Strong turnout marks first 24 hours of Republican qualifying for 2026 elections

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The Alabama Republican Party announced Wednesday that 187 individuals qualified to run for office as Republicans within the first 24 hours of qualifying opening for the 2026 election cycle, signaling strong enthusiasm and engagement ahead of the primary elections.

Republican qualifying officially opened Monday morning and will remain open through Friday, January 23, at 5 p.m. Candidates seeking to run as Republicans may qualify online or in person at Alabama Republican Party headquarters in Hoover.

Alabama Republican Party Chair John Wahl said the early turnout reflects both the strength of the Party and the importance of the upcoming election cycle.

“The first 24 hours of qualifying have shown tremendous energy and enthusiasm,” Wahl said. “We are seeing a deep bench of conservatives who are ready to step forward, serve their communities and help shape Alabama’s future. That level of participation this early speaks volumes about the momentum heading into 2026.”

Wahl said qualifying represents a critical milestone as campaigns begin to take shape and voters get their first look at the field of candidates.

“This is the point where ideas turn into campaigns and leadership takes form,” Wahl said. “Republican voters will soon be able to see who is stepping up to run, and ultimately, they will decide who carries our Party’s banner into the general election.”

The 2026 Republican primary will include races for offices such as U.S. Senate and Congress, governor and other statewide constitutional offices, select judicial positions, and the entire Alabama Legislature. Republicans currently hold every statewide constitutional office and a supermajority in the Legislature.

“The 2026 election will be pivotal for the direction of our state,” Wahl said. “Alabama has become a national leader in conservative policy, and maintaining that leadership starts with strong candidates who are willing to step forward and run.”

Voters and members of the public can view a regularly updated list of candidates who have qualified to run in the 2026 Republican primary by visiting algop.org/qualified-2026-republican-candidates.

Alabama Republican Party Director of Legislative Affairs and Communications Jeannie Burniston said the Party is committed to transparency and keeping voters informed throughout the qualifying period.

“As candidates file their Declaration of Candidacy and submit their qualifying fee, we will continue updating this web page so Republican voters can easily see who has entered the race,” Burniston said. “Once qualifying closes, the page will also feature links to candidate websites and social media accounts, when provided, so voters can begin researching the candidates as they prepare to vote in the primary.”

Candidates may qualify online at algop.org/2026-candidate-qualifying or in person at Alabama Republican Party headquarters, located at 3505 Lorna Road in Hoover.

County-level offices — including county commissioners, sheriffs and coroners — do not qualify through the state party. Individuals seeking county offices must qualify with their local county Republican Party organization. Contact information for county GOP chairmen is available on the ALGOP website under “Find a Local GOP.”

The Republican primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, with the primary runoff election scheduled for Tuesday, June 16. The General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3.