Bill Hightower and Jerry Carl advanced to a Republican primary runoff for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Hightower received 37.8% of the vote and Carl received 37.3% with all precincts reporting. Chris Pringle received 20%. The runoff will be held on March 31, 2020. A candidate needed more than 50% of the vote to win the primary outright.
Hightower was a state senator for Alabama’s 35th district from 2013 to 2018. He emphasized bills he introduced or sponsored during that time including proposals to ban the sale of fetal body parts and to institute term limits for Alabama state senators and representatives. Carl described himself as an outsider. He focused on his experience running small businesses saying it made him a problem solver, and he compared himself to President Trump.
Incumbent Bradley Byrne (R) ran for U.S. Senate as opposed to seeking re-election to the House. This election is the sixth time within the last century that Alabama’s 1st Congressional District has been an open seat. Ratings outlets rate the general election for the district Safe or Solid Republican. All 435 House seats are up for election in 2020, and Democrats hold a 232-197 majority in the chamber.
