The Republican contest for Alabama’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District has crystallized into a three-way race ahead of a special primary this August, a decision that follows a chain of redistricting rulings and a May primary whose results were nullified.
Who’s running and what’s at stake
Republican voters in the coastal and southwest part of the state will choose among former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl of Mobile, John Mills, a Navy veteran, and Austin Sidwell, who works at his family’s private security company. The winner will be the Republican nominee and will face Clyde Jones, the only Democrat who qualified for the special election.
The 1st District now covers all of Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia counties, and nearly all of Covington County — a footprint reshaped by the Legislature’s 2023 congressional map. That map, reinstated after a U.S. Supreme Court order this spring, replaced a court-ordered map used in 2024.
How this special election came about
The special election was set after U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise — who previously represented the district — won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in June and is pursuing the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is the Republican nominee for governor. Because of the redrawn lines, Moore likely would not have been able to run again in the 1st District.
Following a special session of the Legislature, Gov. Kay Ivey called special primary elections for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional districts. The action came after the Supreme Court allowed Alabama to use the 2023 map rather than the court-ordered map that had been used in 2024.
The May 19 primary, which drew 81,205 votes, was voided because the special election supersedes that contest. Under the special session legislation, the special primary will be decided by plurality; lawmakers did not include a provision for a special primary runoff. In the voided May results, Carl and state Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, would have advanced to a runoff had that primary stood.
"He enjoyed being in Congress, and wanted to return,"
That sentiment was expressed by Carl in a recent phone interview when discussing his candidacy.
Local implications and practical details
The redrawn district and the special election timeline carry several local implications for voters and campaigns:
- Voter turnout concerns: Special primaries held outside regular election cycles often see lower participation, a factor candidates are addressing as they try to energize the Republican base.
- No runoff: The candidate with the most votes in the special primary will become the Republican nominee; that changes the strategic calculus for campaigns and voters alike.
- Geographic focus: Campaigns must reach voters across a district that includes the urban center of Mobile and sprawling suburban and rural areas in Baldwin and Escambia counties.
Below is a quick reference for the district and recent timeline:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| District counties | Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia; most of Covington County |
| Void primary | May 19 primary — 81,205 votes voided |
| Current Republican candidates | Jerry Carl; John Mills; Austin Sidwell |
| Democratic candidate | Clyde Jones |
What to watch next
Voters and observers should watch how candidates allocate time and resources between densely populated Mobile and the larger geographic stretches of Baldwin and Escambia counties. With no runoff available, coalitions and early voting efforts could prove decisive.
Additional developments to follow will include any shifts in campaign messaging as candidates seek to distinguish themselves in a compressed timeline, and whether turnout patterns echo those seen in other special elections around the state.
Local voters should check their county election offices for absentee and early-voting details as the special primary approaches. Election deadlines and polling locations will be posted by county officials and the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
— Caleb Whitfield, Alabama Correspondent
