Chad Chig Martin
Chad Chig Martin (Democratic Party) is running for election for Governor of Alabama. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.
Martin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Chad Chig Martin was born in Enterprise, Alabama. He graduated from Enterprise High School. Martin earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1991. His career experience includes owning Martin Mobile Home Park, Thunder Industrial Supply, and Honeysuckle Hemp Company.[1][2]
Elections
2026
See also: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Governor of Alabama
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Alabama on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Will Boyd (D) | |
 | Ja'Mel Brown (D)  | |
 | Chad Chig Martin (D) | |
 | Ken McFeeters (R) | |
 | Tommy Tuberville (R) | |
 | Ronald Burnette Jr. (Independent) (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
To view Martin's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Alabama
Incumbent Kay Ivey defeated Yolanda Flowers, James Blake, and Jared Budlong in the general election for Governor of Alabama on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kay Ivey (R) | 66.9 | 946,932 |
 | Yolanda Flowers (D) | 29.2 | 412,961 | |
 | James Blake (L) | 3.2 | 45,958 | |
 | Jared Budlong (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 9,432 | ||
| Total votes: 1,415,283 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Alabama
Yolanda Flowers defeated Malika Sanders-Fortier in the Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Alabama on June 21, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Yolanda Flowers | 55.1 | 32,529 |
 | Malika Sanders-Fortier | 44.9 | 26,469 | |
| Total votes: 58,998 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Yolanda Flowers | 33.9 | 56,991 |
| ✔ | | Malika Sanders-Fortier | 32.5 | 54,699 |
 | Patricia Jamieson | 11.7 | 19,691 | |
 | Arthur Kennedy | 9.3 | 15,630 | |
 | Doug Smith | 7.1 | 11,861 | |
| Chad Chig Martin | 5.6 | 9,352 | |
| Total votes: 168,224 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Alabama
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Alabama on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kay Ivey | 54.5 | 357,069 |
 | Lynda Blanchard | 19.2 | 126,202 | |
 | Tim James | 16.2 | 106,181 | |
 | Lew Burdette | 6.5 | 42,924 | |
 | Dean Odle | 1.8 | 11,767 | |
| Donald Jones | 0.6 | 3,821 | ||
| Dave Thomas | 0.4 | 2,886 | ||
 | Stacy George | 0.4 | 2,546 | |
 | Dean Young | 0.4 | 2,356 | |
| Total votes: 655,752 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jim Zeigler (R)
2018
- See also: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2018
General election
General election for Governor of Alabama
Incumbent Kay Ivey defeated Walt Maddox in the general election for Governor of Alabama on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kay Ivey (R) | 59.5 | 1,022,457 |
 | Walt Maddox (D) | 40.4 | 694,495 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 2,637 | ||
| Total votes: 1,719,589 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Walt Maddox | 54.6 | 154,850 |
 | Sue Bell Cobb | 29.0 | 82,236 | |
 | James C. Fields | 8.0 | 22,683 | |
| Anthony White | 3.4 | 9,719 | ||
| Doug Smith | 3.3 | 9,274 | |
 | Christopher Countryman | 1.7 | 4,943 | |
| Total votes: 283,705 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Alabama
Incumbent Kay Ivey defeated Tommy Battle, Scott Dawson, Bill Hightower, and Michael McAllister in the Republican primary for Governor of Alabama on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kay Ivey | 56.1 | 331,739 |
 | Tommy Battle | 24.9 | 147,207 | |
 | Scott Dawson | 13.5 | 79,546 | |
 | Bill Hightower | 5.0 | 29,367 | |
| Michael McAllister | 0.6 | 3,340 | ||
| Total votes: 591,199 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Slade Blackwell (R)
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Chad Chig Martin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Martin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a small businessman from Enterprise, Al. My belief system is to provide fair and equal representation for all citizens I will not govern through divisiveness My first priority will be to recruit high-tech industry with job placement throughout the state. I will be creating high paying jobs with insurance and retirement benefits My hope is to create four zoned entertainment areas throughout the state that offer both adult - and family oriented themed destinations I would like to bring lawmakers together and work to pass the lottery and decriminalize natural medicine in Alabama My hopes are to revamp the public education system and create institutions that are a source of community pride. I will focus on bringing in some of the top school administrators in the country focusing on a quality and unbiased education based on facts We also have to focus on school safety and have plans in place that give our children and educators a fighting chance in case of a horrific situation This campaign has one simple stance on social issues. All citizens will be treated equally and fairly under my administration. Your rights will always be upheld My administration will not be involved in your personal medical choices Alabama has all of the tools to be a great state, but we are lacking in leadership
As a 33-year working Alabama businessman, I feel like I can offer innovative and productive lea- Economic Development- top earning jobs with benefits. This is my strongest attribute growing industry
- Restoring community pride back into our schools and providing crucial leadership that is needed to move us from the bottom of the list
