By Floyd Madrid
*This is an opinion-based essay written by a guest contributor. Any views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the values or policies of the Dale County Chroncile, which is a news company. If you would like to submit a personal essay or opinion piece, submit your topic proposal to us at [email protected] for consideration.
“From Empty Ballots to Full Slates: Democrats Expand in Alabama”
By Floyd Madrid
Alabama Democrats are excited for this year’s elections on 3 November 2026. Why? A large pool of candidates poses a significant challenge to the Republican base. Being in a red state isn’t easy; the politics lean right, and many citizens feel there isn’t any other choice when they go to the polls. In many cases, Democratic candidates aren’t running in many races, and the ballot lists one candidate, a Republican candidate. This year, however, there are strong, viable candidates for every State office, from the Governor’s office to the Public Service Commission.
As we approach the State Primary election, we’ll be able to select a candidate who has shown themselves to be a contender in running for Alabama office. This is also exciting to see due to the numerous Democrat wins across the nation and in key political positions. It’s no wonder Republicans have jumped on the bandwagon of the recent Supreme Court decision on state redistricting. Republicans are worried they may lose ground in their strongholds and want to take advantage of strengthening their grip on power. They’ve tried to maintain that grip by not supporting Congressional efforts to limit gerrymandering. Bills introduced to limit states from realigning districts to favor one party over another have been defeated, usually by Republican legislators not willing to give up their status in their state.
In 2021, House Resolution 1, aptly named the “For the People Act,” was introduced, which would have required each state to have a nonpartisan state agency to appoint two Republicans, two Democrats, and two from neither party to a commission that would decide how congressional district lines are drawn. It would have banned drawing a map with “the intent or the effect of unduly favoring or disfavoring any political party,” a practice commonly known as gerrymandering1. The bill did not pass; Republican House members voted it down because they were not in favor of the bill’s additional proposals addressing voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance and ethics. It’s too soon to predict the SCOTUS ruling’s impact on elections, but the widespread redistricting suggests gerrymandering may persist. In that respect, Alabama citizens should use every tool available to educate themselves on what’s on the ballot.
Alabama Policy Action’s “2026 Primary Election Voter Guide” is a resource for this year’s election. You can access the guide via the following link. https://issuu.com/alabamapolicyinstitute/docs/voter_guide-6. The voter guide gives Alabama citizens an overview of each candidate’s political leanings, either as verified liberal, liberal, leans liberal, leans conservative, conservative or verified conservative. As we go into the 2026 elections, every Alabama citizen should take advantage of everything they can to make an informed decision on their choice of elected representative. As a Democrat, I’m excited.
Floyd Madrid, the author of this op-ed, serves as the County Chair for the Dale County Democratic Party and is not employed by the Dale County Chronicle.
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