State Senator Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, announced Wednesday that he will seek reelection in 2026, entering the race at a time when the boundaries of his district remain in flux under a federal court order.
Barfoot, first elected in 2018, represents Senate District 25, which currently includes Crenshaw and Elmore counties and parts of Montgomery County. Those lines are set to change for the 2026 election cycle after U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ordered Alabama to use a new State Senate map beginning with next year’s primary.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the communities in my district and the state of Alabama,” Barfoot said in his announcement. He cited his work on tax policy, higher education legislation, and criminal justice measures over his nearly seven years in office.
Under the court-ordered map, now under appeal, more Black voters would shift out of Senate District 26, represented by Senator Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, and into District 25. The adjustment is more limited than what the plaintiffs had sought but still alters District 25’s composition ahead of an election that is now less than six months away.
The state has asked federal courts to pause implementation of the new map while the U.S. Supreme Court reconsiders Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could clarify or change how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act applies to redistricting nationwide. A ruling is expected by next summer.
Depending on the outcome, multiple scenarios remain possible for 2026. The court-ordered map could remain in place, the state’s previously enacted map could be reinstated or lawmakers could be required to make additional changes after the primary.
State officials are preparing for the possibility that a final ruling may come after the May 2026 primary. Governor Kay Ivey has signaled that she prefers to wait for additional legal clarity before considering new legislative action on redistricting.
Barfoot currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and has sponsored several high-profile bills in recent years. A practicing attorney, Barfoot lives in Pike Road with his wife, Kathy. They are members of Thorington Road Baptist Church and have five children and three grandchildren.
Barfoot’s campaign will move forward while the district he seeks to represent remains subject to ongoing litigation and potential changes between now and the 2026 election cycle.
