Dakarai Larriett and Everett Weiss advance to Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate

May 19, 2026 – Dakarai Larriett and Everett Weiss both advanced to the runoff in the Democratic primary. The Senate seat is open due to Senator Tommy Tuberville's decision to run for Governor.

Dakarai Larriett received 98,950 votes (29.11%). Everett Weiss finished first with 134,507 votes (39.57%). Mark Wheeler finished in third with 59,158 votes (17.40%). Kyle Sweetser finished n fourth with 47,288 votes (13.91%).

"We have a republic if we can keep it," Wess said recently on voting rights quoting Benjamin Franklin. "That means the people have to show up especially when the rules of representation and access to the ballot are under attack."

"Alabama deserves leaders who put service over self and country over party," said Larriett on his website. "We've had enough political division and chaos. It's time to focus on real solutions that benefit everyday Americans."

Everett W. Wess is a Birmingham attorney and member of the Avondale Church of Christ in Birmingham. Wess has a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law and a Master of Business Administration from Alabama A&M University. He has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Alabama A&M. He also has an Associate of Arts in Music Education from Selma University. His legal practice focuses primarily on estate planning and criminal defense including capital offenses.

Everett has served Alabama's judicial system from multiple perspectives. For eight years, he has served as a Midfield Municipal Court Judge in Jefferson County, Alabama. Everett has been a prosecutor for the City of Midfield, a Public Defender for the City of Irondale, and a municipal judge in Midfield.

Before practicing law, Everett worked for more than a decade in Huntsville, Alabama, in technology, engineering, and education. His professional experience includes supporting NASA mission operations, military and national security systems, telecommunications infrastructure, and large-scale financial processing platforms. He also worked as an adjunct instructor for Faulkner University in Huntsville and Birmingham.

Dakarai Larriett was born in Alabama to a U.S. Army veteran father and a public school teacher mother. Due to his father's military career his family lived on military bases in Washington, California, Oklahoma, and Germany. Larriett attended school in Alabama where he attended WJ Christian, a magnet school for gifted students. He graduated with honors from the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Larriett earned a full scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he studied business and economics, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He has a master's degree from New York University School of Business. Larriett has held a number of positions and has success in business in New York State. If elected Larriett would be the first openly gay U.S. Senator from Alabama.

The primary runoff will be on Tuesday, June 16.

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