2026 Jefferson County, Alabama Commission election

2026 Jefferson County Commission election

←  2022 November 3, 2026 2030 →
All 5 seats up for election
Party Republican Democratic Current seats 3 2 Seats needed 1
Incumbents:      Democratic incumbent     Republican incumbent

The 2026 Jefferson County Commission election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect all five members of the Jefferson County Commission. Primary elections will take place on May 19.

Background

McClure et al. v. Jefferson County Commission

In 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the commission alleging racial gerrymandering. ^{[1] [2]} The case went to trial on January 13, 2025. ^{[3] [4]} On September 16, 2025, Madeline Haikala, a district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, ruled that the map violated the Fourteenth Amendment, ordering a new one to be drawn with an additional Black-majority district. ^[5]

District 1

Democratic primary

Potential

• Lashunda Scales, incumbent commissioner

District 2

Democratic primary

Potential

• Sheila Tyson, incumbent commissioner

District 3

Republican primary

Declared

• Jimmie Stephens, incumbent commissioner ^[6]

District 4

Republican primary

Potential

• Joe Knight, incumbent commissioner

District 5

Republican primary

Declared

• Mike Bolin, incumbent commissioner and former Supreme Court of Alabama associate justice ^[7]

References

1. Darrington, Patrick (10 April 2023). "Black voters, organizations sue Jefferson County for racial gerrymandering". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
2. "Case: McClure, et al. v. Jefferson County Commission". Legal Defense Fund. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
3. Phillips, Chance (23 December 2024). "Trial date set for Jefferson County racial gerrymandering case". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
4. Crenshaw Jr., Solomon (13 January 2025). "Judge Considering Testimony in Trial Over Jefferson County Commission Districts". BirminghamWatch. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
5. Everett, Grayson (September 17, 2025). "Obama-appointed judge orders Jefferson County to add additional black-majority district". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
6. Crenshaw Jr., Solomon (29 January 2025). "Stephens Seeking Another Term on the Jefferson County Commission". BirminghamWatch. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
7. Everett, Grayson (September 10, 2025). "Mike Bolin announces for re-election to Jefferson County Commission seat". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved 11 September 2025.