The 2026 election campaign season starts off with a bang in Henagar

July 4,2025 - Henagar, AL – Political leaders from across Alabama gathered at the Henagar Community Center for the annual Potato Festival. This year's community breakfast event was hosted by Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) and Alabama Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro).

Numerous political leaders and dignitaries were on hand for the event.

Lee Davis is the Mayor of Henagar.

"I really am not much of a talker; but my job is to introduce Speaker Ledbetter," said Mayor Davis.

Speaker Ledbetter is running for his fourth term in the Alabama House of Representatives.

"We should be proud to be an American – let's give a hand to America!" said Ledbetter. "We are blessed to live in such a great country. We live in a great state too." ""There are a lot of members of the House here today – they must want to be chairmen."

Leader Livingston is running for his fourth term in the Alabama Senate.

"We need to thank everybody in the kitchen staff in the back," said Livingston.

Steve Flowers is a former State Representative and Alabama's leading political commentator. His columns are read across the state including the Alabama Gazette.

"This is the go-to political event in the state of Alabama," said Flowers. "Every statewide candidate of any note is here."

"We thank the folks of Dekalb County for having this and I look forward to coming every year," added Flowers.

Former Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Jay Mitchell is running for Alabama Attorney General.

Tommy Battle is the Mayor of Alabama's largest city – Huntsville. Battle was in hand to honor our country's 249th Birthday and the veterans who have helped keep this nation free.

State Senator Jack Williams (R-Wilmer) is running for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) is running for U.S. Senator.

Montgomery Attorney Caroleene Dodson is running for Alabama Secretary of State.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate (R) is running for Lieutenant Governor.

Birmingham area Attorney Derek Chen is running for State Auditor.

State Representative Mark Gidley (R-Hoke Bluff) is running for his third term in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Baldwin County farmer and businesswoman Christina Woerner McInnis is running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.

Former Secretary of State John Merrill (R) was on hand for Friday's event.

State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) is running for re-election.

Economic developer Nicole Jones Wadsworth is running for Lieutenant Governor.

State Rep, Tim Wadsworth (R-Arley) is running for re-election.

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey (R) is running for Alabama Attorney General.

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R) was in attendance. Ainsworth is term limited from running for another term.

Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judge Matt Fridy (R) was on hand. Fridy recently had a massive heart attack but is recovering and appeared in good health.

Deputy Attorney General Katherine Green Robertson is running for Attorney General.

State Representative Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) is running for reelection.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) is running for Lieutenant Governor.

Former Communications Advisor to Governor Kay Ivey – Attorney Joshua Pendergrass is running for State Auditor.

State Representative Danny Crawford (R-Athens) is running for re-election.

Former Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) was on hand. Scofield is the Vice President of the highly influential Business Council of Alabama (BCA).

Numerous mayors, mayoral candidates, city council candidates, county commissioners, and county commission candidates were also on hand.

The Republican Primary is on May 19, 2025.