Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday set special election dates for Alabama Senate District 26, vacated after the resignation and arrest of former state Sen. David Burkette.
Ivey set the special primary election for Tuesday, Nov. 17, and the special primary runoff, if necessary, for Tuesday, Dec. 15. The special general election is set for Tuesday, March 2, 2021.
“It is important for our citizens to be represented in the Alabama Legislature, which is why we are quickly moving forward with this special election process,” Governor Ivey said. “I encourage the people in Senate District 26 to pay attention to these newly announced dates and to vote.”
The deadline for qualifying with major political parties will be Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. The deadline for all independent candidates and/or minor parties is Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. Senate District 26 represents portions of Montgomery County.
Burkette resigned Tuesday as part of a plea deal with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and was formally charged on Thursday with a single misdemeanor count of violating the Fair Campaign Practices Act.
“The complaint alleged that, in 2015 and 2016 while running for the Montgomery City Council, Burkette intentionally failed to deposit $3,625.00 in campaign contributions into his campaign checking account, and instead, deposited or cashed those contributions into or against his personal bank account,” according to a press release from the Alabama Attorney General’s office.
