Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Alabama House of Representatives District 88 — Jerry Starns (R) and Tyler May (L) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Alabama’s state legislature. Alabama is one of 23 states with a Republican party trifecta.
Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Starns:
“I want to work with the leadership in District 88, not just the county commissioners, city councils and mayors but the Chambers, the Economic Development teams and, of course, the citizens help Elmore and Autauga Counties reach their full potential.”
“Fight for Law Enforcement and our Military.”
“Fight for Education.”
May:
“Taxation is Theft”
“All Gun Laws are Unconstitutional”
“You know how to live your life best, I’m running to allow you to do so.”
Click on candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
On November 8, 2022, voters in five states—Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont—will decide on amending their state constitutions to repeal language regarding the use of slavery or indentured servitude as punishment for a crime, or, in the case of Vermont, for the payments of debts, damages, fines, costs.
The ballot questions are below:
Alabama Recompiled Constitution Ratification Question: Ratifies an updated and recompiled state constitution, which was adopted by the legislature following voter approval of Amendment 4 in 2020. The proposed constitution repeals language that provides for involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment.
Louisiana Amendment 7: Removes language in the state constitution that provides for slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime and instead says that slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited, except that this cannot be applied to otherwise lawful administration of criminal justice.
Oregon Measure 112: Repeals language providing for slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.
Tennessee Amendment 3: Repeals language providing for slavery or involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment.
Vermont Proposal 2: Repeals language stating that persons could be held as servants, slaves, or apprentices with the person’s consent or “for the payments of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like” and adds language saying that “slavery and indentured servitude in any form are prohibited.”
The Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution—which was ratified on December 6, 1865—prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as a punishment for those convicted of crimes. The text of the Thirteenth Amendment reads:
1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
As of 2022, 10 state constitutions included provisions prohibiting enslavement and involuntary servitude but with an exception for criminal punishments, while nine states had constitutions that included provisions permitting involuntary servitude, but not slavery, as a criminal punishment.
The states with constitutions that include provisions regarding slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment are Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
The states with constitutions that include provisions regarding involuntary servitude, but not slavery, as criminal punishment, are Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Vermont is the only state that has a constitutional provision regarding involuntary servitude to pay a debt, damage, fine, or cost.
Nebraska, Utah, and Colorado put measures on the ballot to remove language from their state constitutions regarding the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. These amendments were approved in Nebraska and Utah in 2020, and in Colorado in 2018.
Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Alabama House of Representatives District 45 — Susan DuBose (R) and Kari Whitaker (L) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Alabama’s state legislature. Alabama is one of 23 states with a Republican trifecta.
Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Dubose:
“Government overreach- The government is seeking to control too much of our everyday lives and we need to fight back. Deciding which businesses can remain open, who has to be vaccinated, requiring we wear a mask to get on a plane, ESG- Environment Social Government scores control too many business decisions. What’s next? The Social Credit Scoring like the Chinese have?”
Whitaker:
“NO MORE TAXES: You work hard for every single dollar you earn, and those dollars belong in your pocket. In times of economic uncertainty, every citizen must learn how to live within a budget, and our government should be able to do the same. With sky-rocketing fuel prices and record-breaking inflation, I would work to immediately repeal Kay Ivey’s misguided gas tax and to eliminate sales tax on basic necessities, such as groceries and medicine.”
Click on candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Alabama House of Representatives District 3 —Wesley Thompson (D) and Kerry Underwood (R) —completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Alabama’s state legislature. Alabama is one of 23 states with a Republican trifecta government.
Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Thompson:
“Small Businesses, Economic Growth, and Jobs: I believe in the dignity of a hard day’s work, but right now, hard working families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.
“Education: Kids in the Shoals, whether they’re Black, Brown, or White, rich or poor, deserve the best education possible. We owe it to our kids to make sure they’re ready for what the future holds.
“Healthcare: I believe we can repair a healthcare system that leaves thousands across the Shoals unable to afford to go to the doctor or fill a prescription. It is time we prioritize investment in the lives of Alabamians, in the lives of the people of the Shoals.
