Amid significant political shifts, Alabama voters are poised to make pivotal decisions as they head to the polls in four of the state’s seven congressional districts. This comes after the introduction of a new electoral map that has done away with one of Alabama’s two majority-Black districts, both traditionally represented by Democrats.
The primary elections, originally slated for May 19, were postponed by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey. This delay followed a consequential U.S. Supreme Court decision that led several Republican-led Southern states, including Alabama, to discard their existing congressional maps. This action was part of a broader Republican strategy, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, to bolster the party’s chances of retaining control over the narrowly held U.S. House in the 2026 midterms.
Alabama’s representatives will continue to serve their current constituencies until the end of 2026. However, candidates in the upcoming primaries are contesting under the newly drawn, Republican-favored district lines, set to take effect in January 2027. Both of Alabama’s Democratic congressional incumbents are unopposed in their respective primaries.
In the newly redrawn 2nd District, U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures is vying for a second term. The district’s Black population is set to decrease from 50% to approximately 40% under the new boundaries. Notably, in 2024, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris outperformed Trump in the current district, but projections suggest Trump would have prevailed had the new boundaries been in place.
The 2nd District sees six Republican contenders, among them state Rep. Rhett Marques, Army veteran Joshua McKee, and real estate broker Hampton Harris. Marques, who has received Trump’s endorsement, leads in campaign fundraising.
Meanwhile, the 7th District will continue to have a slight Black majority. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who is campaigning for her ninth term, saw Harris beat Trump by a significant margin in the current configuration. However, the margin narrows slightly under the new lines. Republicans Ammie Akin and David Perry are competing to challenge Sewell.
When do polls close?
Polls will close at 7 p.m. CT, equivalent to 8 p.m. ET.
What’s on the ballot?
The Associated Press will report vote outcomes and declare winners for the contested primaries in the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th Congressional Districts.
Who gets to vote?
These special primaries are open to all registered voters within their respective districts. Alabama does not require party registration, but voters must declare a party preference when selecting a primary ballot.
How many voters are there?
As of June 1, there are 3.8 million registered voters in Alabama, with each congressional district encompassing roughly 718,000 residents.
How many people actually vote?
In the May 19 primaries, about 409,000 ballots were cast statewide, representing approximately 11% of registered voters. Specific past voting data for the newly drawn districts is not available.
How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?
Alabama has limited early voting options, with a small percentage of voters opting to vote by mail. In the 2024 primaries, around 4% of Democratic and 1% of Republican primary voters used mail-in ballots.
When are early and absentee votes released?
Vote release practices differ by county. Typically, absentee vote results are included in the initial vote updates, alongside in-person Election Day voting results.
How long does vote-counting usually take?
In the May 19 state primary, initial results were reported by the AP at 8:28 p.m. ET, merely 28 minutes after polls closed, with the final update by 12:54 a.m. ET, accounting for over 99.9% of votes.
When will the AP declare a winner?
The AP refrains from making projections and will declare a winner only when it is clear that a trailing candidate cannot bridge the gap. If a race remains undecided, the AP will continue to report on significant developments, ensuring clarity on the status of the declaration.
How do recounts work?
Alabama’s automatic recount law, per a 2010 attorney general opinion, does not apply to primaries. The AP may declare a winner in a recount situation if the lead is deemed insurmountable by recount or legal challenge.
Are we there yet?
As of Tuesday, there are 84 days remaining until the 2026 midterm elections.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.
