Alabama’s 2026 election cycle is shaping up to be one of the most financially intensive in recent memory. Transparency USA reports that more than $180 million will have been poured into campaigns for federal, statewide and legislative races by the time polls close. While the governor’s race and U.S. Senate contests dominate headlines, dozens of down‑ballot constitutional offices will also decide the direction of the state’s policies on everything from law enforcement to farming.
Lieutenant Governor (Open Seat)
John Wahl (R) – A North Alabama butterfly farmer who rose to become the youngest Republican Party chair in the state, Wahl is 40 and supplies tens of thousands of butterflies to zoos nationwide. He previously served as vice chair of the Republican National Committee’s Southern Region. Wahl’s residency has been questioned after a traffic ticket showed a Tennessee driver’s license, but he remains engaged to Brittany Montgomery, a field representative for Sen. Bill Hagerty, and has a son from a prior marriage.
Phillip Ensler (D) – A New York‑born attorney, Ensler has represented Alabama’s District 74 in the House since 2022. He holds a B.A. in political science from George Washington University and a J.D. from Yeshiva University/Cardozo. A former White House intern, he now directs the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama and serves on five House committees. He and his wife have several children.
Attorney General (Open Seat)
Katherine Robertson (R) – A Dallas County native, Robertson graduated from Auburn University and the University of Alabama School of Law. She began her career in Washington as clerk and counsel to Sen. Jeff Sessions on the Senate Judiciary Committee. For the past decade she has been chief counsel to Attorney General Steve Marshall. Robertson, 42, lives in Birmingham with her husband Ryan and their two children.
Jeff McLaughlin (D) – Raised in Guntersville, McLaughlin earned his undergraduate degree at Birmingham‑Southern College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He practiced law locally and served ten years in the Alabama House representing Marshall County, refusing all campaign contributions and self‑financing each race. He and his wife Stacy have three children.
Secretary of State (Open Seat)
Caroleene Dobson (R) – Born on a fifth‑generation cattle farm in Beatrice, Monroe County, Dobson was a National Merit finalist and U.S. Presidential Scholar. She earned a history and literature degree from Harvard and a magna cum laude J.D. from Baylor Law School, where she edited the law review. Dobson, 39, resides in Montgomery with her husband Bobby and their two daughters.
Wayne Rogers (D) – A Thomasville native, Rogers holds a bachelor’s in music and a magna cum laude J.D. from Samford University. He served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama before two decades in private practice. A longtime Democratic activist, he chaired the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee. Rogers and his wife Lauri have three grown children and two grandchildren.
State Treasurer
Young Boozer (R, incumbent) – The 78‑year‑old veteran treasurer first served from 2011‑2019 and returned in 2021. A Birmingham native, Boozer earned an economics degree from Stanford and a master’s in finance from Wharton. He chairs the National Association of State Treasurers’ Banking and Cash Management Committee. In 15 years as treasurer he reports zero civil judgments, liens, ethics complaints or credible allegations. He and his wife Sally have two adult children.
Rosilyn Houston (D) – Houston brings three decades of banking leadership, having held senior roles at BBVA and Santander US and served as interim president/CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. She has overseen a $12 billion balance sheet across retail, wealth and commercial banking. Houston holds a bachelor’s from the University of Phoenix and a master’s in management from the University of Redlands. She is a mother of three and lives in Birmingham.
State Auditor
Andrew Sorrell (R, incumbent) – At 41, Sorrell seeks a second term. A California native raised in Muscle Shoals, he earned a business management degree from the University of North Alabama. He is an entrepreneur, private pilot, advanced scuba diver, Eagle Scout and former state representative from House District 3. His business ventures include Infinity College Textbooks, Gold, Guns, and Guitars, Inc., and real‑estate investing. He and his wife Hannah have two children.
Violet Edwards (D) – Edwards serves on the Madison County Commission and previously worked in television and radio news. She holds a communications degree and an MBA from the University of Alabama system. Edwards and her husband Anthony have three children. She has received numerous community awards.
Agriculture Commissioner (Open Seat)
Corey Hill (R) – The mayor of Douglas and lifelong Republican, Hill runs a family farm with poultry and cattle and owns a local grocery store. He pledges to eliminate the tax on farm equipment, place Alabama‑produced food in school cafeterias and boost farm profitability. Hill graduated from Douglas High School and Snead State College.
These candidate profiles provide Alabama voters with a clearer view of the individuals seeking to shape the state’s future. As the election approaches, voters are encouraged to review each candidate’s record, platform and qualifications before heading to the polls on November 3.
Original reporting: The Tuscaloosa Thread — read the source article.
