2026 primary election: What the Birmingham metro area needs to know

Election day for the 2026 primary is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

With the immense amount of info out there, it can feel overwhelming to know where, when or how to vote — but Bham Now’s got you covered!

Here is what you need to know about voting in the Birmingham metro area — Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Blount, Chilton, St. Clair and Walker counties — for this year’s primary election.

What is a primary election?

The primary election is the precursor to the upcoming general election that will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

There are separate ballots for Republicans and Democrats, and voters choose which they would rather take when they arrive at their polling place.

The primary election decides which candidates will be the final candidate representing their party in the general election.

Where do I vote?

After registering to vote, you likely received mail from your county containing your polling place’s address.

Anyone can search their voter registration status and polling location on the Alabama Secretary of State website.

What are polling place hours?

All polling places in Alabama are open from 7AM to 7PM on election day, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

As long as you are in line before 7PM, you will be allowed to vote.

How do I know if I am registered to vote?

Anyone can search their voter registration status on the Alabama Secretary of State website.

If your voter registration is inactive, it is too late to register to vote in this election. However, registering to vote is simple and fast. Tap here to explore our guide on how to register to vote in Alabama.

What is on my ballot?

Depending on where you are registered to vote, your ballot will look different. Tap your county of residence below to get an idea of what you might see on your ballot this election day.

Not every election listed under each county is guaranteed to appear on your ballot. To see which districts are on your ballot, visit the Alabama Secretary of State website and input your address.

Statewide

• Governor
  • Democrat: Will Boyd, Jamel J. Brown, Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, Doug Jones, Chad “Chig” Martin, Nathan “Nate” Mathis
  • Republican: Ken McFeeters, “Alabama” Will Santivasci, Thomas Tuberville
• Lieutenant Governor
  • Democrat: Phillip Ensler, Darryl D. Perryman
  • Republican: Wes Allen, Pat Bishop, George Childress, Rick Pate, Stewart Hill Tankersley, Nicole Jones Wadsworth, John Wahl
• U.S. Senator
  • Democrat: Dakarai Larriett, Kyle Sweetser, Everett Wess, Mark S. Wheeler II
  • Republican: Seth Burton, Dale Shelton Deas Jr., Jared Hudson, Steve Marshall, Barry Moore, Morgan Murphy, Rodney Walker
• U.S. Representative
  • 3rd Congressional District
    • Republican: Terri LaPoint, Mike Rogers
  • 4th Congressional District: 
    • Democrat: Amanda N. Pusczek, Shane Weaver
    • Republican: Robert B. Aderholt, Tommy Barnes
  • 6th Congressional District:
    • Republican: Case Dixon, Gary Palmer
• Attorney General
  • Republican: Pamela L. Casey, Jay Mitchell, Katherine Robertson
• Secretary of State
  • Republican: Caroleene Dobson, Christopher Christian Horn, Glenda S. Jackson
• State Treasurer
  • Republican: Young Boozer, Steve Lolley
• State Auditor
  • Republican: Derek Chen, Andrew Sorrell
• Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
  • Republican: Corey Hill, Christina Woerner McInnis, Jack Williams
• Public Service Commission
  • Place 1 
    • Democrat: James O. Gordon, John Northrop, Jeff Ramsey
    • Republican: Matt Gentry, Jeremy H. Oden
  • Place 2: 
    • Republican: Priscilla Andrews, Chris Beeker, Brent Woodall, Jim Zig Zeigler
• Statewide amendment 1
  • Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to provide that the following offenses shall be offenses for which a judge may deny bail: shooting or discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling or other occupied space in violation of Section 13A-11-61(b), Code of Alabama 1975; or any solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder. Proposed by Act 2025-227.
• Statewide amendment 2
  • Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to provide that the compensation of a district attorney may not be diminished during his or her term of office. Proposed by Act 2025-291.

