Candidates qualify yet again for Alabama’s 2026 primaries: Here’s who’s running in special elections
It’s the third time for candidates to qualify for primaries because of the contested status of state congressional maps.
Mason Reed 
Alabama’s Republican and Democratic parties are once again finalizing their rosters for the upcoming special election on August 11. This marks the third time candidates have had to qualify for primaries this year, a direct result of the ongoing legal battle over the state’s congressional maps.
Earlier today, Gov. Kay Ivey adjusted the election schedule, prompting parties to reopen the qualifying window for a single day. The state is currently preparing for the special election using the court-approved map that governed the May 19 primary and the 2024 election cycle.
The Map Controversy
State officials are still pushing the U.S. Supreme Court to greenlight an alternative map, passed by the Legislature in 2023, which would bolster GOP chances of flipping the Democrat-held seat in District 2. However, a three-judge district court previously blocked that map, citing evidence that it diluted the Black vote and practiced intentional discrimination.
While state officials hoped for a swift ruling based on the precedents set in Louisiana vs. Callais, the Supreme Court had not granted an emergency request as of Tuesday afternoon. Consequently, the state is moving forward with the court-approved configuration for Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7, which remain the focal point of the current map dispute. There will be no runoff in this special election; the candidate with the highest vote total wins the nomination.
Candidate Breakdown
Following the latest round of qualifying, Democrats face no contested primary races. The Republican field remains focused on the four districts impacted by the mapping conflict.
District 1
The field features former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, who secured 40% of the vote on May 19, alongside State Rep. Rhett Marques, Joshua McKee, John Mills, and Austin Sidwell. Hampton Harris, Christian Horn, David Matthews, and James Richardson have also qualified.
District 6
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, who captured 81% of the vote in the May 19 primary, faces Case Dixon, David W. Perry, and Clyde W. Jones Jr.
Districts 2 and 7
Qualifiers for these districts include U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, Keith Pilkington, and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell.
