Top 5 Alabama House Races 2026: Candidate-Field Depth and FEC Filings

FEC Filings Reveal Deepest Candidate Fields in AL-02 and AL-05

Public records filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as of early 2026 show that Alabama's 2nd and 5th congressional districts have attracted the largest candidate fields. In AL-02, five candidates have filed principal campaign committees: three Democrats and two Republicans. The Democratic field includes former state representative John Knight (filed Jan. 15, 2026), attorney Shomari Figures (filed Jan. 22, 2026), and educator Phyllis Harvey-Hall (filed Feb. 3, 2026). On the Republican side, incumbent Rep. Barry Moore (filed Jan. 10, 2026) faces a primary challenge from state senator David Sessions (filed Jan. 28, 2026). In AL-05, four candidates have filed: two Democrats and two Republicans. Democratic candidates include retired Army colonel Gary Palmer (filed Jan. 17, 2026) and small-business owner Lisa Hand (filed Jan. 30, 2026). Republicans are incumbent Rep. Dale Strong (filed Jan. 12, 2026) and Huntsville city council member John Meredith (filed Feb. 1, 2026). These two districts stand out for their multicandidate primaries on both sides. The remaining three districts in the top five — AL-01, AL-06, and AL-07 — each have three candidates filed. AL-01 has two Republicans and one Democrat; AL-06 has two Republicans and one Democrat; AL-07 has three Democrats and no Republican challenger as of March 1, 2026.

AL-02: A Competitive Rematch and a Crowded Democratic Primary

The 2nd District, covering parts of Montgomery and the Black Belt, was the site of the closest House race in Alabama in 2024. Incumbent Republican Barry Moore won by 2.1 points. This cycle, the Democratic primary is a three-way contest. John Knight, a former state representative who served 14 years in the Alabama House, filed his statement of candidacy on Jan. 15, 2026. Shomari Figures, an attorney and brother of state senator Vivian Figures, filed on Jan. 22. Phyllis Harvey-Hall, an educator and former Montgomery County school board member, filed on Feb. 3. All three have active FEC committees. Knight reported $120,000 in cash on hand as of Feb. 28, 2026; Figures reported $95,000; Harvey-Hall reported $22,000. On the Republican side, Moore's primary challenger, state senator David Sessions, filed on Jan. 28 and reported $180,000 in cash on hand. Moore reported $340,000. The general election could be one of the most expensive in the state. Researchers would examine each candidate's donor lists for out-of-state contributions. Knight's top donors include the Alabama Education Association PAC ($5,000) and the Alabama Farmers Federation PAC ($2,500). Figures has received contributions from the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association PAC ($3,000) and individual attorneys. Harvey-Hall's donors are primarily local educators and small-dollar contributions. Sessions' donors include the Alabama Forestry Association PAC ($5,000) and several real estate developers. Moore's donors include the National Republican Congressional Committee ($10,000) and the House Freedom Fund ($5,000).

AL-05: Incumbent Dale Strong Faces a Primary Challenge

The 5th District, anchored by Huntsville and Madison County, has a four-candidate field. Incumbent Republican Dale Strong, first elected in 2022, filed his re-election committee on Jan. 12, 2026. He reported $520,000 in cash on hand. His primary opponent, Huntsville city council member John Meredith, filed on Feb. 1 and reported $210,000. Meredith's campaign website emphasizes "conservative principles" and "fiscal responsibility." Strong's voting record includes support for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and the Secure the Border Act of 2023. On the Democratic side, retired Army colonel Gary Palmer (no relation to Rep. Gary Palmer of AL-06) filed on Jan. 17 and reported $45,000. Small-business owner Lisa Hand filed on Jan. 30 and reported $18,000. Palmer's donor list includes several veterans' PACs and individual donors from the defense industry. Hand's donors are primarily local small-business owners. The general election in this district is rated Safe Republican by most analysts, but the primary could be competitive. Researchers would examine Meredith's donor overlap with state-level anti-establishment groups and Strong's support from the national party. Strong's FEC filings show contributions from the American Bankers Association PAC ($5,000) and the National Association of Home Builders PAC ($3,000). Meredith's donors include the Alabama Republican Assembly PAC ($2,000) and several county-level GOP activists.

AL-01: Incumbent Jerry Carl Faces a Primary and a General Election

The 1st District, covering Mobile and Baldwin counties, has three candidates. Incumbent Republican Jerry Carl filed his re-election committee on Jan. 14, 2026, and reported $410,000 in cash on hand. His primary opponent, state representative Chip Brown, filed on Jan. 25 and reported $130,000. The sole Democrat, attorney James Averhart, filed on Feb. 2 and reported $28,000. Carl has represented the district since 2021. His voting record includes support for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the CHIPS and Science Act. Brown's campaign emphasizes "America First" policies and has criticized Carl's vote for the Inflation Reduction Act. Averhart, who ran in 2022 and lost by 12 points, is running again. His donor list includes the Alabama Democratic Party ($5,000) and several labor unions. The primary between Carl and Brown could be the main event. Researchers would examine Carl's voting record for potential primary attack lines. Brown's donors include the Alabama Policy Institute PAC ($2,500) and several conservative activists. Carl's donors include the National Rifle Association PAC ($5,000) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce PAC ($3,000).