Bibb County

• Democrat Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• State Representative (District 72): 
  • Democrat: Curtis L Travis, Michael Williams
• Member of the Bibb County Commission: 
  • District 2: 
    • Republican: Charles Caddell, Jarred Keith Kornegay, Gay Uber, Keith Watkins
  • District 4: 
    • Republican: Ty Corbell, Corkey McFarland
• Bibb County Board of Education: 
  • Superintendent: 
    • Republican: Kevin Cotner, Lane Watts Lightsey
  • District 1: 
    • Republican: Heath Johnson, Candice Deerman Rice 
• State Democratic Executive Committee (Male) (District 72):
  • Ke’Undra Quintez Cox, Jonathan Rossell, Curtis L. Travis

Blount County

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• Member of the State Board of Education (District 6): 
  • Republican: Cathi Bradford, Marie Manning
• Member of the Blount County Commission: 
  • District 1: 
    • Republican: Allen Armstrong, Kyle Ellison
  • District 3: 
    • Republican: Chase Moore, Daniel “Danno” Taylor
• Blount County Board of Education: 
  • District 3: 
    • Republican: Matthew Fallin, Curtis Hawkins
• State Democratic Executive Committee
  • District 34:
    • Female: Darian McDerment, Teresa Smiley
• State Republican Executive Committee for Blount County (Place 1): 
  • Patrick G. Hubauer, Steven King

Chilton County

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• Circuit Court Judge (19th Judicial Circuit) (Place 5): 
  • Republican: Carol Cook Carter, Bradley Earl Ekdahl, Ali Patterson
• Chilton County Revenue Commissioner
  • Republican: Brad Carter, Michele Porter Headley, Evan Wyatt
• Superintendent of the Chilton County Board of Education
  • Republican: Corey Clements, Jamie Gault

Jefferson County

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• State Senator
  • District 15
    • Republican: Scott Ortis, Dan Roberts
  • District 16
    • Republican: Nate Carlson, J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner
• State Representative
  • District 45
    • Republican: John Dawson, Susan DuBose
  • District 48
    • Republican: Jim Carns, Lloyd Peeples, William Wentowski
  • District 52
    • Democrat: Kelvin Datcher, Gigi Hayes, Latanya Millhouse
  • District 54
    • Democrat: Joseph J. Holt, Neil Rafferty
  • District 55
    • Democrat: Jennifer “Jenny” Craig, Travis Hendrix, Eric Major
  • District 57
    • Democrat: Shamyia Atkins, Mara Ruffin Blackmon, Patrick Sellers
  • District 60
    • Democrat: Juandalynn Givan, Alicia Escott Lumpkin, Nina Taylor
• District Court Judge Jefferson County (Place 7): 
  • Democrat: Jimmy Rae Earley Jr., Tiffany Jones, Hope Marshall
• Jefferson County Sheriff: 
  • Democrat: Chris Anderson, Mark L. Pettway, Jude Washington
• Member of the Jefferson County Commission:
  • District 1
    • Democrat: Lashunda Scales, Clinton Woods
  • District 3
    • Democrat: Camara Blue, Dock Scott
• Assistant Tax Collector for the Bessemer Division of Jefferson County: 
  • Democrat: Mykeshia Myles Jones, Ron Marshall, Danielle Lewis Matthews

Democratic Executive Committee Jefferson County

• District 1
  • Female: Shonae Eddins Bennett, Demetria Young Doughty, Destiny Shepherd, Latonya A. Tate, Joi L. Travis
  • Male: Keith Brown, Josh Coleman, Ryan Jones, Ves Marable, Richard Kenneth Mauk, Adarris May
• District 2
  • Female: Kimberly Alexander, Dedra Campbell, Sarah E. “Sarah Beth” Conkle, Daisy Cooper, Elaine Holifield, Jackie Anderson Smith, Sheila Tyson, Kyndall Waters-McCormack
  • Male: Mike Miles, Chris Mosley, Tony Parker, Joshua Joseph Raby, Bruce L. Taylor, Otis “Maverick” Walker
• District 3
  • Female: Alisha Ruffin Brown, Karen Dunn Burks, Crystal Dunn, Toni King, Sherry McClain

