Alabama State Auditory Jim Zeigler squares off against State Rep. Wes Allen of Troy in a Republican runoff contest for Secretary of State, a position with duties that include a high-profile role of administering the state’s elections.
Zeigler, of Mobile, garnered the most votes during a four-person Republican primary contests on May 24, with 16,613 more votes than Allen. The percentage difference was a close one: Zeigler had 42,7% of the vote to Allen’s 40% percent.
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Zeigler has maintained his lead in some recent polling, though that’s been a close call as well. And plenty of undecided votes are up for grabs, according to the recent polling.
“I do think voter interest in and knowledge of these down ballot races is most likely fairly low,” said Regina Wagner, a political science professor at the University of Alabama.
She added, “Secretary of State will probably get the most attention among these (down ballot contests) simply because there has been extensive debate about the role of Secretary of States in election administration and security and because some Secretary of States have become high profile recently. But even with that, I expect it will be a challenge for the candidates in all of these races to get voters’ attention.”
Zeigler, 74, has had a flair of generating attention to himself during his tenure as Auditor. During the campaign, he has positioned himself as the “outsider” who remains unconnected to Montgomery-based special interests, and he has been critical of Allen for raising money from sources that he dubs as “Montgomery insiders.”
“I’ll be outspent 3-to-1,” Zeigler said. “But I think we can win anyway. There are more of us taxpayers than there are more of them, the Montgomery establishment. That’s how it’s boiling down.”
Allen, 46, has enjoyed a sizable campaign fundraising advantage since the primary and has raised over $671,000 including major contributions coming in recent weeks from political action committees tied to the state’s Realtors, a pro-business PAC, and Alabama Forestry. Zeigler, by contrast has raised $148,000.
Allen is a former Pike County probate judge who was elected to the State Legislature in 2018. He said the biggest difference between himself and Zeigler comes down to experience in running elections.
Allen oversaw 18 elections in Pike County an did so “without a single error,” he said.
“My opponent has no elections administration experience,” Allen said. “This is not a position we need someone to learn on the job.”
Allen also said that Zeigler has never cast a vote on elections policy during his lengthy political career.
Allen is touting his sponsorship of legislation banning curbside voting in Alabama, approved by the Legislature in 2021. Allen also sponsored HB194, which was adopted this past spring and bans private funding on election supplies like ballots and machines, and prohibits private entities from paying election administration officials or their staffs.
“I believe that my experience makes me the most qualified candidate to vote for on Tuesday,” Allen said.
Zeigler said his record as Auditor should not be dismissed. He elevated the office’s profile, and took on colorful pursuits such as filing ethics complaints against former Gov. Robert Bentley. He also touted his role as a governmental watchdog in his efforts to block a public-private partnership arrangement for the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway toll project, and for the electoral defeat of Amendment One that would have given the governor the ability to appoint members to the Alabama State Board of Education.
Zeigler has been a fixture on Alabama ballots for decades. He first won a seat to the Public Service Commission, at age 24, in 1974. But over the years, he garnered a reputation for being “Mr. 49 percent” for his close losses in a variety of contests.
He flirted with running for governor until the final days of filing in January, and then switched over to the Secretary of State contest. Zeigler is term-limited from running for Auditor again.
The runoff winner will face Democratic challenger Pamela Laffitte of Mobile and Libertarian candidate Jason “Matt” Shelby during the November general election.
In other statewide contests of note:
Auditor
State Rep. Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals faces off against Stan Cooke of Kimberly for the Auditor’s position.
Sorrell, 38, has been a state representative since 2018, while Cooke is a pastor at the Kimberly Church of God and a district bishop.
Sorrell finished the May 24 primary with 211,773 votes to Cooke’s 175,970, a 35,803 difference. Third-place finisher Rusty Glover received 148,872 votes.
Sorrell and Cooke have both vowed to get the auditing functions of state government restored to the Auditor’s Office, and away from the Examiner of Public Accounts. The suggestion was criticized by Glover, who believes the Legislature is more likely to get rid of the Auditor’s office than to minimize the Examiner’s duties.
No Democrat is seeking the office, but Leigh Lachine will be on the November ballot as the Libertarian candidate for the office.
Public Service Commission
Two Public Service Commission incumbents are battling for re-election.
In PSC Place 2, incumbent Commissioner Chris “Chip” Beeker squares off against Robert McCollum of Dadeville. Beeker was the top vote-getting on during a three-member primary on May 24 with 207,753 votes or 43.2%, with McCollum finishing with 172,562 votes or 35.8%.
In PSC Place 1, incumbent Commissioner Jeremy Oden faces Brett Woodall of Tuscumbia. Oden finished May 24 with the most votes in a four-person primary contest. Oden had 166,660 votes or 34.3%, for a slight advantage over Woodall who finished second with 150,227 votes or 31%.
No Democrat is seeking either PSC seats. Libertarian candidates Laura Lane (PSC Place 2) and Ron Bishop (PSC Place 1) await the GOP winners in November.