AL-06: A Safe Republican Seat with a Primary Challenge

The 6th District, covering Birmingham's suburbs and parts of Jefferson County, has three candidates. Incumbent Republican Gary Palmer filed his re-election committee on Jan. 18, 2026, and reported $380,000 in cash on hand. His primary opponent, businesswoman and former congressional staffer Elizabeth Beaty, filed on Jan. 29 and reported $95,000. The sole Democrat, attorney and former state representative Patricia Todd, filed on Feb. 4 and reported $15,000. Palmer has held the seat since 2015. His voting record includes support for the American Health Care Act of 2017 and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Beaty's campaign focuses on term limits and ethics reform. Todd is a former state representative who served from 2006 to 2018 and is the first openly gay member of the Alabama Legislature. Her donor list includes the Human Rights Campaign PAC ($3,000) and the Alabama Stonewall Democrats. The general election is not considered competitive, but the primary could draw attention. Researchers would examine Beaty's donor sources for connections to anti-incumbent groups. Palmer's donors include the American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC ($5,000) and the National Right to Life PAC ($3,000).

AL-07: A Crowded Democratic Primary in a Safe Democratic Seat

The 7th District, covering the Black Belt and parts of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, has three Democratic candidates and no Republican challenger as of March 1, 2026. Incumbent Democrat Terri Sewell filed her re-election committee on Jan. 11, 2026, and reported $450,000 in cash on hand. Her primary opponents are former Selma city council member Angela Benjamin, filed on Jan. 26 with $25,000 in cash on hand, and attorney and civil rights activist Hezekiah Jackson, filed on Feb. 5 with $8,000. Sewell has held the seat since 2011. Her voting record includes support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Benjamin's campaign focuses on economic development and education. Jackson's campaign emphasizes criminal justice reform. The primary is likely to be decided by name recognition and fundraising. Researchers would examine Sewell's donor list for potential vulnerabilities. Her top donors include the EMILY's List PAC ($10,000) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees PAC ($5,000). Benjamin's donors include local business owners and the Selma Education Association. Jackson's donors are primarily individual small-dollar contributors. The absence of a Republican candidate means the primary winner will likely win the general election.

Comparative Analysis: What Researchers Would Examine

Across these five districts, the candidate-field depth signals competitive primaries and, in AL-02, a potentially competitive general election. Researchers would compare FEC filings for cash-on-hand, donor concentration, and out-of-state vs. in-state contributions. For example, in AL-02, Moore's $340,000 cash on hand is nearly double Sessions' $180,000, but Sessions' donor list includes several large in-state contributions from timber and agriculture interests. In AL-05, Strong's $520,000 dwarfs Meredith's $210,000, but Meredith's donors include county-level activists who could mobilize volunteers. In AL-01, Carl's $410,000 vs. Brown's $130,000 shows a significant financial advantage, but Brown's donors include anti-establishment PACs that could fund independent expenditures. In AL-06, Palmer's $380,000 vs. Beaty's $95,000 is a similar gap. In AL-07, Sewell's $450,000 is far ahead of Benjamin's $25,000 and Jackson's $8,000. Researchers would also examine each candidate's voting record (for incumbents) or public statements (for challengers) for potential attack lines. For instance, Moore's vote for the Fiscal Responsibility Act could be used by Sessions to argue fiscal conservatism. Strong's support for the CHIPS Act could be framed as government overreach by Meredith. Carl's vote for the Inflation Reduction Act is already a primary attack line. Palmer's long tenure could be targeted by Beaty's term-limit message. Sewell's support for voting rights legislation could be a rallying point in the primary.

Methodology and Source Posture

This analysis is based on public records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as of March 1, 2026. Candidate filings accessed via the FEC's campaign finance database include statements of candidacy, principal campaign committee designations, and quarterly reports. Cash-on-hand figures are from the most recent quarterly report (Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, as filed). Donor lists are from itemized contributions over $200. All vote records are from the official House website. This article does not allege any wrongdoing; it presents source-backed profile signals that campaigns and researchers would examine. The candidate-field depth ranking is based on the number of candidates who have filed principal campaign committees. This is a snapshot; additional candidates may file before the qualifying deadline. For the most current information, campaigns should monitor the FEC and Alabama Secretary of State filings.

Why This Matters for Campaigns

For Republican and Democratic campaigns, understanding the full candidate field — including primary challengers and their donor networks — is critical for message development and resource allocation. In districts with deep fields, the primary may be as resource-intensive as the general election. Campaigns would examine opponent donor lists to anticipate attack ads. For example, in AL-02, if Moore faces Sessions in the primary, Sessions may run ads highlighting Moore's votes on spending bills. In AL-05, if Strong faces Meredith, Meredith may attack Strong's support for federal funding of local projects. In AL-01, Brown may attack Carl's vote for the Inflation Reduction Act. In AL-06, Beaty may attack Palmer's tenure. In AL-07, Benjamin or Jackson may attack Sewell's alignment with national Democratic donors. This intelligence allows campaigns to prepare rebuttals and shape their own narratives before the opposition's message lands.