By Brian Lyman | Editor
The Alabama Secretary of State’s office reported that just over 5% of eligible voters — about 113,000 in a potential electorate of 2.1 million — cast ballots in primaries in four congressional districts on Tuesday. I’ve said it before, but the story of Alabama politics is as much about disengagement as it is conservatism.
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.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
By Ralph Chapoco
A federal judge Friday denied a motion from the Southern Poverty Law Center to dismiss charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging the civil rights nonprofit’s use of paid informants in white supremacist groups amounted to support of those groups. SPLC says that it is being targeted for opposing President Donald Trump, but U.S. District Judge Emily Marks said the group had not provided sufficient evidence of that.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche appears at his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill last month. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)
HEALTHCARE
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
A group of anti-abortion organizations sent a letter to newly-confirmed U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche last week urging him to study whether a 150-year-old anti-obscenity law can be used to prevent abortion medication or related materials from being sent in the mail. The Comstock Law, passed in 1873, has long been considered a “zombie law,” but Blanche last month told religious leaders he was committed to advancing policies that would outlaw abortion nationwide.
ICYMI
States, cities try to keep ICE out of schools | Shalina Chatlani, Stateline
Trump urges shift in childhood vaccine recommendations, calls for splitting up MMR vaccine | Shauneen Miranda, DC Bureau
Trump taken via catering truck to secret flight amid Iran threats, report says | Ashley Murray, DC Bureau
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