The filing deadline for candidates seeking office in 2026 passed in three states in January: Alabama (Jan. 23), Kentucky (Jan. 9), and West Virginia (Jan. 31). Kentucky and West Virginia do not hold state executive elections in mid-term years. In Alabama, nine state executive offices are up for election.
Of those offices, six current officeholders are not running for re-election:
- Governor Kay Ivey (R), who assumed office in 2017, is term-limited and not seeking another office.
- Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R), elected in 2018, is term-limited and not seeking another office.
- Attorney General Steve Marshall (R), appointed in 2017, is term-limited and running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.
- Secretary of State Wes Allen (R), elected in 2022, is running for lieutenant governor.
- Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate (R), elected in 2018, is running for lieutenant governor.
- Wayne Reynolds (R), who serves on District 8 of the Alabama State Board of Education, is not running for re-election.
The remaining four offices all have incumbents running for them. This includes elections for state treasurer, state auditor, three out of four seats on the board of education, and three seats on the state’s public utility commission.
A few notable candidates running for open seats in Alabama include:
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R), who is running for governor of Alabama
- Former Sen. Doug Jones (D), who is running for governor of Alabama
- Former Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks (D), who is running for the position again. He last held the position in 2011.
As a result of these retirements, the total of state executives retiring in 2026 is now three Democrats and nine Republicans. This includes officials from Illinois and Texas. This includes:
- Five members of a state board of education
- Two lieutenant governors
- Two attorney generals
- One governor
- One secretary of state
- One agriculture commissioner
- One comptroller
Of these retiring state executives, eight are retiring from public office, and five are running for another office.