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Alabama State Senate elections

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This page displays election information for the Alabama State Senate.

Elections

Alabama state senators serve four-year terms, with all seats up for election every four years. Alabama holds elections for its legislature every four years in even-numbered years.

2026

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Alabama State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2022

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Alabama State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was January 28, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Republicans maintained their 27-8 majority.

Alabama State Senate
Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
     Democratic Party 8 8
     Republican Party 27 27
Total 35 35

2018

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Alabama State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on June 5, 2018.[1] A primary runoff election took place on July 17, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[2] The candidate filing deadline was February 9, 2018.[3]

In the 2018 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Alabama State Senate from 26-8 to 27-8.

Alabama State Senate
Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
     Democratic Party 8 8
     Republican Party 26 27
     Independent 1 0
Total 35 35

2014

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Alabama State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on July 15, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014.

In the 2014 elections, Republicans maintained control of the Alabama State Senate. Republicans increased their majority from 23-11 with one independent to 26-8 with one independent.

Alabama State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 11 8
     Republican Party 23 26
     Independent 1 1
Total 35 35


Historical party control

Republicans won control of the Alabama State Senate in 2010. In 2022, they won a 27-8 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Alabama Senate following every general election from 1990 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Alabama State Senate election results: 1990-2022

Year '90 '94 '98 '02 '06 '10 '14 '18 '22
Democrats 28 23 23 25 23 12 8 8 8
Republicans 7 12 12 10 12 22 26 27 27

Before 1990

Democrats held majorities over the Whig Party for most of the early 1800s. After a brief period of Republican control following the Civil War, Democrats began winning large majorities. From 1902 to 1978, the Democratic advantage over Republicans never fell below 34-1. Republicans won three seats in the chamber in 1983 through special elections that were ordered after a federal court struck down the 1982 legislative map for violating the 1965 Voting Rights Act.[7][8]


Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Alabama was under the following types of trifecta control:

  • Democratic trifecta: 1993-1994, 1999-2002
  • Republican trifecta: 2011-2023
  • Divided government: 1992, 1995-1998, 2003-2010


Alabama Party Control: 1992-2025
Six years of Democratic trifectas  •  Fifteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R D D R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R


Elections

Elections by year

Alabama state senators serve four-year terms, with all seats up for election every four years. Alabama holds elections for its legislature every four years in even-numbered years.

2026

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Alabama State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2022

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Alabama State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was January 28, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Republicans maintained their 27-8 majority.

Alabama State Senate
Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
     Democratic Party 8 8
     Republican Party 27 27
Total 35 35

2018

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Alabama State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on June 5, 2018.[9] A primary runoff election took place on July 17, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[10] The candidate filing deadline was February 9, 2018.[11]

In the 2018 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Alabama State Senate from 26-8 to 27-8.

Alabama State Senate
Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
     Democratic Party 8 8
     Republican Party 26 27
     Independent 1 0
Total 35 35

2014

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Alabama State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on July 15, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014.

In the 2014 elections, Republicans maintained control of the Alabama State Senate. Republicans increased their majority from 23-11 with one independent to 26-8 with one independent.

Alabama State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 11 8
     Republican Party 23 26
     Independent 1 1
Total 35 35

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Alabama State Legislature, a special election must generally be conducted in order to fill the vacant seat. In the event that a vacancy occurs on or after October 1 in the year of a regular election, the seat will remain vacant until filled at the regular election. Otherwise, the governor must call for a special election if the vacancy happens before the next scheduled general election and the Legislature is in session.[15][16][17] The governor has all discretion in setting the date of the election along with the nominating deadlines.[17][18]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Alabama Code § 17-15-1

District map

See also: Alabama state legislative districts

The state of Alabama has 35 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.



Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Alabama

The Alabama State Legislature is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. Both chambers of the state legislature must approve a single redistricting plan. State legislative district lines must be approved in the first legislative session following the United States Census. There is no statutory deadline for congressional redistricting. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[19]

The Alabama Constitution requires that state legislative district lines be contiguous. In addition, the state constitution mandates that state Senate districts "follow county lines except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements."[19]

In 2000, according to All About Redistricting, the legislative committee charged with redistricting "adopted guidelines ... asking that [congressional] districts be contiguous, reasonably compact, follow county lines where possible, and maintain communities of interest to the extent feasible." In addition, the committee agreed to "attempt to avoid contests between incumbents." Similar guidelines apply to state legislative redistricting. At its discretion, the state legislature may change these guidelines, which are non-binding.[19]

2020

See also: Redistricting in Alabama after the 2020 census

On August 22, 2025, the district court struck down the state senate map as a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.[20]

Alabama enacted state legislative maps for the state Senate and House of Representatives on Nov. 4, 2021, after Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed the proposals into law.[21] Senators approved the Senate map on Nov. 1 with a 25-7 vote.[22] Representatives approved the Senate map on Nov. 3 with a 76-26 vote.[21] For the House proposal, representatives voted 68-35 in favor on Nov. 1 and senators followed on Nov. 3 with a 22-7 vote.[23] These maps took effect for Alabama's 2022 legislative elections.