State Democratic Executive Committee

• District 14
  • Male: James Kinsman, Darron Mitchell
• District 15
  • Female: Karen Dunn Burks, Barbara E. Roberts
• District 45
  • Male: Doug Hoffman, Donell Lewis
• District 46
  • Male: Ken King, Ralph Young
• District 47
  • Male: Christian Coleman, Jordan Pittman
• District 52
  • Female: Daisy Cooper, Lakeela Lowe, Yvette M. Richardson, Shelia Smoot
  • Male: Miguel Ferguson II, James Fields IV
• District 54
  • Female: Gaynell Hendricks, Patricia Todd
  • Male: Elias Hendricks Jr., Dakarai Larriett
• District 55
  • Female: Gina Mallisham, Joi, L. Travis, Phyllis Oden-Jones, Sheila Tyson
  • Male: Eric Hall, Ves Marable, Christopher Mosley, Joshua J. Raby, Antwon Bernard Womack
• District 56
  • Female: Ashleigh Meyer Dunham, Bettie Nelson
  • Male: Silas Baldwin, Grover Dunn, Cleo King
• District 57
  • Female: Velma Johnson, Toni King, Andrea Winston
  • Male: Kevin Dunn, Monterrius A. Lowe, Bruce L. Taylor, Walter “Big Walt” Wilson
• District 58
  • Female: Rolanda Hollis, Haley C. Lewis
• District 59
  • Female: Demetria Young Doughty, Destiny Shepherd
  • Male: Keith Brown, Charles C. Canady, Rodney Huntley, Brandon McCray, Michel Eugene Miller
• District 60
  • Female: Wanda F. Bryant, Brianna Davis

State Republican Executive Committee (Jefferson County)

• District 3
  • Place 1: Diana B. Browning, Johnny L. Curry, Susan Vawter
  • Place 4: Kevin Speed, Eddie Webber Jr.
  • Place 5: Alan D. Crisologo, Riley McArdle
  • Place 6: Case Dixon, Stephen Parker
• District 4
  • Place 1: Patricia Ellis, Ben Foster
  • Place 2: Danny Garrett, Wayman A. Newton
  • Place 6: Vincent Coker, Reed Phillips
• District 5
  • Place 1: Chris Brown, Laura J. Clark, Joseph B. Eason
  • Place 2: Scott A. Gilliland, Matt Lembke, Tyler C. Thrasher
  • Place 8: Joe Domnanovich, Walter Jones

St. Clair County

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• State Representative
  • District 45
    • Republican: John Dawson, Susan DuBose
  • District 50
    • Republican: Bill Morris, Bryan K. Newell
• Member of the State Board of Education (District 6)
  • Republican: Cathi Bradford, Marie Manning
• St. Clair County Commission
  • Chairman
    • Republican: Stan Batemon, David Evans
  • District 1
    • Republican: Katrina Hennings, Adam Pardue
• Member of the St. Clair County Board of Education (Odenville): 
  • Republican: Greg Cobb, Allison G. Gray
• State Democratic Executive Committee
  • District 30
    • Female: Peggy Anderson, Shae Sanders
  • District 36
    • Female: Debra Huffman-Church, Thelma O. Jones, Pam Lowery
    • Male: Jesse J. Frazier, Spencer Lowery
  • District 45
    • Male: Doug Hoffman
• State Republican Executive Committee for St. Clair County: 
  • Place 1: Kathyrn “Kathy” Burke, Brandon Moseley, Matt Tortorice
  • Place 3: Katherine Holloway, Bill Morris
  • Place 4: Cathy Wise Fine, Ashley Tortorigi Hilburn
• Ragland School Attendance and Tax District: Election for the levy of a 5 mill school district tax
  • Shall the governing body of St. Clair County, Alabama, be authorized to levy a special district tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars (or five (5) mills on each dollar) of the assessed value of the taxable property located within the Ragland School Attendance and Tax District in said county, the area comprising the said district being fully described in proceedings of the St. Clair County Commission calling this election, for public school purposes for a period of thirty (30) consecutive years commencing with the tax year that will begin on October 1, 2026 (for which tax year the tax will become due and payable on October 1, 2027), which levy shall be in addition to all taxes now or hereafter authorized to be levied in said school district? 

Shelby County

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• State Senator
  • District 15
    • Republican: Scott Ortis, Dan Roberts
  • District 16
    • Republican: Nate Carlson, J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner
• State Representative
  • District 45
    • Republican: John Dawson, Susan DuBose
  • District 48
    • Republican: Jim Carns, Lloyd Peeples, William Wentowski
• Shelby County Board of Education
  • Superintendent
    • Republican: Joel C. Dixon, Andrew Gunn
  • Place 1
    • Republican: Larry Haynes, Peg Hill
• District Court Judge (Shelby County) (Place 3)
  • Republican: Kendall Lee Cash, Ben Fuller, Jarred “Jay” Welborn, Mark Wilson
• Shelby County Sheriff
  • Republican: Ken “Chief” Bailey, John Samaniego
• State Democratic Executive Committee
  • District 15
    • Female: Karen Dunn Burks, Barbara E. Roberts
  • District 43
    • Female: Pam Hendrick, Marsha S. Sturdevant
    • Male: Prince Cleveland, Taylor Cook, Spencer Stone
  • District 45
    • Male: Doug Hoffman, Donell Lewis
• State Republican Executive Committee (Shelby County) 
  • Place 6: Tereasa G. Rima, Beth Webster, Gerrick D. Wilkins
  • Place 7: Diane Caldwell, James Mathews
  • Place 8: Charles Knight, Noah Webster, Emma White
  • Place 9: Bryan Taylor, Grady Thornton

