The qualifying period for the 2026 election cycle officially closed on January 23, finalizing the list of candidates who will appear on local and state ballots this year and setting the stage for what is expected to be an active election season across Jackson County.
With the close of qualification, several races have already been decided due to a lack of opposition, while others are shaping up to bring competitive primary contests and at least one head-to-head general election match up.
A number of incumbents will remain in office without opposition after no challengers qualified for their positions. Those unopposed candidates include: House of Representatives District 22, Ritchie Whorton; House of Representatives District 23, Mike Kirkland; Jackson County Revenue Commissioner, Jeff Arnold; Jackson County Board of Education District 3, Chad Gorham; Jackson County Commission District 2, Paul Kennamer; Jackson County Circuit Judge, Place 2, Brent Benson; and Jackson County District Judge, Matt Mitchell.
These candidates will appear on the ballot but will not face challengers, effectively securing another term in office.
At the state level, voters will see a contested race in Alabama Senate District 8, where Republican incumbent Senator Steve Livingston will face Democratic nominee Katie Kramer in the November 3, 2026 General Election.
The District 8 race will be one of the higher-profile contests on the local ballot, with both candidates expected to begin campaigning across the district in the months ahead.
Several county offices drew multiple candidates and will be decided, at least initially, in the Primary Election on May 19, 2026.
Those races include a mix of incumbents seeking to hold office and challengers hoping to unseat them.
Jackson County Board of Education, District 4 incumbent Robbie King will face challenger Josh Fralick in a race that will determine who represents District 4 on the county school board.
Jackson County Commission Chairman incumbent Bill Nance will face Zach Talley, setting up a two-candidate primary contest for the county’s top elected administrative position.
Jackson County Commission, District 1 incumbent Chris Gulley will face two challengers, David Blizzard and John Braden Peacock, in a three-candidate race. With more than two candidates on the ballot, this contest could likely require a runoff.
Jackson County Coroner incumbent John David Jordan will be challenged by Tony Lee Watson in a race that will determine who oversees the county’s coroner’s office.
A four-candidate field has qualified for the Republican nomination for Jackson County Sheriff, including Craig Holcomb, Eric Woodall, Tony Baker and Bradley Talley. This race is expected to draw significant voter interest and is widely considered a strong contender for a runoff due to the crowded field.
If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, a runoff election will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2026. At least a two of the races are expected to advance to a runoff based on the number of candidates currently qualified in those races.
Runoff contests often lead to a notable decline in voter turnout, with research indicating that participation can plummet by as much as 63 percent compared to initial polls. This trend raises critical concerns about the representativeness of electoral outcomes.
Key factors contributing to this decline include voter fatigue, a lack of awareness regarding the secondary voting process, and the perception that the initial results were conclusive.
The runoff would typically determine which candidates move on to represent their parties in the general election, however, no democratic opposition qualified in local races.
With the candidate list now finalized, campaigns are expected to become more visible across Jackson County in the coming weeks, with candidates meeting voters, attending community events and outlining their priorities for office.
Voters will ultimately head to the polls three times during the 2026 election cycle: May 19 for the Primary Election, June 16 for any necessary runoffs and November 3 for the General Election.
Election officials remind voters to verify their registration status, polling locations and voting options ahead of each election date. To verify, please go to myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview.