Underwood:
“I will connect this district by my working relationships with local elected officials at city and county levels and work to help them achieve their priorities for your communities.”
“I will continue to recruit industry into the area for good employment as I have for six years from my position on Shoals EDA board as Mayor.”
“I will work to improve our mental health / addiction model at the State level to improve a person’s chances to become productive members of our community.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Alabama Auditor —Andrew Sorrell (R) and Leigh LaChine (L)—completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
The Alabama State Auditor is a state executive position in the Alabama government. The auditor is responsible for reporting “receipts and disbursement of every character, all claims audited and paid out, and all taxed and revenues collected” to the governor.
Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Sorrell:
“I am very concerned about election integrity. As your next State Auditor, I will appoint Board of Registrars members that will keep the voter rolls clean!”
“As your next State Auditor, I will accurately track the over $1 billion dollars worth of state owned property to make sure your taxpayer dollars are being used wisely.”
“I will fight to restore duties and responsibilities to the office of State Auditor that have been stripped away over the years. I believe we need a strong State Auditor’s office to serve as a watchdog for the citizens of Alabama.”
LaChine:
“My main reason for running is to educate the electorate about the difficulties that other party candidates face even appearing on the ballot. It has been 20 years since an Independent or other party candidate has appeared in a statewide election. The cost for the Libertarian Party to have ballot access in 2022 was over $250,000.”
“Eliminate straight-ticket party voting. Alabama is one of the few states that still allows this practice. Voters should educate themselves and choose the most qualified candidate in each race.”
“There is too much money in politics.”
Click here to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
Wes Allen defeated Jim Zeigler in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama secretary of state on June 21, 2022. Incumbent John Merrill (R) was term-limited.
Each candidate said his experience prepared him for the position. Allen was a Pike County Probate Court judge and said he administered more than a dozen elections without error. Zeigler, the state auditor, said he had been a “watchman against government waste, mismanagement and corruption” and would be a watchman for election integrity.
Republicans have held the Secretary of State office in Alabama since 2007.
The secretary of state is Alabama’s chief election official and certifies vote totals, ballots, and fundraising records. The secretary of state is also responsible for business registration and keeping the state government’s official documents and public records.
Katie Britt defeated Mo Brooks in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate in Alabama on June 21, 2022. The pair advanced from a field of six candidates in a May 24 primary. Britt had 63% of the runoff vote to Brooks’ 37%. In the primary, Britt received 45% of the vote and Brooks received 29%. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R), first elected in 1986, did not run for re-election. Michael Durant, who finished third in the primary with 23% of the vote, said he would not endorse or vote for either candidate in the runoff.
Britt was Shelby’s chief of staff and the president and CEO of the Alabama Business Council. Britt’s campaign website said she was an “advocate for smaller government, modern job growth, constitutional liberties and greater opportunity.” Former President Donald Trump (R), U.S. Sens. Shelby, Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Maggie’s List, the Value In Electing Women PAC, and Winning for Women, Inc. PAC endorsed Britt.
Brooks was elected to represent Alabama’s 5th Congressional District in 2010 and served as Madison County Commissioner from 1996 to 2010. Brooks’ campaign ads highlighted his speech at Trump’s rally on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the U.S. Capitol breach. Brooks campaigned as an America First candidate, a term often associated with the platform of Trump and candidates who have said they support his agenda. Brooks’ endorsements included Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.). Trump initially endorsed Brooks in the primary election before rescinding his endorsement in March 2022.
Britt is also expected to win the general election. At the time of the runoff, three independent race forecasters considered the race either Solid Republican or Safe Republican. Before Doug Jones’ (D) tenure from 2018 to 2021, the last Democrat to represent the state in the U.S. Senate was Howell T. Heflin, who left office in 1997. Trump won the state with 62% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.
Dale Strong defeated Casey Wardynski in the Republican primary runoff election for Alabama’s 5th Congressional District on June 21, 2022. Strong received 63.4% of the vote and Wardynski received 36.6%. Strong will face Kathy Warner-Stanton (D) in the general election on Nov. 8, 2022.
