Who will be the next secretary of state in Alabama?

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Candidates are already hitting the campaign trail and competing to be Alabama’s next secretary of state.

The office oversees elections, serves as the governor’s personal notary, and keeps business records in the state. On the Republican side, State Auditor and former Rep. Andrew Sorrell has thrown his hat in the race. He said he wants to bring a post election audit to Alabama.

“We’ve got to get an election audit bill done in Alabama,” said Sorrell. “Got to hand count some ballots from randomly selected precincts, and make sure that hand count matches the tabulator result. That’s the only way we know those tabulators are working, properly.”

Former Congressional candidate and attorney Caroleene Dobson said she wants to bring an election crimes team, working with prosecutors in the state.

“I want to work to equip them with the expert eyes that they need to help actually apprehend, investigate, and prosecute those who try to cheat the system,” Dobson said.

Running on the Democratic side is Jefferson County Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Rogers. As an attorney, Rogers said he wants to make it easier for people to register and operate their businesses in the state.

“I know how much they depend on the Secretary of State’s office, and I would like to improve the processes there,” Rogers said. “I just want to carry on a fine tradition of great Secretaries of State in this state- folks who have done a really good job of expanding the right of people to vote.”

Alabamians will vote in the primary on May 19, 2025.