Voters in Marshall County will go to the polls Tuesday to effectively select a new state representative.
Six Republicans will compete for the party nomination in House District 27. With no Democratic opponent, the Republican candidate who wins — either with 50% in the primary or in the run-off — will become the presumptive representative.
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When do polls open?
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Where do I find my polling place?
The Alabama Secretary of State’s website allows you to check voter registration and the location of your polling place. You can find it here.
What do I need to vote?
Voters must present a valid photo ID before voting. Valid forms of ID include:
- Alabama driver’s license (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency digital driver’s license
- Alabama Non-Driver ID (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
- Alabama Photo Voter ID card
- State-issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
- Federal-issued ID
- U.S. Passport
- Employee ID from the federal government; state of Alabama; county; municipality, board or other entity of Alabama
- Student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
- Digital student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
- Military ID
- Tribal ID
Where is the district located?
House District 27 covers most of Marshall County, with Arab, Guntersville, Grant and a portion of Albertville in the district.
How did the seat become vacant?
Former Rep. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, won an election in January to represent Senate District 9, previously represented by former Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, R-Arab. Scofield left the Senate in November to join the Business Council of Alabama after about 13 years in the Alabama Legislature.
Does the seat have a partisan lean?
The seat is solidly Republican. Kitchens got 84% of the vote in the 2018 election and 89% of the vote in 2022.
What issues dominate the race?
While candidates have stressed different issues in the primary, many raised the legal status of gambling.
Meet the candidates running in Alabama House District 27
Business owners Stacey Lee George and Bill Strickland, who is also a former law enforcement officer, voiced opposition to the current gambling expansion proposals, citing moral objections and the potential for corruption. Strickland said that if the goal is to stop illegal gambling, the state should upgrade criminal offenses for it. George said that he was morally opposed to state-sanctioned gaming.
Education also looms large in the campaign. Candidate Jeana Ross is emphasizing high-quality education for all children. Drawing from her experience as a former state official in early childhood education, Ross said it’s important to close the achievement gap and ensure equal access to educational opportunities.
Immigration also emerged as an issue. While Miller and Strickland voiced concerns about the local impact of unauthorized immigration on local services, they said that there is only so much the state can do to address migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Miller proposed giving law enforcement the ability to keep immigrants incarcerated instead of deported, while Strickland said the Legislature should address current migration into the state.
Candidates also discussed fiscal responsibility and government accountability, with George, Miller and Strickland each advocating for careful financial management and fiscal responsibility. Strickland also said that fresh perspectives are needed in government and advocated for term limits, committing to serving up to three terms.
What happens after today?
If a candidate gets 50% or more of the vote, that person will become the next state representative. If no candidate gets a majority, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff on April 30.
Will the results alter control of the House?
No. Republicans currently hold 75 of the 105 seats in the lower chamber of the state Legislature and 27 of the 35 seats in the upper chamber.
The candidates
Stacey Lee George
Age: 55
Residence: Arab
Occupation: Business owner of Let George Do Produce and Notary on Wheels
Education: Attended Calhoun Community College and Auburn University
Party: Republican
Previous political experience: Republican candidate for Alabama Senate, 2024; Republican candidate for governor, 2022; Republican candidate for governor, 2014; Morgan County Commissioner, 2000-2008.
Fundraising: George has raised $1,389 and spent $0. He had $100 on hand as of March 29.
Alan Miller
Age: 62
Residence: Arab
Occupation: Retired, banking management
Education: B.A., Psychology, Auburn University, 1985; M.B.A., Finance, Florida State University, 1992.
Party: Republican
Previous political experience: Arab City Council, 2014-2016; 2020 – present
Fundraising: Miller has raised $8,530 and spent $367. He had $8,163 on hand as of March 22.
Jeana Ross
Age: 69
Residence: Guntersville
Occupation: Education consultant, former secretary of Early Childhood Education
Education: B.S., Early Childhood Education, University of Alabama in Birmingham, 1975; M.A., Educational Leadership, University of Alabama, 2000.
Party: Republican
Previous political experience: First time candidate
Fundraising: Ross has raised $93,544 and spent $64,808. She had $27,096 on hand as of April 1.
Bill Strickland
Age: 66
Residence: Arab
Occupation: Owner of a farming business; Retired law enforcement
Education: Associate degree, Criminal Justice, Wallace State Community College, 1984
Party: Republican
Previous political experience: Marshall County Commission, District 1, 2007-2018
Fundraising: Strickland has raised $24,460, including $10,750 loaned from his farming business, and spent $11,806. He had $10,036 on hand as of March 29.
Bill Hancock
Occupation: Owner, Bill Hancock Motors in Albertville.
Party: Republican
Fundraising: Hancock has raised $37,788, which includes $23,193 he loaned his campaign, and spent $26,026. He had $11,763 on hand as of March 22.
Billy Ray Todd
Occupation: Former military, U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Party: Republican
Fundraising: Todd has raised $5,370, and spent $150. He had $3,294 on hand as of March 29.
Attempts to set up interviews with Bill Hancock and Billy Ray Todd were unsuccessful.
