MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — The race for the state’s next lieutenant governor is heating up. Former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl is joining a wide field of candidates who have qualified for that seat.

Dozens of important Alabama elections this year will likely have just one candidate. As of Jan. 21, 255 people have filed for 160 offices in Alabama on the November 2026 ballot. (That total doesn’t include some local city and county races).

Democrats are seeking a major upset in a reliably red state House district in Alabama on Tuesday night. Democrat Judith Taylor is challenging Republican Norman Crow in the 63rd district special election.

At least 94 Democrats and 153 Republicans were listed to run for the Alabama Legislature in state and federal elections later this year as candidate qualifying ended on Friday evening. While lists were being finalized Friday,

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who is running for lieutenant governor, posted a campaign video on Sunday saying that his newest opponent in the race, former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl,

Qualifying for the 2026 election cycle officially closed on Friday evening for candidates with the Alabama Republican Party.

The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill that would require probate judges to conduct audits after state and county elections. HB 95, sponsored by Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, passed on a 72-25 mostly-partly line vote,

Alabama Republican Party Vice Chairman Joan Reynolds will become Chairman effective immediately after John Wahl stepped aside, the party announced Friday.

Pollsters that meet at least two of the three criteria below are considered “select pollsters” by The Times, as long as they are conducting polls for nonpartisan sponsors. Has a track record of accuracy in recent elections Is a member of a professional polling organization Conducts probability-based sampling

Source: Election results and race calls are from The Associated Press. By The New York Times election results team: Michael Andre, Matthew Bloch, Lily Boyce, Irineo Cabreros, Nico Chilla, Nate Cohn, Annie Daniel,

Qualifying for the 2026 election cycle officially closed on Friday evening for candidates with the Alabama Democratic Party.