Alabama voters head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections, with races for governor, Congress, the Legislature, and other state and local offices on the ballot. Follow this live blog for updates from across the state, developments at polling places and results as they come in tonight.
Polls are open until 7 p.m. One closely watched contest is Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted from “Toss-up” to “Leans Democrat” in its final forecast before Election Day.
Our reporters will update this page throughout the day and evening. Check back for the latest news, results and reaction, and catch up on our election coverage so far.
Get key updates by email. We’ll only email you when we post a key update to this story.
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Live updates
11:30 PM CST
Watch Doug Jones' election night speech
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones declined to concede during an election night speech. You can watch the video here.
Doug Jones speaks at an election night watch party Full remarks
0:03
Thank you. All of you guys are the best. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, everybody. Thank you for staying. Thanks for being here. We love you guys.
This has been a long, long journey. It has been a fascinating journey [unclear], and thanks to all of you. There’s kind of good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is not a victory speech. The good news is it’s not a concession speech either.
[Crowd cheers.]
Thank you.
[Crowd chants.]
1:06
All right, so here’s the thing. Seriously. We’ve been watching all of this unfold tonight. It has been a slow process. You know, it dribbles in and dribbles out. But the fact of the matter is, there’s still a hell of a lot of votes out there that have not been counted.
Now, I’m very candid about this. We’ve got to do more than narrow the gap. We’ve got to make up that difference. It’s not going to be easy with this, but there is a path there. We believe that we can absolutely do it, but we may not.
[Crowd chants, “Yes, we can!”]
2:04
But, but I want everybody tonight to—let’s—we’re not going to do this for a long time. We’re really not. We know that there is probably at least 100,000 votes, probably in Jefferson County alone. There’s votes in Montgomery.
So I think that any, any concession is way premature. Any victory is way premature. But I want y’all to think about something. As we leave here tonight without an answer—a full answer yet—I want you to think about this.
When we started this race, look at the—look at the odds that we were given. Next to nothing. Everybody said, no, there was no way in the world that a Democrat could win. There was no way that Doug Jones could win. Well, we are that close.
3:00
And when Louise and I started this journey, we really told folks that there were two things, that we had a goal and we had an objective. We have not met the goal yet. We may. And that goal was to win, to be the next governor of Alabama.
But there was also an incredibly important objective, and the objective was to build, to build something special that is going to outlast the campaign. That’s what we have done over the last 11 months.
I am so proud of the campaign staff and the folks that we’ve had out in the field every day, the folks that we have had helping to run this campaign, whether it was from April Hodges, the campaign manager, and Caroline Self. All of this staff right over here have been there from day one. I could rattle them all off.
4:01
But here’s the thing that is so important to me, and this was what I insisted on. Every one of those folks right there, those are Alabama folks. There wasn’t anybody that came in.
And so look what has happened. Look at the things we’ve done. We have flipped a whole bunch of seats. State Senate, state House. We’re on the verge. It’s a close race up in the congressional district with Andrew Sneed. I don’t even know what the latest is up on that.
We have built something. We have built something special that is going to stay here with us. So regardless of how this turns out tomorrow or tonight or whenever it might turn out, we’re going to continue this building process.
4:54
You are going to continue to build this building process because it is still time for a change. And we have proven right now people want it. There’s enough people in this state to want that.
So let’s savor tonight what we know we have built. Let’s go to bed, light a candle, say a prayer, because it’s not over. When it is, we will be back, and we will talk.
So thank you all tonight. We love you. Thank you all for being with us. Thank you very, very much. You are the best. Thank y’all. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Key update11:02 PM CST
Doug Jones holds off on conceding governor’s race
Democratic candidate and former Senator Doug Jones held off on conceding Alabama’s governor’s race as he addressed supporters Tuesday night.
“This is not a victory speech. But the good news is this is not a concession speech,” Jones said.
View on XHear from Democratic Candidate for Governor Doug Jones:
Decision Desk HQ called the race for Republican Tommy Tuberville at 10:10 p.m. Central. Tuberville led by about 6 percentage points in the latest unofficial returns.
