2022 Alabama Elections

Dave Thomas, Governor, Republican

Dave Thomas Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 56 Residence: Springville Political experience: Mayor, Springville, 2020-present; Candidate, Alabama Secretary of State, 2002; Alabama House of Representatives, District 49, 1994-2002 Professional experience: Owner, Alabama’s Premier Service Company, 2002-present; owner, TB & Associates Civic experience: Former president, Springville Parent Teacher Organization Education: BBA, University of Montevallo Main issues: Repealing grocery, income and

by Sam Prickett

Dean Odle, Governor, Republican

Dean Odle Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 53 Residence: Opelika Political experience: None Professional experience: Founder, Fire & Grace School of Ministry, 2018; founder and senior pastor, Fire & Grace Church, 2009-present Education: Honorary Ph.D., Pilgrims University, 2002, Troy University; Jefferson Davis High School, 1986 Main issues: “My top priorities will be health freedom issues from stopping

by Sam Prickett

Donald Trent Jones, Governor, Republican

Donald Trent Jones Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 39 Residence: Montevallo Political experience: None Professional experience: Co-founder, Yoga & Love Education: Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, University of Montevallo Main issues: Advocating for yoga, mindfulness, healthy living and healthy food Top Contributors: None filed Campaign: facebook.com/trent.jones.5876

by Sam Prickett

Tim James, Governor, Republican

Tim James Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 60 Residence: Greenville Political experience: Candidate, Alabama Governor, 2002, 2010 and 2022 Professional experience: President, Tim James Inc.; founder, Baldwin County Bridge Co., 1996-2006; owner and operator, Escambia County Environmental Corp., 1986-96 Civic experience: N/A Education: Auburn University; Baylor School Main issues: Improving Alabama schools; stopping casinos from coming to Alabama;

by Sam Prickett

Kay Ivey, Governor, Republican

Kay Ivey Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 77 Residence: Montgomery Political experience: Alabama governor, 2017-present; lieutenant governor, 2014-2017; state treasurer, 2002-2014 Professional experience: Assistant director of Alabama Development Office; reading clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives; bank officer; high school teacher Civic experience: Civic honors include the ALFA Service to Agriculture Award, Newsmax’s 50 Most Influential Female

by Sam Prickett

Stacy Lee George, Governor, Republican

Stacy Lee George Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 53 Residence: Arab Political experience: Candidate, Governor of Alabama, 2014; Commissioner, Morgan County, 2000-08 Professional experience: Correctional officer, Alabama Department of Corrections, 2009-present; Amtec Corporation, 1997-2000; Wyle Laboratories, 1987 Education: Calhoun Community College; Auburn University; Brewer High School, 1987 Main issues: Improving transparency in Montgomery; developing a Veteran Task

by Sam Prickett

Lew Burdette, Governor, Republican

Lew Burdette Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 63 Residence: Birmingham Political experience: None Professional experience: President, King’s Home, 2002-present; CEO and owner, Kindred Inc.; chief operating officer, Books-A-Million, 1985-98 Civic experience: Director of Christian education, First United Methodist Church, Florence, 1982-85 Education: University of Alabama, 1981 Main issues: Ending corruption in state politics, including limiting campaign contributions; implementing

by Sam Prickett

Lindy Blanchard, Governor, Republican

Lindy Blanchard Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 62 Residence: Montgomery Political experience: Former candidate, U.S. Senate, 2022; United States ambassador to Slovenia, 2019-21 Professional experience: Founder and former senior adviser, B&M Management Company Civic experience: Founder, 100X Development Foundation, 2004 Education: B.S. in mathematics, Auburn University, 1991 Main issues: Improving education and supporting school choice; fighting critical race

by Sam Prickett

JeffCo Probate Judge: Tightened Security Will Delay Voting Returns in the Primaries

UPDATED — Jefferson County’s chief election official is warning that a new voting security measure will delay returns from the May 24 primary elections. Probate Judge James Naftel said Friday that county officials have worked with Secretary of State officials to find a way to expedite returns. At issue is a new security measure imposed by Secretary of State John Merrill that moves all precinct returns to central computers provided by his office. These two computers cannot be connected to a network and therefore cannot communicate with each other, so there will not be any results released until all precincts have reported and all results are in, Naftel said. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Candidates, On Your Marks

Candidates have lined up under the Republican and Democratic flags to run for their party nominations for a slate of offices, from U.S. Senate to governor to Jefferson County Commission. Friday was the deadline for candidates to file papers to run in the primary election, which will be May 24, leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. In Jefferson County alone, Democratic voters will have more than 80 candidates to choose from, and Republicans will have more than 60. That doesn’t count candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives. That qualifying deadline has been extended while the courts determine whether the redrawn House districts approved after the 2020 census are constitutional. A three-judge federal court panel ruled that they were not and told the state to redraw them, but the state has appealed that ruling to the U.S. For lists of candidates running in each primary, read more.

by BirminghamWatch