By Brian Lyman | Editor
“Appellants don’t dispute that a political party has the right to nominate, but that doesn’t mean that the courts must look the other way when a constitutional challenge is mounted against that nominee. Political parties have the right to make choices, but those choices have consequences, and there is accountability for those choices.” - attorney Barry Ragsdale in brief to Alabama Supreme Court
Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, giving a victory speech after winning a special primary election for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District on Aug. 11, 2026, in Enterprise, Alabama. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
ELECTIONS 2026
By Anna Barrett and Andrea Tinker
Tuesday’s special primaries in four Alabama congressional districts had two elements in common: few voters and few surprises. Most attention fell on the 2nd Congressional District, redrawn by the Legislature earlier this year, where the race between incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures and Republican nominee Rhett Marques could help determine control of Congress next year.
Plaintiffs who argue U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is ineligible for the governor's office asked the Alabama Supreme Court on Monday to reverse a lower court's dismissal of the case. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
By Anna Barrett
In a 45-page brief filed in the Alabama Supreme Court, plaintiffs argued that Alabama’s judicial branch has sole jurisdiction to decide if Republican gubernatorial nominee U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville meets the state constitution’s residency requirements for the executive office. His lawyers argued in June that authority lies with the Alabama Republican Party and the Alabama Legislature.
Jeremy Williams, 41, was executed by the state of Alabama Thursday after being convicted of the assault and murder of a five-year-old child in Russell County in 2021. (Alabama Department of Corrections)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
By Ralph Chapoco
The state of Alabama executed Jeremy Williams, 41, on Thursday night in the first execution of 2026. Williams was convicted of the rape and murder of a five-year-old in Russell County in 2021. He waived his appeals and asked for his execution to be expedited. Alabama has executed 13 people since 2023.
ICYMI
Commentary: The Voting Rights Act is down for the count. It’s time to think about what comes next. | Brian Lyman, Alabama Reflector
‘I hear you, I see you:’ Alabama Democrats elect Bobby Singleton new chair | Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
Doug Jones addresses data centers, healthcare in central Alabama swing | Andrea Tinker, Alabama Reflector
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