Remember the children’s game of musical chairs? There are enough chairs for each player — except one. When the music stops, everyone tries to grab a chair, with the odd man out the loser of that round.
Musical chairs is an appropriate analogy for the 2026 Alabama elections of the statewide constitutional offices. All seven chairs are up for grabs.
The governor is term-limited and constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term. Thus, there is an open seat for governor — a rare and sought-after open chair.
The lieutenant governor is also term-limited. Will Ainsworth is actively exploring running for governor. Very actively.
The attorney general is term-limited. Steve Marshall had explored running for governor but has announced he will not run. There is an open chair for AG.
The agriculture commissioner is term-limited. Rick Pate is actively exploring running for governor. Very actively. There is an open chair for ag commissioner.
There is an open seat for lieutenant governor. Secretary of State Wes Allen is actively exploring running for the number two spot. Very actively. Thus, there may be an open seat for SOS. State Auditor Andrew Sorrell is actively exploring running for SOS. Very actively. Thus, there may be an open chair for state auditor.
The state treasurer is not term-limited and can run again for a second consecutive term.
Three other statewide offices are up for election in 2026 that may not be part of the constitutional musical chairs — one U.S. Senate seat and two seats on the Alabama Public Service Commission. The U.S. Senate is a federal office, and the PSC is a statutory office. Nevertheless, they run on the 2026 statewide ballot.
The game of musical chairs has already started. The music will stop, and everyone will try to grab a chair by January 30, 2026. That’s the last day of qualifying to run in the 2026 elections in either party's primary. At 5 p.m. on that date, we will know for certain who is running for which seat in the Republican or Democrat primaries.
The party primaries, which are tantamount to election in the statewide races, are on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. At present, all seven state constitutional offices are Republicans. The winners of the 2026 GOP nominations for the seven offices will be highly favored to win in the November 3 general election.
While there is strong “pre-campaigning” for the state offices, only two candidates have formally announced. Pastor Dean Odle of Opelika, who lost a 2022 race for governor, has announced for the open seat of lieutenant governor. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey has announced for state attorney general.
Possible candidates for the open seat of governor appear to include the following, though none have made a formal announcement:
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth. He is actively exploring a gubernatorial run. He is term-limited and must go elsewhere or go home.
Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate. He is active on the pre-campaign circuit. He is term-limited.
Montgomery business success Lindy Blanchard, former Trump Ambassador to Slovenia, the home of former first lady Melania Trump. Blanchard ran second to Gov. Kay Ivey in the 2022 race.
Former chief of the Department of Veterans Affairs Kent Davis. After the VA board turned down a motion to fire him, Davis was fired by Gov. Kay Ivey using her "supreme executive powers." The action is now subject to a lawsuit.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville. “Coach” says he has not ruled out running for governor. “Never say never.” He is now leading the U.S. Senate fight for the confirmation of Trump appointees and the greater Trump legislative agenda.
The Tuberville question – will he stay in the Senate or will he come home and run for governor – is a frequent topic in Montgomery political conversations. About half the politicos insist that Coach loves what he is doing, is making a huge difference and will stay on as a Trump leader in the Senate. The other half insist that Coach is already taking steps to run for governor, though they do not say what those steps might be.
Tuberville’s senate seat is up for election in the 2026 cycle. If he were to run for governor, it would create an open U.S. Senate seat – a rare and sought-after opportunity. Who would run for the open Senate seat? Another round of musical chairs could start.
It would be entirely premature to even speculate on the potential U.S. Senate candidates if Tuberville runs for governor. That will be the subject of a future 1819 News analysis.
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced he will not run for governor.
Possible candidates for the open seat of lieutenant governor:
Announced: Opelika pastor Dean Odle.
Not announced:
Twinkle Cavanaugh of Montgomery, long-time president of the Alabama Public Service Commission. Former state chair of the Alabama Republican Party.
Wes Allen of Troy, secretary of state. Former state representative from Pike County and probate judge of Pike County.
John Merrill of Tuscaloosa. Formerly secretary of state and state representative from Tuscaloosa.
Possible candidates for the open seat of attorney general include:
Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey formally announced Monday.
Three other potential candidates have not announced:
State Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell of Jefferson County. He would be required to resign his judicial office to run.
Chief counsel to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall Katherine Green Robertson.
Former congressional nominee attorney Caroleene Dobson of Montgomery.
State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) recently told Alabama Daily News he will not run for attorney general.
Possible candidates for the open seat of agriculture commissioner, though none have announced:
State Sen. Jack Williams of Mobile.
Mayor Corey Hill of Douglas in Marshall County.
Christina Woerner McInnis of Baldwin County, a soil and turf expert.
Possible candidates for the likely-open seat of secretary of state, though none have announced:
State Auditor Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals.
Possible candidates for the likely-open seat of state auditor, though none have announced:
Young Republican activist and attorney Derek Chen of Vestavia Hills.
Possible candidates for state treasurer, though none have announced:
Incumbent Young Boozer. He is not term-limited and can run again for one more consecutive term.
There is a lot of time from now until the qualifying deadline of January 30, 2026. The potential line-ups will change. No additions to the line-ups can be made after January 30, 2026 for the party primaries. On that date, party candidates will either be in or out. (Like musical chairs when the music stops.)
Follow news of the changing match-ups at 1819 News.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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