With Friday’s filing deadline now passed, few surprises emerged among the candidates entering two consequential Aug. 11 special elections. Both contests could influence control of the U.S. House next year and determine federal representation for the southern part of the state.
Politically, the next 80 days will be a scramble. The qualifying window was brief, and the special election will be decided by a plurality — a winner‑takes‑all contest. For the first time in recent memory, an Alabama primary will not include a runoff.
In Alabama’s 1st Congressional District, redrawn during this month’s special legislative session to reunite Mobile and Baldwin counties, former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl of Mobile enters as the favorite to return to Congress. He performed strongly in Tuesday’s GOP primary in both counties under the now‑invalidated 2023 map. Carl will face familiar opponents from the previous campaign — Austin Sidwell of Fairhope and John Mills of Newton — along with newcomer Lucas Burger, a Realtor from Gulf Shores…