Walker County

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• State Representative (District 13)
  • Republican: Greg Barnes, Mike Elliott
• Walker County Sheriff
  • Republican: Jason Akins, Allen Estell, J.C. Poe Jr., Nick Smith
• Walker County Board of Education
  • Superintendent
    • Republican: Dianne Williams, Dennis R. Willingham
• Walker County Coroner
  • Republican: Danielle Calloway, Trent McCluskey
• State Democratic Executive Committee
  • District 13
    • Female: Tina Bowen, Shelia Google
    • Male: Timothy Bowen, Jerry L. Callahan
  • District 14
    • Male: James Kinsman, Darron Mitchell
• State Republican Executive Committee (Walker County)
  • Place 1: Tana Collins-Allred, Greg Fanin
  • Place 3: Iva Hendon, Allison M. Jones
• 1.2 Mill Tax Election: Special election for renewal and continuation of 1.2 mills of ad valorem school tax: 
  • Shall the governing body of Walker County, Alabama, be authorized to levy, in addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized, a special county tax of twelve cents on each one hundred dollars (equal to 1.2 mills on each dollar) of the assessed value of taxable property located in said Walker County for educational purposes for a period of thirty (30) consecutive years commencing with the tax year that will begin on October 1, 2026 (for which tax year the tax will become due and payable on October 1, 2027), the rate of which special county tax shall be in renewal and continuation of, and in lieu of, equivalent millage presently being levied in said county for public school purposes?
• 3.8 Mill Tax Election: Special election for renewal and continuation of levy of the 3.8 mill countywide school tax: 
  • Shall the governing body of Walker County, Alabama, be authorized to levy annually, for a period of thirty (30) consecutive years, commencing with the levy for the tax year that began on October 1, 2026 (for which tax year taxes will become due and payable on October 1, 2027), for public school purposes in said county, a special property tax at the rate of thirty-eight cents on each one hundred dollars (equal to 3.8 mills on each dollar) of the assessed value of the taxable property in said county, which special tax shall be in renewal and continuation of the special tax at the same rate and for the same purpose that is now being levied in the said county?

Do I have to declare a political party in Alabama?

Alabama holds an “open primary,” meaning that when a voter shows up to the polls for an election, they can choose to take either a Democratic or Republican ballot.

You do not have to officially register with a political party in Alabama, but you do have to make this choice at the primaries. For example, even if you may agree with Democratic candidates more often than Republicans, you can choose to take.a Republican ballot if there is an election of which you care about the outcome.

In the event there is a tie, there will be a runoff election in June.

If you decide to vote in a runoff, you must take the same party’s ballot for the runoff that you did for the general. For instance, if a voter takes a Democratic ballot for the primary election in May, they cannot vote in the Republican runoff in June.

Will I have to vote in a runoff?

Alabama’s primary runoff election is set for Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Voters will not know if there will be a a runoff election until after the results of the primary are released.

In Alabama, if no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, a runoff between the top two candidates will take place.

If you decide to vote in a runoff, you must take the same party’s ballot for the runoff that you did for the general. For instance, if a voter takes a Democratic ballot for the primary election in May, they cannot vote in the Republican runoff in June.

I saw that something changed with this year’s election. Will my vote count?

There has been a lot of talk of Alabama’s upcoming election in the news, both on the state and national levels.

Due to state redistricting, some of the elections’ votes will not be counted. However, these elections are largely not in the Birmingham metro area — except the 6th Congressional District — and the rest of the elections on the ballot are unaffected.

Whether or not one of the affected elections will be on your ballot, still plan on showing up to the polls on Tuesday to make your voice heard for the other races.

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