Alabama Daily News readers will soon see a new byline.
New State Government and Politics Reporter Claire Harrison is joining the ADN team in January, just in time for the 2026 legislative session and a busy election cycle.
“In-depth legislative and political coverage is our calling card at Alabama Daily News, and having the right reporters on the ground is critical,” said ADN Publisher Todd Stacy. “Claire is a talented young journalist with a bright future. We couldn’t be more pleased to have her aboard in time for a wild political year in 2026.”
Harrison is a Syracuse University alum with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science. Her professional internship experience includes stints at USA Today, Ballotpedia and Syracuse.com.
Harrison’s previous work and approach to news match the ADN motto of “what happened, what’s next and why it matters.”
“I was attracted to this job because of the opportunity to break down the inside baseball of politics and hold our politicians accountable,” Harrison said. “Though it is often ignored, state government affects all of our everyday lives, and I’m thrilled to stand in for the people of Alabama as a watchdog. ADN’s commitment to nonpartisan and high-quality coverage of government is an outlier in 2025, and I’m grateful for the chance to work at a publication with these phenomenally talented and experienced journalists.”
Harrison will work with veteran State House Reporter and ADN Editor Mary Sell to cover the bills and issues in the upcoming session. She’ll also contribute significantly to coverage of the statewide and legislative races on the May 19 primary ballots and the subsequent runoff and Nov. 3 elections.
Her work will also complement that of ADN Education Reporter Trisha Powell Crain and Washington Correspondent Alex Angle.
Harrison recently visited Montgomery to meet the team and tour the State House and Capitol.
“I’m looking forward to digging into the particulars of policy to explain what’s happening and why,” Harrison said. “It’s vital for people to understand what is going on in the State House, and I hope to play a role in keeping people informed. Covering state government is a dream come true, especially at a time when politics permeate so many aspects of our lives. I can’t wait to hit the ground running.”
Contact Claire Harrison at [email protected].