Special elections for two seats in the Alabama State Legislature are on the ballot on November 17, 2020.
In District 26 of the state Senate, six candidates are competing in a special Democratic primary to advance to the special general election on March 2, 2021. The Republican nominee, William Green, was the only candidate to file for that party and automatically advanced. The filing deadline to run passed on September 15 for major-party candidates and will pass on November 17 for minor-party and independent candidates. The special election was called after David Burkette (D) resigned on September 1, 2020. Burkette served from 2018 to 2020.
In District 49 of the state House, Cheryl Patton (D) and Russell Bedsole (R) are competing in a special general election. The filing deadline to run passed on June 2 for major-party candidates and August 4 for minor-party and independent candidates. Patton ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, and Bedsole was nominated after defeating Mimi Penhale in a Republican primary runoff on September 1. The special election was called after April Weaver (R) resigned on May 12, 2020. Weaver served from 2010 to 2020.
As of November 2020, 59 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2020 in 27 states and two state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2021 in one state. Between 2011 and 2019, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.
Alabama has a Republican trifecta. A state government trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and both state legislative chambers.
Additional reading:
- Alabama state legislative special elections, 2021
- Alabama State Senate District 26
- Alabama House of Representatives District 49
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