2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election

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2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Will Ainsworth
Republican



The 2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next Lieutenant Governor of Alabama. The primary election will be held on May 19, 2026. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third full consecutive term.

Contents

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Wes Allen

State legislators

Fundraising

Republican campaign finance reports as of August 31, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Wes Allen (R)$510,825$39,775$480,192
Patrick Bishop (R)$4,152$1,515$1,100
Dean Odle (R)$5,611$7,872$4,701
Rick Pate (R)$323,388$32,723$390,664
Nicole Wadsworth (R)$78,974$21,587$160,167
Source: Alabama Secretary of State [14]

Campaign

Nicole Wadsworth's campaign was the first to attract media attention following a request that was sent out to news organizations, in which her campaign requested that she be called "Dr. Nicole Wadsworth". The AP Stylebook, which many organizations use to dictate how to write news articles, says that only medical doctors should be referred to as such. [15] [16] The next week, her campaign announced that they had made an error listing her credentials and that she had not received as PhD from the University of Alabama, but instead from the North Central Theological Seminary. [17] [18] That school had not been accredited by any organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. [19] Her entire campaign staff resigned following the report. [20] Later in June, her lawyers requested that 1819 News take down all stories relating to her academic credentials. [21]

Wes Allen has campaigned on his record as Secretary of State, especially his efforts to purge voter rolls. [22]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Wes
Allen		Rick
Pate		Undecided
The Alabama Poll [23] August 24–26, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%28%12%61%

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. ↑ Cason, Mike (February 18, 2025). "Alabama's top election official running for lieutenant governor in 2026". The Birmingham News . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  2. ↑ Moseley, Brandon. "Patrick Bishop announces run for Lieutenant Governor". The Alabama Gazette. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ Vincent, JJ (May 27, 2025). "Retired Army Major announces bid for Lieutenant Governor". FOX 54. Retrieved June 23, 2025. Others in the race include: ... Community Advocate George Childress
  4. ↑ "Former gubernatorial candidate announces bid for 2026 Alabama lieutenant governor's race". WAKA (TV) . January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Caleb (May 29, 2025). "Ag commissioner Rick Pate running for lieutenant governor in 2026". 1819 News. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  6. ↑ Sack, Wendy (May 22, 2025). "Dr. Nicole Wadsworth kicks off Alabama lieutenant governor campaign". The Cullman Tribune. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Caleb (May 30, 2025). "ALGOP chair John Wahl 'strongly considering' running for lieutenant…". 1819 News . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ Monger, Craig (June 3, 2025). "John Merrill still undecided on lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate run – 'Things are becoming a little bit clearer every day'". 1819 News . Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Musical Chairs in Alabama Politics". Montgomery Independent. August 21, 2024.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Caleb (May 27, 2025). "Cavanaugh resigns as president of Public Service Commission to join Trump's USDA". 1819 News . Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  11. ↑ Baker, Trent. "'The nation needs strong conservative leadership': Steve Marshall announces U.S. Senate bid". 1819 News. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  12. ↑ Willis, Alexander (June 12, 2025). "Wes Allen secures majority support from Alabama Republican House reps in bid for Lt. Gov". Alabama Daily News. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Associated General Contractors PAC endorses Rick Pate for lieutenant governor". Alabama Political Reporter. June 10, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Political Race Search". Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  15. ↑ Cason, Mike (June 4, 2025). "Candidate for one of Alabama's top offices asks to be called doctor". AL.com. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ Monger, Craig. "Call her 'doctor': Lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Nicole Wadsworth's campaign demands use of academic 'Dr.' title in all reporting". 1819 News. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ Gann, Heather (June 11, 2025). "Political candidate who wanted to be called doctor admits she has no PhD from University of Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  18. ↑ Everett, Grayson (June 11, 2025). "'Dr.' Nicole Wadsworth falsely claimed University of Alabama PhD, campaign admits". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ Phillips, Chance (June 12, 2025). "Wadsworth's campaign grossly misrepresented her academic credentials". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ Everett, Grayson (June 12, 2025). "Nicole Wadsworth's entire campaign staff quits, citing 'persistent misinformation'". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ Monger, Craig. "Lawyers for lieutenant governor hopeful Nicole Wadsworth request story calling candidate's academic credentials into question 'be removed' from 1819 News". 1819 News. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  22. ↑ Sharp, John (July 8, 2025). "Running for Lt. Governor, Wes Allen leans hard on Secretary of State record". AL.com. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  23. ↑ Chitwood, Bill (September 15, 2025). "Trump Holds Commanding Lead in First Alabama Poll; Marshall Tops Early Senate Field". AL Politics. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
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