Steve Flowers: The upcoming races for attorney general and agriculture commissioner in Alabama in 2026 will be interesting

Upcoming Elections for Key Statewide Offices in Alabama

Next year, during the GOP Primary in May 2026, two significant statewide offices will be up for grabs: the Attorney General and the Agriculture Commissioner. Currently, there are no contenders for either position. Attorney General Steve Marshall is running for the U.S. Senate after serving two terms, while Agriculture Commissioner Rick Putty is term-limited and is campaigning for governor.

Jay Mitchell is emerging as a strong contender in the Attorney General race. He has previously been elected to the state Supreme Court twice and is recognized for his conservative views, making him a preferred choice among the business community. The Alabama Business Council has already endorsed him, and he boasts an impressive fundraising lead, having transferred more than $600,000 from his previous campaign. As summer ends, he nearly has $2 million funds at his disposal.

Standing at 6’8″, Mitchell played basketball at Birmingham Southern and was once the president of the student government. Before his Supreme Court tenure in 2018, he practiced law in Birmingham. A longtime resident of Homewood, he should also have the support of voters from Jefferson and Shelby Counties, along with family ties in wiregrass.

On the other hand, Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey announced her candidacy for Attorney General back in January. Over the past eight months, she has traveled across the state, showcasing her extensive experience as a district attorney for 15 years. Known for her practical approach, she has successfully indicted offenders and is likely the most qualified candidate in the race.

While all contributions to Mitchell and Casey’s campaigns are sourced from individuals and businesses in Alabama, the same cannot be said for Katherine Green Robertson, the third candidate. She has drawn early interest by securing $1.1 million from an external dark money group, allegedly linked to right-wing billionaire Leonard Leo. This out-of-state funding claims over 75% of her campaign revenue, raising concerns about the influence of external forces on the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.

Should either Casey or Robertson prevail against Mitchell, they would make history as Alabama’s first female Attorney General.

The race for the state’s Agricultural Commissioner features a competitive field of three candidates: Mobile Senator Jack Williams, agribusinesswoman Christina Uhner McInnis, and Marshall County farmer Corey Hill.

Jack Williams, representing Mobile County in the state legislature for 12 years, is a fifth-generation farmer. He has been campaigning extensively for over two years, blending his farming background with his governmental experience.

Meanwhile, Christina Wooner McInnis hails from a farming family in Baldwin County that has been established for over a century—her ancestry connects to the region’s potato farming roots. Today, she is a significant player in turf farming, leading the state’s largest turf farming business.

Lastly, Corey Hill, a farmer from Marshall County and the mayor of Douglas, is also in the mix. A fourth-generation farmer, he and his wife own a grocery store founded by his parents in the 1970s. With a message focused on local values, he hopes to resonate with voters, particularly in the more rural areas of North Alabama, while his opponents hail from the southern tip of the state in Baldwin and Mobile counties.