Republican Senate incumbents poised well for 2026 races

Republican incumbents and challengers in the 2026 Alabama Senate race closed out 2025 with sizable campaign war chests, while Democrats remained largely absent from the financial landscape, according to year-end filings. The top war chest was by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who reported over $1.1 million in cash on hand.

End-of-Year Spending in the 2026 Alabama Senate Race

A financial snapshot of campaign momentum heading into the election year

Context: Year-End Reports Filed in January 2026

Under Alabama's Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA), all state Senate candidates were required to file annual reports accounting for fundraising and expenditures through December 31, 2025. These filings offer a clear look at which candidates are financially positioned for the 2026 election cycle.

Republican Leaders in Cash on Hand

The GOP continues to dominate the financial landscape in Alabama's Senate races. Here are some of the most well-funded Republican candidates:

Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) $1,275,036.55

Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) $916,431.25

Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) $722,716.53

Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) $642,102.00

Jay Hovey (R-Auburn) $561,499.41

James T. "Jabo" Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) $552,846.81

Chris Elliot (R-Josephine) $527,372.70

Donnie Chesteen (R-Dothan) $496,869.28

Tim Melson (R-Florence) $490,225.20

Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) $485,257.81

Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) $472,210.12

Andrew Jones (R-Centre) $460,406.10

Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) $453,089.81

April Weaver (R-Briarfield) $449,337.80

Lance Bell (R-Pell City) $438,670.52

Randy Price (R-Opelika) $429,413.50

Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) $427,974.32

Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) $400,470.25

David Sessions (R-Grand Bay) $396,705.45

Josh Carnley (R-Ino) $341,322.80

Matt Woods (R-Jasper) $330,616.79

Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) $286,349.02

Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) $280,486.00

Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) $260,713.67

Several of the Democratic incumbents are doing quite well too.

Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) reports $501,005.16 in cash on hand.

Linda Coleman Madison (D-Birmingham) $338,146.55

Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) $258,797.95

Billy Beasley (D-Clayton) $212,554.43

Merika Coleman (D-Pleasant Grove) $158,322.27

Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) $120,850.88

Many of these candidates spent modest amounts in 2025, preserving funds for the 2026 campaign push.

🧾 Notable Spending Patterns

- Low burn rates: Most Republicans spent little in 2025, indicating strategic savings for 2026 advertising and outreach.

- PAC activity: Committees like EduPAC and ProgressPAC reported contributions but minimal expenditures, suggesting future coordinated spending.

- Local fundraising strength: Candidates like Dan Roberts (District 15) and David Sessions (District 35) each reported over $325,000 in cash on hand, largely from local donors.

What's Next

- Monthly reports due February 3, 2026, will show early 2026 fundraising.

- Candidate qualifying ended January 23

- Primary elections are scheduled for May 19, 2026.

(An early version of this article listed inaccurate amounts from the November and early financial reports - all the numbers are current with the Secretary of State website)

Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.