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R), first elected in 2010, ran for the U.S. Senate rather than seeking re-election, creating an open seat. Brooks did not make an endorsement in this race.
Strong served as the chairman of the Madison County Commission in 2022 and has held this position since 2012. He was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) in the Monrovia area. Strong described himself as “a pro-life Christian who will stand up for the unborn and fight for our Christian values.” He said, “These values are under attack today by those who want to control what we read on social media and what our children are taught in school.”
Wardynski served as the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs under former President Donald Trump (R) from 2019 to 2020. He also served as the superintendent of Huntsville city schools from 2011 to 2016. Wardynski described himself as “a proud, pro-Trump conservative Republican who answered the call when President Trump asked me to be his Assistant Secretary of the Army.” He said, “I am committed to advancing the America First Agenda. I am not afraid to take on The Swamp and the special interests who fought President Trump at every turn. I will fight Joe Biden when he tries to roll back the progress created under President Trump.”
Dale Strong and Casey Wardynski are running in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama’s 5th Congressional District on June 21, 2022. Republican Rep. Mo Brooks represented this district for more than a decade. This year, he is running for the U.S. Senate rather than seeking re-election, leaving the seat open. Brooks did not make an endorsement in this race.
Strong earned 45% of the vote in the May 24 primary, followed by Wardynski with 23%. In Alabama, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote to advance directly to the general election. Since no candidate received a majority on May 24, the top two vote-getters (Strong and Wardynski) advanced to a June 21 runoff election.
Strong is the chairman of the Madison County Commission and has held this position since 2012. He is a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) in the Monrovia area. Strong describes himself as “a pro-life Christian who will stand up for the unborn and fight for our Christian values.” He says, “These values are under attack today by those who want to control what we read on social media and what our children are taught in school.” Strong was the first candidate to enter this primary race and has held the lead in polling and fundraising throughout the race.
Wardynski served as the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs under former President Donald Trump (R) from 2019 to 2020. He also served as the superintendent of Huntsville city schools from 2011 to 2016. Wardynski describes himself as “a proud, pro-Trump conservative Republican who answered the call when President Trump asked me to be his Assistant Secretary of the Army.” He says, “I am committed to advancing the America First Agenda. I am not afraid to take on The Swamp and the special interests who fought President Trump at every turn. I will fight Joe Biden when he tries to roll back the progress created under President Trump.”
Major race ratings outlets rate the general election in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District solid/safe Republican, meaning the winner of the runoff is all but certain to win the general election.
Dale Strong and Casey Wardynski advanced to a June 21, 2022, runoff from the May 24 Republican Party primary in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District. Six candidates ran in the Republican primary. Republican Rep. Mo Brooks represented this district for more than a decade. In 2022, he ran for the U.S. Senate rather than seeking re-election, creating an open seat. Brooks did not make an endorsement in this race.
According to the primary election results, Strong earned 45% of the vote, followed by Wardynski with 23%, John Roberts with 14%, and Paul Sanford with 11%. In Alabama, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote to advance directly to the general election.
Strong served as the chairman of the Madison County Commission in 2022 and has held this position since 2012. He was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) in the Monrovia area. Strong described himself as “a pro-life Christian who will stand up for the unborn and fight for our Christian values.” He said, “These values are under attack today by those who want to control what we read on social media and what our children are taught in school.” Strong was the first candidate to enter the primary race and held the lead in polling and fundraising in the weeks before the election.
Wardynski served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs under former President Donald Trump (R) from 2019 to 2020. He also served as the superintendent of Huntsville city schools from 2011 to 2016. Wardynski described himself as “a proud, pro-Trump conservative Republican who answered the call when President Trump asked me to be his Assistant Secretary of the Army” and said, “I am committed to advancing the America First Agenda. I am not afraid to take on The Swamp and the special interests who fought President Trump at every turn. I will fight Joe Biden when he tries to roll back the progress created under President Trump.”
Before the primary, the Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections all rated Alabama’s 5th Congressional District as a solid/safe Republican seat.