Officials in this update
10:59 PM CST
HD25 elects Alabama's first openly transgender state lawmaker
Allison Montgomery won Alabama House District 25 to become Alabama's first openly transgender state lawmaker. Democrat Allison Montgomery defeated Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby in Huntsville-area House District 25. Montgomery took 53.2 percent of the vote to Rigsby’s 46.7 percent, according to unofficial returns from the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, with all precincts reporting.
Montgomery, a software engineer and advocate for transgender rights, pushed back after Rigsby attacked her gender identity during the campaign. She said voters wanted answers on affordability, schools and health care.
Officials in this update
Key update10:28 PM CST
Tuberville claims victory in governor race
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville has claimed victory in Alabama’s gubernatorial race, despite close margins remaining. Full updates on his speech to come shortly.
Senator Tommy Tuberville claims victory in Alabama's gubernatorial election. Officials in this update
10:17 PM CST
AP calls Alabama’s 5th Congressional District for Dale Strong
The Associated Press called Alabama’s 5th Congressional District race for incumbent U.S. Representative Dale Strong, R-Alabama, at 10:03 p.m.
Strong led Democratic challenger Andrew Sneed with roughly 9 in 10 votes counted.
Officials in this update
Key update10:00 PM CST
Shomari Figures Holds 2nd Congressional District
Decision Desk HQ called Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District race for incumbent U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, at 9:46 p.m.
Figures first won the seat in 2024 under a court-ordered map. This year, Alabama returned to a map its Republican-controlled Legislature passed in 2023 after the U.S. Supreme Court put a lower court’s injunction on hold. The lower court had found that the map intentionally diluted Black voting power.
The restored lines made the 2nd District more favorable to Republicans. When Alabama asked the Supreme Court to let it use the map, Attorney General Steve Marshall said his goal was a “7-0 Republican congressional delegation.”
“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we are proud of the campaign we ran on Alabama common sense,” Republican challenger Rhett Marques told APR in a written statement. “Alabama values will always be worth fighting for, and Christina and I are deeply grateful to everyone who supported, prayed for and worked alongside us throughout this campaign.”
“The mission remains the same: save our country for future generations,” Marques added. “We will be praying for Congressman Figures, his family and all those elected to serve our state and country. God bless the greatest country on Earth.”
Officials in this update
9:33 PM CST
AP calls Alabama’s 7th Congressional District for Terri Sewell
The Associated Press called Alabama’s 7th Congressional District race for incumbent U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, at 9:24 p.m.
Sewell led Republican challenger Ammie Akin by more than 10 percentage points with about a quarter of the expected vote counted.
Officials in this update
9:32 PM CST
Tuberville could speak within 15 minutes
From APR’s Jacob Holmes at Tuberville’s watch party
We’ve just been told in the press room that Tommy Tuberville could speak within the next 15 minutes. The governor’s race is still too early to call, and it’s unclear how long we’ll wait once we’re called to the auditorium.
Follow our live election results page for the latest count.
Officials in this update
9:21 PM CST
AP calls Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District for Mike Rogers
The Associated Press called Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District race for incumbent U.S. Representative Mike Rogers at 9:10 p.m.
Rogers held a wide lead over Democratic nominee Lee McInnis as of 9:15 p.m., with more than 40 percent of the vote still to be counted.
“I am honored and blessed to be reelected to serve in Congress," Rogers said. "Thank you to the voters in Alabama’s Third Congressional District and to President Trump for his strong endorsement. I am ready to return to DC to continue working with the Trump Administration for Alabama and for the United States of America.”
9:18 PM CST
Limestone County shows sharp Republican slippage
Bill Britt and Josh Moon
Limestone County has finished counting, and Tommy Tuberville carried it by 17 points. That's well short of recent Republican margins there: Governor Kay Ivey won Limestone by 55 points in 2022, and Donald Trump won it by 43 in 2024. Tuberville's margin is even below the 19 points Roy Moore posted in the county during the 2017 U.S. Senate special election that Doug Jones won statewide. The governor's race has not been called.
Officials in this update
8:57 PM CST
AP calls Alabama’s 4th Congressional District for Robert Aderholt
The Associated Press called Alabama’s 4th Congressional District race for incumbent U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, at 8:33 p.m.
