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Alabama State Senate elections, 2022
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2026 →
← 2018
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| 2022 Alabama Senate Elections | |
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| Primary | May 24, 2022 |
| Primary runoff | June 21, 2022 |
| General | November 8, 2022 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2018・2014・2010 |
| 2022 Elections | |
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| Choose a chamber below: | |
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.
All 35 seats were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Republican majority remained 27-8.
The Alabama State Senate was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.
Party control
| Alabama State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 8 | 8 | |
| Republican Party | 27 | 27 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | |
Candidates
General
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary runoff
Alabama State Senate Primary 2022 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 12 |
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| District 23 |
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Primary
Alabama State Senate Primary 2022 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 1 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 2 |
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| District 3 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 4 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 5 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 6 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 7 |
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| District 8 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 9 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 10 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 11 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 12 |
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| District 13 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 14 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 15 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 16 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 17 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 18 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 19 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 20 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 21 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 22 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 23 |
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| District 24 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 25 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 26 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 27 |
Tom Whatley (i) |
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| District 28 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 29 |
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| District 30 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 31 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 32 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 33 |
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| District 34 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 35 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Click a link below to read survey responses from candidates in that district:
- District 2
- District 3
- District 4
- District 5
- District 6
- District 7
- District 8
- District 9
- District 10
- District 11
- District 12
- District 13
- District 14
- District 15
- District 16
- District 17
- District 18
- District 19
- District 20
- District 21
- District 22
- District 23
- District 24
- District 25
- District 26
- District 27
- District 28
- District 29
- District 30
- District 31
- District 32
- District 33
- District 34
- District 35
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in general elections
No incumbents lost in general elections.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
One incumbent lost in the June 21 primaries.
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Whatley |  Republican |
Senate District 27 |
Retiring incumbents
Five incumbents were not on the ballot in 2022.[1] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim McClendon | Republican |
Senate District 11 | Retired |
| Del Marsh | Republican |
Senate District 12 | Retired |
| Priscilla Dunn |  Democratic |
Senate District 19 | Retired |
| Malika Sanders-Fortier | Democratic |
Senate District 23 | Other office |
| Jimmy Holley | Republican |
Senate District 31 | Retired |
Primary election competitiveness
This section contains data on state legislative primary election competitiveness in Alabama. These totals include data from all regularly-scheduled House and Senate elections. For more information about Ballotpedia's competitiveness analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in Alabama in 2022. Information below was calculated on Feb. 8, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.
In 2022, 271 candidates filed to run for Alabama's 140 state legislative districts: 88 Democrats, 182 Republicans, and one Libertarian. This equals 1.9 candidates per district, down from 2.2 in 2018 and 2.0 in 2014.
At the time of the candidate filing deadline, of the 140 districts holding elections, either a Democrat or Republican was likely to win 105 (75.0%) because no candidates from the opposing party filed. Democrats were likely to win 27 districts—six in the Senate and 21 in the House—because no Republicans filed to run for them. Republicans were likely to win 78 districts—21 in the Senate and 57 in the House. This represents the lowest rate of major party competition in the state since at least 2014.
Twenty-five of the 140 districts holding elections (17.9%) were left open, meaning no incumbent filed to run in them. This was a decrease from the 37 open districts in 2018 but more than the 20 in 2014. Sixty-three of the 280 possible major party primaries (22.5%) were contested following candidate filings, meaning more than one candidate filed for a party’s nomination in a given district. This was the lowest number of contested primaries since at least 2014, which had 64 contested primary elections.
Open seats
The table below shows the number and percentage of open seats in the Alabama State Senate from 2010 to 2022.[2]
| Open seats in Alabama State Senate elections: 2010 - 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for reelection |
| 2022 | 35 | 5 (14%) | 30 (86%) |
| 2018 | 35 | 10 (29%) | 25 (71%) |
| 2014 | 35 | 5 (14%) | 30 (86%) |
| 2010 | 35 | 8 (23%) | 27 (77%) |
News and conflicts in this primary
This race was featured in The Heart of the Primaries, a newsletter capturing stories related to conflicts within each major party. Click here to read more about conflict in this and other 2022 state legislative primaries. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.
- Heart of the Primaries 2022, Republicans-Issue 29 (June 30, 2022)
- Heart of the Primaries 2022, Republicans-Issue 11 (February 24, 2022)
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 17 of the Code of Alabama
There are four methods by which a candidate can gain ballot access: with an officially recognized political party, with a minor party seeking political party status, as an independent, or as a write-in. Every candidate for state-level office must submit a statement of economic interests when he or she first files for office. Within five days of filing this document, every candidate must organize a campaign finance committee and file an appointment of principal campaign committee form with the Alabama Secretary of State. Only the candidates of officially recognized political parties can participate in the state primary election. All other candidates run in the general election.[3][4][5][6]
Political party candidates
All candidates seeking a party nomination for a non-county office (such as a federal, state, or state legislative office) must file a declaration of candidacy with the state party chair by 5:00 p.m. 116 days before the date of the primary. The state party chair must then certify the names of primary election candidates with the Alabama Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. 82 days before the primary election. Candidates seeking a party nomination for a county office must file a declaration with the county party chair no later than 5:00 p.m. 116 days before the primary.[7][8][9]
A party candidate must pay a party filing fee. These fees are established by the parties.[10]
Minor party candidates
A minor party candidate is nominated at party meetings or conventions. Such meetings must be held before the primary election. The minor party must file certificates of nomination for each nominated candidate seeking a state or federal office with the Alabama Secretary of State. For county candidates, the certificate of nomination must be filed with the local Judge of Probate. These certificates are due on the day of the primary election.[11][12][13]
Independent candidates
An independent candidate must file a petition with the Alabama Secretary of State. The petition must contain the signatures of registered voters equal to at least 3 percent of the total vote cast for governor in the applicable electoral district in the last general election.[14][13]
This petition must be filed by 5 p.m. on the day of the primary election. A candidate cannot run as an independent if he or she ran in the primary election in the same year.[13][14]
Write-in candidates
There are no filing requirements for write-in candidates in Alabama.[15]
Qualifications
Under Article IV, Section 47, of the Alabama Constitution, senators must be at least 25 years of age at the time of their election, must be citizens and residents of the State of Alabama for at least 3 years and residents of their district at least one year prior to election.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[16] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $59,674.08/year | No per diem is paid to legislators whose permanent residence is less than six hours away. Legislators who are 6-12 hrs from their permanent residence receive $12.75/day. Legislators who are over 12 hours away and have no overnight stay receive $34/day. |
When sworn in
Alabama legislators assume office the day following their election.[17]
Alabama political history
Trifectas
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.
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 |
Presidential politics in Alabama
2020
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
Presidential election in Alabama, 2020
Candidate/Running mate |
% |
Popular votes |
Electoral votes |
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| ✔ |
 
| Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) |
62.0
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1,441,170 | 9 |
 
| Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D) |
36.6
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849,624 | 0 | |
 
| Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (Independent) |
1.1
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25,176 | 0 | |
| Other write-in votes |
0.3
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7,312 | 0 | ||
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Total votes: 2,323,282 |
2016
- See also: Presidential election, 2016
| U.S. presidential election, Alabama, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 34.4% | 729,547 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
62.1% | 1,318,255 | 9 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.1% | 44,467 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.4% | 9,391 | 0 | |
| Other | Write-in votes | 1% | 21,712 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,123,372 | 9 | |||
| Election results via: Alabama Secretary of State | |||||
Alabama presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 16 Democratic wins
- 14 Republican wins
- 2 other wins
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960[18] | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | SR[19] | D | D | D | R | AI[20] | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Alabama
Redistricting following 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.[21]
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.[22] Senators approved the Senate map on Nov. 1 with a 25-7 vote.[23] Representatives approved the Senate map on Nov. 3 with a 76-26 vote.[22] For the House proposal, representatives voted 68-35 in favor on Nov. 1 and senators followed on Nov. 3 with a 22-7 vote.[24] These maps took effect for Alabama's 2022 legislative elections.
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.
See also
| Alabama | State Legislative Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines a seat as open if the incumbent did not file to run for re-election or filed but withdrew and did not appear on any ballot for his or her seat. If the incumbent withdrew from or did not participate in the primary but later chose to seek re-election to his or her seat as a third party or independent candidate, the seat would not be counted as open. If the incumbent retired or ran for a different seat in the same chamber, his or her original seat would be counted as open unless another incumbent from the same chamber filed to run for that seat, in which case it would not be counted as open due to the presence of an incumbent.
- ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-1," accessed September 18, 2024
- ↑ 2023 Candidate Filing Guide, "Chapter 1, Getting Started," accessed September 18, 2024
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Title 36, Chapter 25, Section 15," accessed September 18, 2024
- ↑ Code of Alabama 1975, "Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 4," accessed September 18, 2024
- ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-5," accessed September 19, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures," May 5, 2023
- ↑ 2023 Code of Alabama, "Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 2," accessed January 24, 2025
- ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-103," accessed September 19, 2024
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "2024 Minor Party/Third Party Ballot Access," accessed September 10, 2024
- ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-13-50," accessed September 19, 2024
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Alabama Code, "Section 17-9-3," accessed September 19, 2024
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Alabama Secretary of State, "2024 Independent Candidate Ballot Access," accessed September 19, 2024
- ↑ Alabama Code, "Section 17-6-28," accessed September 19, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Justia, "Alabama Constitution, Article IV, Section 46," accessed November 22, 2016
- ↑ Although he was not on the ballot, Harry F. Byrd (D) won six unpledged electoral votes in Alabama's 1960 election against Richard Nixon (R) and Democratic Party nominee John F. Kennedy. Kennedy won Alabama's popular vote and received five electoral votes.
- ↑ States' Rights Democratic Party
- ↑ American Independent Party
- ↑ Alabama Reflector, "Federal judge: Alabama Senate map violates Voting Rights Act," August 22, 2025
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Montgomery Advertiser, "Gov. Kay Ivey signs off on Alabama congressional, legislative, SBOE maps for 2022," Nov. 4, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Political Reporter, "Alabama Senate passes Senate, State School Board districts," Nov. 1, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Political Report, "House district lines comfortably pass House over objections from both sides ," Nov. 1, 2021
