Election season is approaching quickly in Alabama. Registration for Republican and Democratic primary candidates closes on Friday, Jan. 28.
Prospective candidates for local positions should contact their county chairman while statewide and national hopefuls should apply through their statewide party. Required qualifications depend on the desired position.
John Wahl is the Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. He said some primary elections this year could be competitive.
“We have an open US Senate Seat, and that’s been a very exciting race,” said Wahl, “a lot of interest. We also have, I think, six candidates now qualified to run for governor. So I think those two you will probably see the most attention with over the next four months.”
Most state constitutional positions like governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are up for grabs this season. A highly contested U.S. Senate seat and both of Alabama’s congressional seats will also be decided in the general election.
Wahl said Alabama’s Republican primaries often determine the outcome of these races.
“They’re even more influential because of the fact that we are such a Republican state,” said Wahl. “For the most part, especially in a statewide race, whoever wins the Republican primary will most likely be the candidate that wins in the general election.”
Primary elections will be on May 24. May 9 is the voter registration deadline.
