By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation to set the Special Election dates for Alabama House District 21.
Gov. Ivey set the major party primaries for Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018.
If a major party runoff is necessary, it will be on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. The Special General Election would then be on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. If there is only one major candidate for each major party and no need for a primary, the general election will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2018. If there is a primary but no runoff is needed, the General Election will be Tuesday, March 27, 2018.
The House District 21 seat was previously held by Jim Patterson (R) before his sudden passing on Oct. 2, 2017.
“I promised the people of Madison County that I would do all I could to help them move forward after the loss of Jim, who was not only a true public servant, but also a loving husband and father. Choosing our elected officials is a central component of our government on every plain whether that be on the national, state or local level, and I encourage all those that live in House District 21 to participate in this special election,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement.
The deadline for qualifying with major political parties is Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, at 5 p.m. The deadline for all independent candidates and/or minor parties is Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2017, at 5 p.m. House District 21 represents a portion of Madison County.
This election is for the remainder of Jim Patterson’s term, which expires at the end of 2018. The legislator for the next four years will be chosen in the November 2018 Regular General Election. The major party primaries for that election are on June 5, 2018. Because the Legislative Session starts in early January, there is a strong possibility that whoever wins the special election will not be in place for any of 2018’s session. They would, however, be the Legislator in any summer or early fall Special Session, even if they did not win their June Regular Election primary race.
Contact the Alabama Republican Party or Democratic Party about qualifying for the Special Primary Election in House District 21.
