CAMPAIGN 2026: Qualifying ends for special primaries for U.S. House
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Qualifying has ended for the candidates running in the August 11 special primaries for four seats in the U.S. House.
The special primaries are being held because the Alabama Legislature changed the district lines, putting some voters in different districts. The results of the primaries on May 19 have been thrown out, with the results in the upcoming special primaries to determine who moves on to the November 3 general election.
The lines have changed in U.S. House Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7, which are the districts involved in the special primaries. That covers the vast majority of the Action 8 viewing area, except for Tallapoosa and Lee counties.
This will be the Congressional district map used in the 2026 elections. Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 have had their lines altered from the court-drawn map used in 2024 – Photo from Alabama Governor’s Office
Here are the candidates who have qualified:
DISTRICT 1
Democrats: Clyde Jones
Republicans: Jerry Carl, John Mills, Austin Sidwell, Lucas Burger
DISTRICT 2
Democrats: Shomari Figures (incumbent)
Republicans: Hampton Harris, Rhett Marques, Joshua McKee, James Richardson, Christian Horn, David Matthews
DISTRICT 6
Democrats: Jacob Bouma-Sims, Maurice Mercer, Keith Pilkington, Ashtyn Kennedy
Republicans: Gary Palmer (incumbent), Case Dixon
DISTRICT 7
Democrats: Terri Sewell (incumbent)
Republicans: Ammie Akin, David Perry
District 1 will have a new member in the U.S. House because incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Moore is running for U.S. Senate. Jerry Carl previously held the seat before losing to Moore in 2024.
For these special primaries, there will be no runoffs. The person with the most votes, even if the results are less than 50%, will move on to the November 3 general election.
