Alabama Public Service Commission race likely headed to a runoff

The race for Place 2 on Alabama’s Public Service Commission is headed toward a high-stakes showdown. As votes were tallied late Tuesday night, incumbent Chris Beeker III trailed former state auditor Jim Zeigler, setting the stage for a Republican primary runoff on June 16.

Primary Results and the Path Forward

Unofficial results from the Alabama Secretary of State’s website as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday showed Zeigler leading the pack with 44.8% of the vote, while Beeker followed at 24.5% with all 67 counties reporting. They were challenged by former prosecutor Brent Woodall, who secured 18.3%, and veterans advocate Priscilla Andrews, who earned 12.4%.

The eventual winner of the June 16 runoff will move on to the November general election, where they are set to face Sheila McNeil, chair of the Madison County Democratic Party.

A Changing Commission

The political landscape for the PSC is evolving rapidly. Regardless of the outcome in November, winners of the upcoming general election will join four new commissioners to be appointed this July by Gov. Kay Ivey. Recent legislation expanded the commission from a three-person body to seven members, ensuring representation for every congressional district. This new law, which has faced significant criticism from its own sponsor, also establishes a cabinet-level "secretary of energy" position.

Candidate Backgrounds and Campaign Dynamics

Beeker is currently seeking his first full term on the commission. He was appointed by Gov. Ivey in 2024 to fill the vacancy left by his father, Chip Beeker, who stepped down for health reasons after holding the seat since 2014. Before his appointment, the younger Beeker served as the Alabama Rural Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and worked in the banking and finance sectors. His family also manages Beeker Catfish and Cattle Farm in Eutaw.

While Beeker’s campaign leaned heavily on political action committee support—including a 2025 endorsement and contributions from Farm PAC—his opponent, Jim Zeigler, gained late-stage momentum following a $20,000 donation from the Alabama Development PAC. Both Zeigler and Woodall trailed Beeker in overall fundraising throughout the cycle.

Zeigler, who previously served two terms as state auditor and one term on the commission back in the 1970s, has campaigned on a platform of serving as a “watchman” for utility oversight, specifically targeting solar farms and data centers. The Public Service Commission maintains regulatory authority over critical state utilities, including Alabama Power, which provides electricity to 1.5 million residents.

Broader Election Impact

The PSC landscape saw further movement elsewhere on the ballot as well; retiring Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry defeated longtime incumbent Place 1 Commissioner Jeremy Oden in Tuesday’s Republican Primary.