- Supporting decriminalization of all natural medical products
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Chad Chig Martin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Martin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- I believe in rebuilding the core of our state starting with business development and industry recruitment. I will personally oversee the recruitment of high tech industry to Alabama. I will advocate for jobs that have better than average pay with benefits to employees
- I want to serve as a mediator between a defunct government that seems unable to work together. I will use my 30 years of business experience to persuade elected leaders to work together to implement plans that help Alabama families have a better quality of life
- I will advocate for the legality of the lotto, natural medicine, casino gaming, improved mental health, Veteran programs, world class public education and affordable healthcare for Alabama citizens
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Martin's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Alabama Needs The Lottery Chad Chig Martin fully supports an educational lottery in Alabama. He believes that our teachers should not be responsible for basic classroom supplies. How can we expect our teachers to provide a world class education for our children if they don't have the basic supplies needed for their classrooms? Chig will work productively with both sides of the aisle to get the lottery passed through legislation once and for all. With 46 out of 50 states already running a lottery it is a necessity and not an option any longer. We are losing money every single minute of the day to neighboring states. This will be a main focus of his administration
Job Growth and Creation This will be a passion for Chig's administration. He wants to not only have a world class group of industry recruiters working for our state but Chig wants to be the lead on negotiating and closing deals to bring top companies to Alabama. Chig will take the assembling and retail jobs but his focus will be on high tech jobs that pay above average wages and come with benefits such as healthcare and 401k type retirement programs. He wants these jobs to be strategically located throughout the state so that hardship areas have opportunities. Chig will negotiate deals that are good for the companies and the state of Alabama
Healthcare and Disease Prevention Chig will start a medical task force made of eight regions across the state. A doctor and nurse that has a minimum of ten years in that region will be its representatives. The doctors and nurses will be doing this voluntarily with no pay as to keep special interest and politics out of healthcare decisions. These regions will meet via teleconference weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on the magnitude of illness in our state. They will share best practices and discuss the state of affairs from a hea;thcare standpoint in their respective regions. An elected leader of this group by their peers will then report directly to the Governor after each meeting. This group will meet a minimum of two times per year in a face to face with the Governor in Montgomery and advise the Governor from a practical medical standpoint. Chad Chig will govern based off of science based advice from Alabama doctors and nurses. Although Chig has had all Covid vaccines shots he does not believe the federal government has the right to tell Alabamians what to put in their body. He will lead by example and encourage Alabamians to get vaccinated though
Natural Medicine As the owner of Alabama's Original Hemp Dispensary and CBD store Honeysuckle Hemp Co in Dothan, Al. it should come as no surprise that he supports natural medicine. Chig would love to see full decriminalization of Cannabis in Alabama. He believes that alcohol is much more dangerous and addictive. This would not only help people suffering with a variety of illnesses it will help clear a congested court system and ease the burden of overcrowded prisons. Chig wants to allow citizens to grow six plants at one time without fear of being arrested. A small permit fee may apply. He wants the free market opened up for the sale of Cannabis in Alabama with a special Cannabis tax being applied at the register to citizens. This money will help our cash strapped state as well as help citizens stay safe by not having back alley deals to acquire natural medicine
Pollution Chig will put a stop to Alabama being America's corporate dumping ground. We have many residents that cannot even drink or shower with water from their tap due to chemical runoff from big corporations. These same areas have high rates of cancer. In many parts of the state fish cannot even be eaten from the waters. Chig cares about the environment and our people and no amount of special interest money can quiet him down. Alabama families deserve better
Womens Rights Chig personally believes in life but he also respects the rights of others to be in control of their own bodies. He believes that all decisions such as rape or incest resulting in pregnancy should be decided by the respective families and/or their medical team. The government should not have involvement in sensitive matters such as this. He also believes in encouraging prospective young mothers that do not want children to consider adopting the unborn child out to loving homes. We need to provide counseling to people that are having to make difficult decisions in their lives so that they do not feel on an island alone
