2018 Mid-Term Elections: What Alabama Voters Should Know

BIRMINGHAM, AL - One of the most anticipated mid-term elections in recent memory occurs November 6, as control of Congress and the future of Donald Trump's presidency are on the line, as well as Democrats' ability to harness opposition to Trump and determine whether the Republican president can get his supporters to the polls. In Alabama, all of the state's top offices will be determined, as well as some high-profile state amendments.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said that turnout for the general election will likely be in the 35 percent to 40 percent range, roughly what it was four years ago when voter participation hit a 28-year low.

This low turnout could be key in some of the state's elections, especially regarding two constitutional amendments - one dealing with legality of abortion and the other allowing the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings - that some political experts say were intended to get more people to the polls.

On the ballots in Alabama November 6:

Federal offices

House District 1 (Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties and part of Clarke County): Incumbent Bradley Byrne faces Democratic challenger Robert Kennedy. Byrne, who has held the office since 2013, is a former Alabama Board of Education member, served in the Alabama State Senate, and was chancellor of the state community college system. Byrne made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2010. Kennedy, who ran in the special Senate election in the Democratic primary against Doug Jones, served nine years on active duty with the U.S. Navy before serving as the General Manager of Global eCommerce & Digital at Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

House District 2 (parts of Montgomery County and all of Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties): Incumbent Martha Roby faces Democrat Tabitha Isner. Roby, who was in danger of losing in the GOP primary after receiving less than 40 percent of the vote, is a former Montgomery city councilor seeking her fifth term in office. Roby drew some criticism from her own party in 2016 when she suggested Donald Trump withdraw from the presidential race. is an ordained minister who spent most of her career in policy work, focusing on early childhood education. This is her first run for office.

House District 3 (part of Montgomery County and all of Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, St. Clair, Talladega, and Tallapoosa counties): Incumbent Mike Rogers is running against Democrat Mallory Hagan. Rogers is an eight-term congressman who represents eastern Alabama, was first elected in 2002 to fill the seat vacated by Gov. Bob Riley. Before he was elected to Congress, Rogers, R-Saks, served eight years in the Alabama House of Representatives. Hagan, a former Miss America, is from Lee County and was a broadcast journalist before opting to run for office.

House District 4 (Franklin, Colbert, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman, Lawrence, Marshall, Etowah, and DeKalb counties, and parts of Jackson, Tuscaloosa, and Cherokee counties): Incumbent Robert Aderholt faces Democratic challenger Lee Auman. Aderholt is seeking his 12th term in office. He was previously a judge in Haleyville. Auman is a Union Grove native and Auburn graduate who most recently has managed the conference center at Camp McDowell in Winston County.

House District 5 (Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Morgan counties and most of Jackson County): Incumbent Mo Brooks is seeking his fifth term, facing Democrat Peter Joffrion. Brooks ran unsuccessfully for Jeff Sessions' vacant Senate seat in 2017. He has also served in the Alabama legislature and as a member of the Madison County Commission. Joffrion was the Huntsville city attorney for 30 years, retiring in 2015.

House District 6 (parts of Jefferson County and all of Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, and Shelby counties): Incumbent Republican Gary Palmer faces Democrat Danner Kline. Palmer is seeking his third term in office. The Hoover resident was previously president of the Alabama Policy Institute. Kline is the founder of Free the Hops, an advocacy group that lobbied to reform Alabama beer laws.

In House District 7, Democrat Terri Sewell is running unopposed.

State Offices

Governor: Kay Ivey, the GOP incumbent who took over the office last year upon the resignation of Robert Bentley, faces Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox

Lt. Governor: Republican Will Ainsworth, a state legislator, is facing pastor Will Boyd.

Secretary of State: Incumbent John Merrill, a Republican, is a former communications director for Tuscaloosa County Schools, and faces Democrat Heather Milam, a business professor at the University of Montevallo.

Attorney General: Incumbent Republican Steve Marshall faces Democrat Joe Siegelman, who is the son of former governor Don Siegelman.

State Auditor: Incumbent Jim Ziegler, who made national headlines in 2017 with his support of Roy Moore, faces Democrat Miranda Joseph.

Birmingham-area races for House of Representatives include:

District 45 (parts of Shelby and Jefferson counties): Incumbent Republican Dickie Drake faces Jenn Gray.

District 46 (parts of Jefferson and Shelby counties): Incumbent Republican David Faulkner faces Democrat Felicia Stewart.

District 47 (parts of Jefferson and Shelby counties): Jim Toomey (R) faces David Wheeler (D).

District 48 (mostly Jefferson County and parts of Shelby County): Republican Jim Carns looks to keep his seat against Democrat Alli Summerford.

Polls are open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Find your polling location here.

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