Last Tuesday, both major parties held their primaries to decide who they want on the November ballot. Tuesday was also the deadline for minor parties and Independent candidates to qualify for the November 6 general election ballot. No Independent or third party candidates will be running for any statewide races on the fall general election ballot. There were, however, several state Senate and state House candidates who qualified as Independents or minor party candidates.
In Senate District 9, Charles Miller is running against incumbent Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville. There is no Democrat on the ballot.
In Senate District 10, Craig Ford is running as an Independent against Cherokee cattle farmer Andrew Jones. There is no Democratic Party candidate on the ballot. Ford is a state representative from Gadsden who was elected as a Democrat but now has switched to Independent. Incumbent Sen. Phil Williams is not seeking another term.
In Senate District 23, Mark Story is running against Malika Sanders-Fortier. There is no Republican on the ballot. Sanders-Fortier is seeking to succeed her father, incumbent Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, who is retiring.
In House District 4, Polan Willis is running against state Rep. Parker Duncan Moore and Juanita Allen Healy. Moore won the seat in a special election in May. The seat was vacated by former House Majority Leader Mickey Hammon after he pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges.
In House District 10, Elijah Boyd, a Libertarian, is running against incumbent Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, and J.B. King.
In House District 55, David King, a member of the Constitution Party, is running against incumbent state Rep. Roderick “Rod” Scott, D-Fairfield. There is no Republican candidate.
In House District 80, Mark Davis is running against incumbent state Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Phenix City, and Judy L. LaRue.
In House District 96, Jason Shelby, a Libertarian, is running against Matt Simpson and Maurice Davis. Incumbent Rep. Randy Davis is not running for re-election.
Independents and third parties have long complained that it is too difficult for an Independent or a third party candidate to get ballot access in Alabama, especially for statewide office.