District map before and after 2020 redistricting

Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Alabama State Senate Districts
until November 8, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Alabama State Senate Districts
starting November 9, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.


2010

See also: Redistricting in Alabama after the 2010 census

Alabama received its local census data on February 23, 2011. Because new state legislative maps were not needed until 2014, legislators began working on the new maps in 2012.[24] The Senate approved a House redistricting plan on May 24, 2012, and after the House approved the new plan it went to Gov. Robert Bentley (R) for his signature. On July 26, 2012, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange (R) filed a lawsuit seeking clearance from a federal court that the state's redistricting plan for the legislature did not violate the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The lawsuit, a required provision of the VRA, was heard by a three-judge District Court.[25] The Department of Justice approved of the new maps on October 5, 2012.

The following tables show the change in population in the five largest cities and counties in Alabama from 2000-2010.[26]

City 2000 Population 2010 Population Percent Change
Birmingham 242,820 212,237 -12.6%
Montgomery 201,568 205,764 2.1%
Mobile 198,915 195,111 -1.9%
Huntsville 158,216 180,105 13.8%
Tuscaloosa 77,906 90,468 16.1%
County 2000 Population 2010 Population Percent Change
Jefferson 662,047 658,466 -0.5%
Mobile 399,843 412,992 3.3%
Madison 276,700 334,811 21.0%
Montgomery 223,510 229,363 2.6%
Shelby 143,293 195,085 36.1%

Sessions

Legislation

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Alabama State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in Alabama by year

2024

See also: 2024 Alabama legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 6, 2024, and adjourn on May 9, 2024.


About legislative sessions in Alabama

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[37] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Section 48 of Article IV of the Alabama Constitution initially set the rules for the timing and length of sessions for the Alabama State Legislature, which the Senate is a part of. However, these rules have since been changed by state statute.

The Alabama Legislature convenes in regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February, except during the first year of the four-year term, when the session begins on the first Tuesday in March. In the last year of a four-year term, the legislative session begins on the second Tuesday in January. The length of the regular session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. There are usually two meeting or "legislative" days per week, with other days devoted to committee meetings.

The governor of Alabama can call, by proclamation, special sessions of the Alabama legislature. The governor must list the subjects on which legislation will be debated upon. These sessions are limited to 12 legislative days within a 30 calendar day span. In a regular session, bills may be enacted on any subject. In a special session, legislation must be enacted only on those subjects which the governor announces on their proclamation or "call." Anything not in the "call" requires a two-thirds vote of each house to be enacted.[38]

Bills can be prefiled before sessions, starting at the end of the previous session and ending at the beginning of the session for which they are being filed. The exception to this is for sessions beginning in March every four years.[39]

The Alabama Legislature has a constitutional session length limit of 105 calendar days.

Legislative roles and procedures

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

Veto overrides

Veto Override Graphic-Republican Party.png

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Alabama are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? A majority of members in both chambers.

A simple majority of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 53 of the 105 members in the Alabama House of Representatives and 18 of the 35 members in the Alabama State Senate. Alabama is one of six states that requires a majority vote from each of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

Authority: Article V, Section 125 of the Alabama Constitution.

"If the governor's message proposes amendment, which would remove his objections, the house to which it is sent may so amend the bill and send it with the governor's message to the other house, which may adopt, but can not amend, said amendment; and both houses concurring in the amendment, the bill shall again be sent to the governor and acted on by him as other bills. If the house to which the bill is returned refuses to make such amendment, it shall proceed to reconsider it; and if a majority of the whole number elected to that house shall vote for the passage of the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by a majority of the whole number elected to that house, it shall become a law."

Role in state budget

See also: Alabama state budget and finances
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The state operates on an annual budget cycle. Alabama's fiscal year runs from October 1 and ends September 30 of the following year. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[40]

  1. In September of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year, budget instructions are sent to state agencies.
  2. In November, agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.
  3. By the second legislative day of each regular session of the legislature, the governor must submit his or her proposed budget to the state legislature. These dates vary from session to session, occurring as early as January and as late as March.
  4. The legislature adopts a budget between February and May. It must pass with a simple majority.

