Democrats are fielding nearly a full slate of 2026 candidates

January 14, 2026 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Democrats are entering the 2026 election cycle with one of their largest and most geographically diverse slates in more than a decade, qualifying candidates for every federal office on the ballot and dozens of state legislative, judicial, and constitutional positions. The party's lineup includes past office holders, returning incumbents to majority minority districts, and first‑time contenders aiming to expand Democratic competitiveness across the breadth and length of the state of Alabama.

Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones is the best-known candidate to qualify. He faces a crowded field that includes: Chad "Chig" Martin, Yolanda Flowers (who was the 2022 Democratic nominee for Governor), and Pastor Will Boyd – who ran for Senate in 2022.

Democrats have three candidates for U.S. Senate, a full slate of seven congressional hopefuls, and contested primaries for governor and several legislative districts.

This is the Democratic field - as of press time:

Three Democrats qualified for the open U.S. Senate seat:

- Dakarai Larriett

- Kyle Sweetser

- Mark S. Wheeler II

U.S. House of Representatives

Democrats fielded candidates in all seven congressional districts:

- AL‑01: Clyde W. Jones, Jr.

- AL‑02: Shomari C. Figures (incumbent)

- AL‑03: Lee McInnis

- AL‑04: Amanda N. Pusczek

- AL‑05: Andrew Sneed

- AL‑06: Keith Pilkington

- AL‑07: Terri A. Sewell (incumbent)

Democrats qualified candidates for every statewide office on the 2026 ballot except Attorney General:

Governor: Will Boyd, Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, Doug Jones, Chad "Chig" Martin.

- Lieutenant Governor: Phillip Ensler

- Secretary of State: Wayne Rogers

- State Auditor: Violet Edwards

- Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries: Ron Sparks

State Board of Education, District 8 - Shatika Armstrong

State Senate District 2 - Rudolph Valentino Drake, Alex House, and Guy Sotomayor

State Senator, District 3 - John Dickey

State Senator, District 6 - Bobby Martin

State Senator, District 11 - Donald J. Mottern

State Senator, District 13 - Jamie Forsyth

State Senator, District 19 - Merika Coleman

State Senator, District 20 - Linda Coleman-Madison

State Senator, District 23 - Robert Stewart

State Senator, District 24 - Bobby Singleton

State Senator, District 25 - Kirk Hatcher

State Senator, District 25 - KK Middleton

State Senator, District 28 - Billy Beasley

State Senator, District 33 - Vivian Davis Figures

State Representative, District 5 - Jessie Barcala

State Representative, District 10 - Marilyn Lands

State Representative, District 15 - Nell Brown

State Representative, District 19 - Laura Hall

State Representative, District 28 - Robert Louis Hunter

State Representative, District 32 - Debra D Foster

State Representative, District 40 - Pam Howard

State Representative, District 43 - Taylor Cook

State Representative, District 45 - Toni Kornegay Vaughn

State Representative, District 47 - Jim Toomey

State Representative, District 54 - Neil Rafferty

State Representative, District 55 - Travis Hendrix

State Representative, District 56 - Ontario J Tillman

State Representative, District 57 - Shamyia Atkins, Mara Ruffin Blackmon, and Patrick Sellers

State Representative, District 58 - Rolanda Hollis

State Representative, District 59 - Mary Moore

State Representative, District 60 - Juandalynn Givan, Alicia Escott Lumpkin, and Nina Taylor

State Representative, District 67 - Prince Chestnut

State Representative, District 68 - Thomas E "Action" Jackson

State Representative, District 69 - Kelvin J Lawrence

State Representative, District 69 - Marshae R. Madison

State Representative, District 70 - Christopher John England

State Representative, District 71 - Artis (A.J.) McCampbell

State Representative, District 72 - Curtis L Travis and Michael Williams

State Representative, District 74 - Jasmyne Crimiel

State Representative, District 75 - Tisha Dickson Nickson

State Representative, District 76 - Patrice "Penni" McClammy

State Representative, District 77 - TaShina Morris

State Representative, District 78 - Kenyatté Hassell

State Representative, District 80 - Manfred Malone

State Representative, District 82 - Sidney "Doc" Brown, Terrence K. Johnson, and Pebblin W. Warren

State Representative, District 83 - Jeremy A. Gray

State Representative, District 84 - Berry Forte

State Representative, District 97 - Adline C. Clarke

State Representative, District 98 - Napoleon Bracy, Jr.

State Representative, District 99 - Sam Jones

State Representative, District 101 - Joan Friedlander

State Representative, District 103 - Barbara Drummond

Circuit Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit Pl 2 - Shanta Craig Owens

Circuit Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit Pl 3 - Kechia Davis

Circuit Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit Pl 10 - Ruby Clark

Circuit Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit Pl 2 - Brooke Reid

Circuit Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit Pl 4 - J.R. Gaines

Circuit Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit Pl 7 - Lloria Munnerlyn James

Circuit Judge, 26th Judicial Circuit Pl 2 - David Johnson

District Judge, Greene County Pl 1 - Tonjula Carey

District Judge, Greene County Pl 1 - Robert J. Lee, Sr.

District Judge, Jefferson County Pl 1 - Martha Reeves Cook

District Judge, Jefferson County Pl 2 - Maria Fortune

District Judge, Jefferson County Pl 7 - Jimmy Ray Earley, Jr. and Hope Marshall

District Judge, Macon County Pl 1 - Linda Braye Bulls

District Judge, Madison County Pl 5 - Raven Beach

District Judge, Montgomery County Pl 1 - Samarria Munnerlyn Dunson

A Broader Strategy for 2026

Democratic officials say the party's expanded slate reflects a deliberate effort to contest more districts, rebuild local infrastructure, and give voters meaningful choices up and down the ballot. With competitive primaries in several legislative districts and a crowded gubernatorial field, the party enters 2026 with renewed energy and a deeper bench than in recent cycles.

The gubernatorial primary is expected to draw significant attention, with four candidates representing different wings of the party and varying levels of statewide campaign experience.

Republicans have supermajorities in both Houses of the Legislature; but Democrats are targeting a number of GOP held seats in the Legislature this time around.

Democrats have not won a race for a constitutional office in Alabama government since 2006 when former Governor Jim Folsom Jr. won the Lieutenant Governor's seat for the second time and Ron Sparks was re-elected as Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Democrats are hopeful that this year's congressional midterms change their fortunes in Alabama and beyond.

Qualifying is not over. Qualifying for both major parties continues through January 23 at 5:00 p.m. so this field will likely continue to grow in the next week. In races where there are two or more candidates qualified the nominee will be chosen by Democratic Primary voters on May 19. Candidates without an opponent advance direct to the general election. There is no write-in process in party primary elections.

Both party primaries are on May 19.

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