Aderholt held a wide lead over Democratic challenger Amanda Pusczek as of 8:49 p.m., with about half the vote still to be counted.
“While the outcome tonight wasn’t what we hoped for, the movement we built together across North Alabama does not end here,” Pusczek told APR in a written statement. “Thank you for your belief, your hard work, and your voice.”
Officials in this update
8:42 PM CST
Three Alabama House races we’re watching
The early returns caught our eye in three Huntsville-area state House races. Each pits a Republican incumbent against a Democratic challenger.
- District 25. Republican state Representative Phillip Rigsby, a pharmacist first elected in 2022, faces Democrat Allison Montgomery, a software engineer.
- District 21. Republican state Representative Rex Reynolds, a former Huntsville police chief who first won the seat in a 2018 special election, faces Democrat Forrest Satterfield, an engineer and entrepreneur.
- District 20. Republican state Representative James Lomax, first elected in 2022, faces Democrat James Linderholm, who practiced law before building a gymnastics business in the Huntsville area.
Key update8:41 PM CST
Tuberville, Moore pull ahead as more votes come in
Republican Tommy Tuberville has pulled ahead of Democrat Doug Jones in the governor’s race, according to early returns. Republican Barry Moore also leads Democrat Everett Wess in the U.S. Senate race.
Most of the expected vote is still outstanding, and neither race has been called.
Officials in this update
7:31 PM CST
Democrats lead in first trickle of returns; top races way too early to call
The first votes are in, and Democrats Doug Jones, Everett Wess and Phillip Ensler hold early leads in the races for governor, U.S. Senate and lieutenant governor, respectively, according to early results.
Only a tiny share of the vote has been counted, and all three races remain too early to call. No votes have been reported yet in the closely watched 2nd Congressional District race between U.S. Representative Shomari Figures and state Representative Rhett Marques.
A reminder: The first returns reflect whichever areas report fastest. They don’t necessarily tell us where these races are headed.
Key update7:00 PM CST
Polls have closed in Alabama
It’s 7 p.m., and polls have closed across Alabama. If you’re still in line, stay there—you have the right to cast your ballot.
Now comes the counting. We’ll bring you results, updates from our reporters at watch parties and reaction from across the state throughout the evening. Keep checking back, and remember: Early returns may tell only part of the story.
6:58 PM CST
Voting machine issues resolved at three Lowndes County locations
Voting machine issues in Burkeville, Hayneville and Whitehall have been resolved, nonprofit Alabama Values reports.
The organization cited Lowndes County Probate Judge LaShandra Myrick, who said all machines at the affected polling places were working again after some experienced paper jams. Ballots placed in emergency slots will be hand-fed into the machines after polls close.
Alabama Values encouraged anyone experiencing problems at the polls to call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
6:44 PM CST
From APR’s Jacob Holmes at Tuberville’s watch party
With half an hour to go before polls close, Officer Hutch—the dog—has arrived with the K-9 unit to sweep the press room at Tommy Tuberville’s watch party.
We’re now confined to this room until Tuberville makes his speech. We’re estimating that will be around 9 p.m. or later, depending on how tight the race is.
6:08 PM CST
ACLU reports ICE activity near Albertville polling place
The ACLU of Alabama says Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were spotted patrolling near a polling place in Albertville.
According to the organization, two agents conducted what it described as a facial scan of a nearby street vendor, then followed and detained a witness who tried to photograph the encounter.
The ACLU said the witness was later released after showing proof of U.S. citizenship.
Key update6:03 PM CST
APR's Jacob Holmes will have updates from Tuberville's camp
I’m now inside the press area at Tommy Tuberville’s election night watch party. I’ll have updates from here as the evening unfolds.
From inside Tommy Tuberville's watch party. Officials in this update
5:46 PM CST
GOP urges straight-ticket voting in Election Day text
A Republican text urged voters Tuesday to cast a straight Republican ticket in an Election Day text message.
“Push back against the blue wave - VOTE RED!” the message read. "Vote STRAIGHT Republican!"
The text also reminded recipients that polls close at 7 p.m.
Republican text graphic
