2018 Election

John Merrill

Alabama Secretary of State discusses results in the special Senate election. (Source: Robert Carter)

Office: Secretary of State

Party: Republican

Age: 54

Residence: Montgomery

Political experience: Alabama House of Representatives, District 62; 2010-2014; Alabama Secretary of State, 2015-present.

Professional experience: Business Development Officer for 1st Federal Bank in Tuscaloosa, 2011-2015; director of community relations and community education for the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, 1994-2010; assistant director for the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority, 1990-93.

Civic experience: Member of the National Association of Secretaries of State and the Republican Association of Secretaries of State; co-chair of the NASS Voter Participation Committee.

Education: University of Alabama.

Main issues: Merrill pointed to his time as secretary of state.

“I work every day to ensure that our elections are safe, secure and credible,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “We want to ensure that our business filings [are] efficient and effective. We also assist families involved in international adoptions to make the process as smooth as possible.”

Top contributors: Farm PAC, $16,413; Progress PAC, $15,000; Jimmy S. Tu; $10,000; Roy S. Drinkard, $10,000; Glover Media Group, $7500; ABPAC, $7,000; Alabama Acre, $5,000; MAX PAC, $5,000; NUCOR PAC, $5,000; Royal Automotive, $5,000.

Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMerrill/