly, Pinson, Tarrant, Warrior. Towns:County Line, Morris, Trafford. Unincorporated Place: Mount Olive.
• District 52:Democrat John Rogers is unopposed. No Republican candidates filed for this race. District 52 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Birmingham, Homewood, Mountain Brook.
• District 54: Democratic (I) Patricia Todd is not seeking reelection. Jerome Dees, Jacqueline Gray Miller and Neil Rafferty are running as Democrats. No Republicans filed. District 54 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Birmingham, Center Point, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Trussville
  Unincorporated Place: Grayson Valley.
• District 55: Incumbent Rod Scott, Quang Do, and Antwon Womack are running as Democrats. District 55 includes these parts of Jefferson County:
  Adamsville, Birmingham, Fairfield, Graysville. Towns: Maytown, Sylvan Springs.
• District 56: Incumbent Louise Alexander and Chester Porter are running as Democrats. primary election. District 56 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Bessemer, Birmingham, Brighton, Hoover, Hueytown, Lipscomb.
• District 57: Democratic incumbent Merika Coleman is unopposed. No Republican filed. District 57 includes these parts of Jefferson County:
  Adamsville, Bessemer, Birmingham, Brighton, Fairfield, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Midfield, Pleasant Grove. Towns: Maytown, Mulga, Sylvan Springs. Unincorporated Places: Edgewater, McDonald Chapel, Minor
• District 58: Incumbent Rolanda Hollis and Rodney Huntley are running as Democrats. No Republican filed. District 58 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Birmingham, Center Point, Clay, Pinson.
• District 59: Democratic incumbent Mary Moore and Chris Davis are running. No Republicans filed. District 59 includes these parts of Jefferson County:Birmingham, Center Point, Fultondale, Gardendale, Pinson, Tarrant.
• District 60: Democratic incumbent Juandalynn Givan and Le’Darius Hilliard are running. No Republican filed. District 60 includes these parts of Jefferson County: Adamsville, Birmingham, Fultondale, Gardendale, Graysville. Towns: Brookside, Cardiff. Unincorporated Place: Forestdale.

U.S. House Of Representatives

Alabama’s 6th congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. District 6 is most of Jefferson County, in a weird way, but that is another story for another day.

Republican incumbents Bradley Byrne (AL-01), Mike Rogers (AL-03) and   Gary Palmer (AL-06) will move onto the  general election without a primary challenge. His Democrat challenger Danner Kline is also running unopposed, so these two will face off in the November general election.

Robert Aderholt (AL-04) and Mo Brooks (AL-05) will each have a Republican challenger.

Meanwhile four-term U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02) will face off against a quite a variety of Republican primary challengers—her race is popular because she publicly distanced herself from President Trump—not something her party loves.

Reps. Mo Brooks of Huntsville and Robert Aderholt of Haleyville also have challengers in the GOP primary, and that means Democrats have primaries in four districts in all.

Here’s the entire list of U.S. House races in Alabama, sorted by district.

There was just one Democratic congressional primary in 2014.  Why am I sharing this with you? Because what happens across the state, no matter what district, will always affect Birmingham in some way.

About Those Ballots

Many of the Republican nominees are running unopposed in the General Election because no Democrats qualified. If a candidate is running unopposed, their name will not appear on the ballot.

Who Is Running For Governor?

The field is full, y’all. There are 11 total candidates. In the lists below, I’ve linked to each candidate’s campaign web or social media pages.

Will Kay Ivey remain governor of Alabama?

Hmmm … (shakes Magic 8 Ball). She has been a strong contender, according to polls, long before qualifying began.  According to a May 1 Leverage Public Strategies – Alabama Daily News survey, 47 percent of GOP primary voters said they would choose Ivey if the election were held today. Name recognition, not just money, is going far in this race.

There are so many candidates on these ballots, and so many offices on both sides, that I feel sorry for us, the voters.

Remember Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” Sing it to yourself while choosing your picks.

Democrats

• Sue Bell Cobb, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
• Christopher A. Countryman
• James C. Fields, former State Representative and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2014
• Walt Maddox, Mayor of Tuscaloosa
• Doug “New Blue” Smith, nominee for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2014
• Anthony White, ordained minister

Republicans

• Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville
• Scott Dawson, evangelist
• Bill Hightower, State Senator
• Kay Ivey, incumbent Governor
• Michael McAllister, former prison officer (died April 2018 but name is still on the ballot)

Attorney General … What’s The Big Deal?

Well, it’s one of the most important offices in the state. Alabama’s AG is  the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer, issuing legal opinions to municipal governments and law enforcement.

The AG race has turned out to be one of the most expensive races in the state to date, with four Republicans and two Democrats running. Money talks, y’all. While this race seems under the radar, if you look at the contributions, it’s a hot one and for good reasons.

Incumbent Republican Steve Marshall maintains a significant lead in raising cash, with over $2 million in contributions. Together the candidates have raised more than $5 million.

Here are the candidates for Attorney General (with links to their campaign websites or social media pages):

Democrats: Chris Christie and Joseph Siegelman (Yep. Don’s son.)

Republicans: Chess Bedsole, Troy King, Alice Martin and Steve Marshall (i)

Other Races On The Ballots

You’ll also be casting votes to decide the nominations for even more state offices and committees, Jefferson County Commision, multiple municipal offices, state court positions, district court positions and county court positions, depending on your party affiliation. Want more details? Follow this link to see the candidates running in these races:

Interested in the Jefferson County Commission primary candidates?

Republicans

• Lieutenant Governor
• Secretary of State
• Supreme Court Chief Justice
• Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, places 1 and 4
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge, places 1 and 2
• Court of Criminal Appeals places 1, 2, 3
• State Treasurer
• State Auditor
• Agriculture Commissioner
• Public Service Commission, places 1 and 2
• District Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit
• State Republican Executive Committee, places 1 and 2

Democrats:

• Lieutenant Governor
• Secretary of State
• Circuit Court Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit, places 8, 15, 16, 18, 27
• District Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit
• District Court Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit, places 3 and 9
• Circuit Clerk, Jefferson County
• Jefferson County Probate Judge, places 1 and 2
• Jefferson County Sheriff
• Jefferson County Commission, District 1
• State Democratic Executive Committee, one male and one female
• Democrat Executive Committee, Jefferson County, female and male District 1 (vote for 6 males and six females)

Candidates are listed on the sample ballots that I’ve linked to at the top of the page. You can also visit the Alabama Secretary of State for more information. This particular link is very helpful. Get out there and vote, Birmingham!