Who’s in for the Alabama June Primaries?
Qualifying for the June 5 primaries ended Friday with some crowded fields and lots of familiar faces among Democrats and Republicans.
Gov. Kay Ivey is running for a full term. She was appointed to the seat when former Gov. Robert Bentley resigned last year in connection with a sex scandal with a top political aide. She is challenged in the Republican primary by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, evangelist Scott Dawson, State Sen. Bill Hightower, Sen. Slade Blackwell and Michael McAllister. The candidates for governor in the Democratic primary are former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox, former State Rep. James Fields, Christopher A. Countryman and Anthony White.
Will Boyd of Florence is the only Democrat running for Lt. Governor. Will Ainsworth, Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and Rusty Glover are running for the Republican nomination.
Former Attorney General Troy King is seeking the Republican nomination for his old job. He faces Steve Marshall, who was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey, former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin and Chess Bedsole. Chris Christie and Joseph Siegelman, son of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, have qualified to run as Democrats.
Republican incumbent John Merrill faces Michael Johnson in the race for secretary of state. Lula Albert and Heather Milam have qualified to run as Democrats.
Incumbent State Auditor Jim Ziegler, a Republican, faces Stan Cooke and Elliott Lipinsky in the party primary. Miranda Joseph is the only Democrat who has qualified for that position.
Chief Justice Lyn Stuart faces Associate Justice Tom Parker in her bid to hold on to that position. She was appointed head of the court after Roy Moore was removed from the bench. Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Bob Vance is the only Democrat in the race for chief justice.
Jefferson County Commission
Veteran politicians and current office holders have entered races for seats on the Jefferson County Commission.
Democrat George Bowman represents District 1. He is being challenged in the party primary by Birmingham City Councilwoman Lashunda Scales, Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson and former State Rep. Eric Major. That district covers a large part of Birmingham stretching from Center Point in east Jefferson County to Midfield.
Sandra Little Brown represents Commission District 2, encompassing a large part of southwest Birmingham and the inner city communities around Smithfield and College Hills. Birmingham City Councilwoman Sheila Tyson, Richard Dickerson and Steve Small Jr. are also running for that seat in the Democratic primary.
Jefferson County Tax Collector J.T. Smallwood is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Jefferson County Commission District 4.
David Carrington represents District 5. He is not seeking re-election. State Rep. Jack Williams and former Vestavia Hills Mayor Pro Tem are facing off in a run for that seat in the Republican primary.
No Republican candidates qualified to run in either District 1 or 2. No Democrats qualified to run in districts 3, 4 or 5.
Jimmie Stephens and Joe Knight will not have opposition in the primary.
Several of Jefferson County’s veteran state lawmakers appear to be headed back into office without opposition.
There are few with competition in the Democratic primary.
House District 58 — Incumbent Rolanda Hollis faces neighborhood leader Rodney Huntley.
House District 59 — Incumbent Mary Moore faces Chris Davis in the Democratic primary. Davis ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Birmingham City Council last year.
House District 60 — Incumbent Juandalynn Givan faces Le’Darius Hilliard, leader of the Millenial Democrats.
Among Republicans, incumbent Dickie Drake in House District 45 faces Ted Crockett, a former Shelby County Commissioner who was a surrogate for twice-ousted Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore in his recent bid for the U.S. Senate. Rich Hobson, who served as Moore’s campaign manager in the U.S. Senate race, has qualified to run in the GOP primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Martha Roby.
Here’s the full list of Republican candidates who qualified by the Friday deadline. Here’s the list for Alabama Democrats.
Russia attacks Kyiv, killing 1 and wounding many ahead of Ukraine-US talks
Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with missiles and drones early Saturday morning, killing one and wounding over 20 people a day before talks between Ukraine and the U.S., local authorities said.
Myanmar is set to hold phased elections. Here’s why they’re being called a ‘sham’
Myanmar's military rulers are holding a general election in phases starting Dec. 28 amid the country's civil war. The head of the U.N. says the vote will be anything but free and fair.
Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, dies at 65
Perry Archangelo Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for the influential goth band The Cure, has died. He was 65. The band announced his death on their official website on Friday.
Judge to hold hearing on whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being vindictively prosecuted
A federal judge this week canceled the trial of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and scheduled a hearing on whether the prosecution is being vindictive in pursuing a human smuggling case against him.
Thailand and Cambodia sign new ceasefire agreement to end border fighting
In addition to ending fighting, the agreement calls for no further military movements by either side and no violations of either side's airspace for military purposes.
Top Instagram reels from Goats and Soda in 2025: Plumpy’Nut, aid cuts, soccer grannies
Our most-viewed Instagram videos include reports from a Rhode Island factory that makes special food for malnourished children and from a tournament for soccer-playing "grannies."
