Caroleene Dobson to run for Alabama secretary of state
Republican Caroleene Dobson, speaks with reporters after voting in Montgomery, Ala., on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Montgomery attorney Caroleene Dobson, a Republican who ran for Congress last year, announced Thursday she is running for secretary of state in 2026.
The secretary of state serves as Alabama’s chief elections official. The office also maintains business records and government records for the state.
Dobson said her priorities if elected include election security, reducing fees and getting legislation passed that will enable statewide post-election audits.
“As secretary of state, I will reduce fees on Alabama businesses, streamline services for the public, and I will never back down from the liberal activist groups who want to undermine the security of our elections,” Dobson said in a statement.
The office of secretary of state will be open in 2026. Current Secretary of State Wes Allen is running for lieutenant governor in 2026.
State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, also a Republican, is also running for secretary of state. Sorrell is a former member of the Alabama Legislature.
Dobson, a graduate of Harvard College and Baylor University School of Law, is a shareholder in Maynard Nexsen law firm. She specializes in natural resources, commercial finance and real estate law.
In 2024, Dobson ran for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District but lost to Democrat Shomari Figures. A federal court redrew the south Alabama district after ruling that Alabama had purposely diluted the influence of Black voters — who make up 27% of the state’s population.
Dobson said as secretary state that she wants to replicate the Florida Election Crimes and Division, an enforcement unit dedicated to investigating voter fraud and other election crimes.
“On the national level, I will advocate for President Trump’s commonsense election reforms,” Dobson said. “I will also leverage my legal experience to fight back against out-of-state activists who are constantly attempting to use the courts to undermine our election security measures.”
Trump federalizes the National Guard in Chicago, while troops arrive in Oregon
The White House said Trump "authorized" the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members, after vowing to send troops into Chicago. Meanwhile, Guard members arrived in Oregon from California.
SNL roasts Trump in season premiere, as Bad Bunny addresses Super Bowl criticism
Bad Bunny returned to SNL as a host for the second time, and the musician addressed criticism over his upcoming Super Bowl performance.
States are cutting Medicaid provider payments long before Trump cuts hit
North Carolina and Idaho have cut their Medicaid programs to bridge budget gaps, raising fears that providers will stop taking patients and that hospitals will close even before the brunt of a new federal tax-and-budget law takes effect.
At least 5 dead in large-scale nighttime Russian strike on Ukraine
At least five civilians died after Russia launched a major nighttime attack on Ukraine overnight into Sunday, a barrage which officials said targeted civilian infrastructure.
With makeshift jump ropes and hide and seek, kids play to cope with crisis
From Gaza to Ukraine to South Sudan, children play to deal with the stress — and find a moment of joy.
25 years after its premiere, ‘Gilmore Girls’ still draws fans to small town Connecticut
Lorelai and Rory Gilmore's fictional hometown of Stars Hollow was born after Gilmore Girls creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, stayed in northwestern Connecticut. The show premiered in the fall of 2000.