Alabama Senate District 5 holds Democratic primary election: Here's what to know
Democratic voters in parts of northwest Alabama go to the polls Tuesday to choose a nominee for a special election for the state Senate.
Two Democratic candidates, Ryan Cagle and Sarah Watkins, are running in the special election. There is no Republican primary as the sole Republican candidate, Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, is running unopposed.
The general election is scheduled for June 24.
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Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
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.
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
Senate District 5 covers north-central Alabama, starting at the Mississippi border and continuing eastward, including all of Fayette, Lamar and Walker counties, as well as parts of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties.
Former Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, R-Jasper, stepped down at the beginning of the year to join Gov. Kay Ivey's administration as Senior Advisor to Workforce Transformation. Reed, first elected in 2010, had led the Senate since 2021. Reed's role is transitioning the Department of Labor into the new Department of Workforce, with an aim at boosting Alabama's labor force participation. Reed was strongly allied with business interests and helped expand tax incentives and workforce training programs during his time in the Senate.
The seat is strongly Republican. Reed first won the seat in 2010 as a first-time candidate with 73.3% of the votes. Reed subsequently ran unopposed in the Republican primaries and was not challenged by a Democratic candidate in 2014, 2018 and 2022, according to Ballotpedia.
Candidates in the Democratic primary said they are tired of their communities being neglected by their Republican elected officials.
Cagle said in an interview after qualifying for the seat that the local community has struggled to address many issues, pointing to the district's struggle in dealing with the opioid crisis. He said elected officials are disconnected from their constituents, adding that they 'have lives completely separated from the vulnerable in our communities.' Instead, Cagle said elected officials have focused on catering to business instead of addressing working-class issues.
Watkins said Republicans have been in control for too long and that 'the common person here is just being pushed aside.' She said that calls from constituents go unanswered and that they are more focused on catering to 'these big-money individuals who claim to be small business owners when they're not.'
Woods first elected to the House in 2022, wrote in a text message that he's been 'working hard for the people of Alabama.' He said he's brought over $58 million for schools to his district, and just signed on to co-sponsor a bill accelerating a decrease in sales tax on groceries. He said that he 'believe[s] in freedom, limited government, and conservative values. (Democrats) believe the same things as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.'
The Democratic candidate who wins Tuesday's primary will face Woods in the general election on June 24.
No. Republicans currently hold 76 of the 105 seats in the lower chamber and 26 of the 35 seats in the upper chamber.
Candidates for Senate District 5 Democratic Primary
Age: 33
Residence: Parrish
Occupation: Communications professional, volunteer co-director of Jubilee House Community nonprofit
Education: Master of Divinity in Social Transformation and a Master of Arts in Ecological Justice from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, in progress.
Party: Democratic
Previous political experience: First-time candidate
Fundraising: Through February 28, Cagle had raised $882 and spent $58.
Age: 37
Residence: Oakman
Occupation: Barista
Education: Associate degree, Advanced Design Engineering, Bevill State Community College, 2024.
Party: Democratic
Previous political experience: First-time candidate
Fundraising: Through February 28, Watkins had raised $160 and spent $3.
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