2018 Election

Michael Johnson

Office: Secretary of State Party: Republican Residence: Albertville Political experience: Marshall County Revenue Commissioner. Professional experience: Programmer and security analyst, Auburn University; contract information systems administrator for IBM, Lexington, Kentucky; systems analyst and programmer, North Slope Borough of Barrow, Alaska; director of senior services, City of Albertville. Civic experience: Whole BackstageTheatre, Guntersville. Education:B.S. in management, Auburn University;

by Virginia Martin

Lula Albert

Office: Secretary of State Party: Democratic Residence: Mobile County Political experience: Ran for secretary of state, 2014; Democratic candidate for Congress (First District), 2013. Education: Albert did not respond to the Birmingham Watch candidate questionnaire. Main issues: Albert is making her second run for the secretary of state’s office. Running a low-key campaign, Albert advocates a simplified

by Virginia Martin

Ivey Stretches out Her Lead in Fundraising for Governor’s Race

Gov. Kay Ivey is closing in on the $4 million mark in contributions to her campaign to win the Republican nomination for governor, according to financial reports filed this week. Ivey raised $143,515 between May 12 and May 18, pushing her total for the campaign to $3.93 million, according her new weekly report. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle is a distant second in the battle for campaign cash. He reported contributions of $103,825 for the week, raising his total to $2.28 million. Ivey, Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and Birmingham evangelist Scott Dawson are vying for the GOP nomination. The winner of the June 5 Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the November general election. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Voter Registration Ends Monday

Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the June 5 primaries. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is May 31. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Candidates for Governor Pitch Ideas During PARCA Roundtable Forum

Six candidates vying to be the next governor of Alabama sat down for interviews with professors and professionals from across the state Wednesday night during a forum sponsored by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. Three Republican candidates – Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Evangelist Scott Dawson and state Sen. Bill Hightower – and three Democratic candidates – former state Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, former state Rep. James Fields and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox – participated in the forum, held at Woodrow Hall in Birmingham’s Woodlawn community. Gov. Kay Ivey, who also is seeking the Republican nomination in the June 5 primary, was invited to the forum, said PARCA director of communications Marci Smith, but the governor declined. Organized by the PARCA Roundtable group of young professionals, the forum featured 12-minute, one-on-one interviews with each candidate by interviewers who belong to or were selected by the Roundtable. After the interviews, the candidates took turns answering questions submitted by the audience. Read more.

by Jackie Romine Walburn

Marshall Maintains Fundraising Lead in GOP Attorney General Race

Attorney General Steve Marshall has out-raised and out-spent his three rivals so far in May as he seeks the Republican nomination to run for a full term in the office. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Stuart Leads in Fundraising for GOP Primary for Chief Justice

Lyn Stuart continues to build her advantage over Tom Parker in their campaign for the Republican nomination for Alabama chief justice, according to financial reports filed this week with the Secretary of State’s Office. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Cavanaugh, Ainsworth Leading Hunt for Funds in GOP Lieutenant Governor Race

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh outpaced her two rivals for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in campaign contributions during early May, according to financial reports candidates filed this week. Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission, raised $76,325 from May 1 to May 11. William Ainsworth reported contributions of $66,272, and Benjamin “Rusty” Glover III listed receipts of $18,393. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Republicans in Governor Race Eclipse Democrats in Spending

Gov. Kay Ivey has collected almost $100,000 this month for her campaign for governor, bringing her total to $3.78 million since the race for the June 5 Republican primary began last year. In a report filed Monday with the Secretary of State’s office, Ivey said she raised $99,303 during the period of May 1-11. She has spent $2.52 million, leaving a balance of $1.27 million in her account. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Democratic Candidates for Governor Debate Lottery, Infrastructure, Minimum Wage

Four Democratic candidates for Alabama governor gathered at the Birmingham Crossplex Monday night for a forum mostly focused on economic issues facing the state. Sue Bell Cobb, James Fields, Walt Maddox and Anthony White each discussed their stances on a potential lottery, infrastructure funding and minimum wage, among other issues. Christopher A. Countryman and Doug “New Blue” Smith, who also qualified to run for governor as Democrats, did not attend the forum. The forum, sponsored by the podcast “Not Necessarily Political with James Williams and Lonnie Malone” and moderated by former Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Smoot, didn’t showcase much disagreement among its four participants. Instead, the candidates spent most of their time highlighting their backgrounds and qualifications. If there were any disagreements, they stemmed largely from the finer points of the candidates’ platforms. Read more.

by Sam Prickett