Alabama’s ‘ghost’ congressional primary: What you need to know about the special election

When Alabama voters head to the polls this Tuesday, they will participate in a political anomaly not seen in this country since the 19th century. Across South Alabama, ballots will feature a congressional contest that essentially does not exist.

The Ghost Primary

While voters are encouraged to participate in all other races—including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and U.S. Senate—the primary for the 1st Congressional District is effectively a wash. Despite seven candidates vying for votes, the outcome of this race will be voided immediately. The official decisions for the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th districts have been pushed to a special election scheduled for August 11.

Why the Results Still Matter

Even though the results will be discarded, the Alabama Secretary of State plans to publish the numbers on election night. Political observers suggest this "ghost" vote serves as a critical temperature check. A strong showing could propel a candidate's momentum into the August special election, while a poor performance may signal trouble for those fighting for the newly redrawn districts, which now favor Republicans in both the 1st and 2nd seats.

"I do think the unofficial vote count will potentially have some consequences," says Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University. Brown believes former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl has the most at stake, as trailing in the primary could be viewed by voters and operatives as a second consecutive loss following his 2024 defeat to Rep. Barry Moore.

The Shift in Districts

The candidates are navigating a landscape altered by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which spurred a regional wave of redistricting. Following a 6–3 ruling that lifted an injunction on Alabama’s 2023 map, the state has moved to revert several areas to majority-white, Republican-leaning districts.

As a result, candidates like state Rep. Rhett Marques are shifting focus to the 2nd District. Candidates remaining in the field, such as James Richardson, view the upcoming Tuesday results as an "unbiased indicator" of where campaigns stand before the sprint to August.

What Comes Next

The political shuffle is far from over. The qualifying period for the August 11 special election opens this Wednesday and closes Friday, leaving a narrow window for new candidates to enter the race. As 205focus.com readers should note, any candidate who underperforms on Tuesday may face immediate questions regarding their viability for the special election, which will be decided by a plurality vote—meaning there will be no runoff.

"Rhett is going to keep fighting to earn every vote between now and August 11, when he’ll help President Trump grow the Republican majority in Congress," his campaign stated. For now, all eyes remain on how the electorate reacts to this bizarre political limbo.