The governor is required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, the legislature must pass a balanced budget.[40]

Alabama is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[40][41]

Committees

See also: List of committees in Alabama state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

  • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
  • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
  • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Alabama State Senate has 21 standing committees:


Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Alabama Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article XVIII of the Alabama Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Alabama

The Alabama Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Alabama requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A 60% vote is required from both chambers of the Alabama State Legislature during one legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 63 votes in the Alabama House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Alabama State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to the Alabama Constitution, a simple majority in each chamber during one legislative session is required to send a constitutional convention question to voters. A simple majority vote by the electorate is required to call the convention. Any proposed amendments approved by the convention require a simple majority vote of the electorate to be ratified.


See also

Elections Alabama State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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Alabama State Flag-Close Up.jpg
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External links

Footnotes

  1. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed March 23, 2017
  2. Alabama Secretary of State, "Upcoming Elections," accessed May 9, 2017
  3. Alabama Secretary of State, "FCPA Filing Calendar - 2018 Election Cycle," accessed May 29, 2017
  4. Follow the Money, "Alabama 2010 Senate Candidates," accessed May 15, 2014
  5. Follow the Money, "Alabama 2006 Senate Candidates," accessed April 9, 2013
  6. Follow the Money, "Alabama 2002 Senate Candidates," accessed April 9, 2013
  7. New York Times, "Dominant Democratic Party in Alabama takes liberal turn," October 25, 1983
  8. National Conference of State Legislatures, "1980s Redistricting Case Summaries," January 13, 2016
  9. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed March 23, 2017
  10. Alabama Secretary of State, "Upcoming Elections," accessed May 9, 2017
  11. Alabama Secretary of State, "FCPA Filing Calendar - 2018 Election Cycle," accessed May 29, 2017
  12. Follow the Money, "Alabama 2010 Senate Candidates," accessed May 15, 2014
  13. Follow the Money, "Alabama 2006 Senate Candidates," accessed April 9, 2013
  14. Follow the Money, "Alabama 2002 Senate Candidates," accessed April 9, 2013
  15. Ballotpedia, "Alabama Amendment 4, Legislative Vacancies Amendment (2018)," accessed March 28, 2025
  16. Justia US Law, "2023 Code of Alabama Title 17 - Elections. Chapter 15 - Special Elections. Section 17-15-1 - When and for What Offices Held." accessed February 26, 2025
  17. 17.0 17.1 Justia US Law, "2023 Code of Alabama Title 17 - Elections. Chapter 15 - Special Elections. Section 17-15-3 - Special Elections Ordered by Governor." accessed February 26, 2025
  18. Alabama Legislature, "Constitution of Alabama 2022," accessed February 26, 2025
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 All About Redistricting, "Alabama," accessed April 16, 2015
  20. Alabama Reflector, "Federal judge: Alabama Senate map violates Voting Rights Act," August 22, 2025
  21. 21.0 21.1 Montgomery Advertiser, "Gov. Kay Ivey signs off on Alabama congressional, legislative, SBOE maps for 2022," Nov. 4, 2021
  22. Alabama Political Reporter, "Alabama Senate passes Senate, State School Board districts," Nov. 1, 2021
  23. Alabama Political Report, "House district lines comfortably pass House over objections from both sides ," Nov. 1, 2021
  24. The Huntsville Times, "Huntsville first stop tonight by legislative committee for series of statewide hearings on redistricting," May 9, 2011
  25. Chicago Tribune, "Alabama seeks Voting Rights Act clearance of redistricting plan," July 27, 2012
  26. U.S. Census Bureau, "Alabama Custom tables 2010," accessed March 1, 2011
  27. Alabama Political Reporter, "Alabama House cancels March 25 committee meetings due to coronavirus," March 17, 2020
  28. News 5 WKRG, "Alabama lawmakers suspend 2020 legislative session, will return in late April," April 1, 2020
  29. MultiState, "2020 Legislative Session Dates," last updated April 27, 2020
  30. CBS 42, "Alabama Legislature reconvening Monday despite coronavirus outbreak," May 4, 2020
  31. al.com, "Gov. Robert Bentley: Divorce, ALGOV, special session and what we know now," accessed September 8, 2015
  32. AL.com, "What big issues will the Alabama Legislature solve in 2015? Let us know in the poll and comments," December 31, 2014
  33. blog.al.com, "Seven issues to watch in the 2014 legislative session," January 12, 2014
  34. AL.com, "Alabama Legislature 2013: 10 hot issues to watch in the upcoming session," February 2, 2013
  35. tuscaloosanews.com, "Alabama Legislature passes redistricting plans," accessed April 21, 2015
  36. ncsl.org, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed April 21, 2015
  37. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
  38. Alabama State Legislature, "Visitor's Guide to the Alabama Legislature," accessed May 15, 2014
  39. Alabama State Legislature, "The Rules of the Senate of Alabama," accessed May 15, 2014
  40. 40.0 40.1 40.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  41. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024

Footnotes