Fair and Equal Treatment of Citizens First and foremost Chig believes that all Alabamians be granted a fair and equal chance on all opportunities including employment. He believes that the most qualified candidate should always get whatever opportunity is in front of them. He is firmly against bigotry and racism and will not tolerate any minority or woman not being given fair opportunities. Alabama has a black eye because of our 1950's style politics and this still hinders our state moving forward with quality-oriented employers. Chig will have people from all ethnicities and genders working within his administration. He wants every Alabamian to know that they have representation in Montgomery. Chig will always encourage all Alabamians to a "help thy neighbor" style attitude and move our state forward in a positive direction Animal Abuse and Neglect Alabama has major problems with animal abuse and neglect. We have problems with breeders not doing things the correct way. We have animals short tied with chains. We have cock and dog fighting. We have inadequate shelters in many counties. We have huge overpopulation problems. Chad Chig Martin will have no tolerance for people that violate the law and torment animals. This has been a category overlooked for many years due to special interest groups fighting against animal rights because they think that domestic animal rights will affect livestock operations. A Chad Chig Martin administration will give these defenseless animals a voice in Alabama Mental Health Mental healthcare is basically non-existent in our state. Plain and simple we need resources. My hope is that the revenue platforms in my agenda such as lotto, natural medicine and industry recruitment will help sustain a quality mental healthcare system in Alabama. We need beds for many patients in state hospitals so that they can receive the treatment needed. It is not right for a government to turn a blind eye to those that are incapable of helping themselves Voting Rights Our state has to make certain that all Alabamians have adequate access to voting locations. There is no if's, and's or but's about it. Every citizen regardless of socio-economic status or geographical location within the state has to have fair and adequate access to the polls. I will make sure that every Alabamian has local access to cast their vote[3] |
” |
| —Chad Chig Martin's campaign website (2022)[4] | ||
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Chig Martin participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 9, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Chig Martin's responses follow below.[5]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | I want to allow the citizens of Alabama to vote on lottery, casino gambling and medical marijuana I want to stop teachers from having to buy basic classroom supplies |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I want to always protect our citizen's constitutional rights and make sure that all citizens are always treated equally and fairlyCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Chig Martin answered the following:
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
| “ | We need elected officials that are not backed by special interest money and that make decisions based off of the people's needs without any outside influence present[3] | ” |
| “ | I am small business owner that started my company out of the bedroom of my house. Now thirteen years later this same company does business in over forty states. I understand the work ethic and commitment it takes to get a company or state going in the right direction[3] | ” |
| “ | Elected officials should always answer to the people and not parties or special interest groups. This should never be forgotten by an elected official[3] | ” |
| “ | I want to leave Alabama in better shape than I found her. I want to move our state up in the rankings. We currently average 49th in most categories. I would love to get us in the 20s.[3] | ” |
| “ | My first job was bagging groceries at the Winn Dixie grocery store in Enterprise, Al.[3] | ” |
| “ | Veterans Day[3] | ” |
| “ | My collectible fishing reels and hat collection[3] | ” |
| “ | Wont Back Down by Tom Petty[3] | ” |
| “ | It was a struggle losing my father a few months ago. My mother has had a rare disease and has been be ridden for almost seven years in a nursing home. I understand the struggles that a family can go through.[3] | ” |
| “ | It means that I have to set the example of work ethic, ingenuity and lead by example. I also would have to have thick skin and overlook many things while always putting the state's best interest in mind[3] | ” |
| “ | I think the most important thing that will need to take place is conquering the division of the two party system and convincing everyone that we have to for once work together to fix our broken state[3] | ” |
| “ | I would be responsible for convincing law makers that we are in this for the people and that now is the time to put all differences aside so that our state can prosper[3] | ” |
| “ | Alabama is a beautiful state with Gulf front footage to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. We have a hard working people with a great attitude. The only thing lacking is leadership[3] | ” |
| “ | Our states greatest challenge is generating revenue to help fund our school system, mental health department along with many other underfunded departments[3] | ” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 19, 2021
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Chad Chig Martin," accessed February 21, 2022
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Chad Chig Martin for Governor 2022, “On the Issues,” accessed February 24, 2022
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Chig Martin's responses," May 9, 2018
