The 2026 election year began on May 19 when campaign fundraising could begin. Our elections will be May 19, 2026. Our Republican primary that day, and subsequent runoffs four weeks later, will be our election day for all statewide offices. Winning the Republican Primary for state office is tantamount to election in Alabama.

Qualifying for all offices next year will be in January. However, for all practical purposes, the primary races are set and the horses are in the chute. It will be a four-month sprint from mid-January to mid-May. All 105 State House Seats and all 35 State Senate Seats are up for election. However, State Senate and House Seats are becoming analogous to Congressional Seats. Very few incumbents are ever defeated, or even challenged. Over 80% of the legislature is running unopposed. There are only three to four open Senate Seats. The makeup of the State Senate will probably remain 28 Republicans and seven Democrats.

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.