By TODD STACY, Alabama Daily News
Of the 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate, only 16 are being contested on Tuesday’s General Election Ballot.
That’s not to say this cycle hasn’t been competitive in the Senate. There were some heated races in places where the primary all but decides who the senator will be.
Republicans will certainly hold on to their solid majority in the Senate, and they could possibly add to it. Republican Donnie Chesteen replacing Independent Sen. Harri Anne Smith in Dothan means President Pro Tem Del Marsh and Majority Leader Greg Reed will add one more to their caucus. But, they are hoping to fend off the rise of another independent in Craig Ford and prevent incumbent Sen. Larry Stutts from losing his seat to Democratic Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow.
“Senator Marsh and I have worked hard throughout the summer and fall to protect a conservative majority in the State Senate,” Reed told Alabama Daily News.
“I’m confident that we will have a good shot at maintaining a strong majority in the Senate when all the votes are counted on Tuesday.”
Below is a chart rating each of the competitive seats on a scale of Solid Republican, Leans Republican, Toss-Up, Leans Democrat, Solid Democrat.
Thank you to everyone who contributed information in helping me develop these ratings.
See something off? Did I get it wrong? Shoot me a note and tell me if there is information I need to know that would swing a race into a different column.
| SD | Republican | Democrat | Third Party | ADN Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sen. Tim Melson | Caroline Self | Lean R | |
| 2 | Tom Butler | Amy Wasyluka | Lean R | |
| 6 | Sen. Larry Stutts | Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow | Toss Up | |
| 7 | Sam Givhan | Deborah Barros | Solid R | |
| 10 | Andrew Jones | Rep. Craig Ford | Toss Up | |
| 11 | Sen. Jim McClendon | Carl Carter | Solid R | |
| 12 | Sen. Del Marsh | Jim Williams | Lean R | |
| 13 | Randy Price | Darrell Turner | Lean R | |
| 14 | Cam Ward | Jerry McDonald | Solid R | |
| 16 | Sen. Jabo Waggoner | Lindsey Deckard | Solid R | |
| 21 | Sen. Gerald Allen | Rick Burnham | Solid R | |
| 23 | Malika Sanders-Fortier | Mark Story | Solid D | |
| 25 | Will Barfoot | David Sadler | Solid R | |
| 26 | D.J. Johnson | Sen. David Burkette | Solid D | |
| 27 | Sen. Tom Whatley | Nancy Carlton Bendinger | Lean R | |
| 32 | Chris Elliott | Jason Fisher | Solid R | |
| 35 | Rep. David Sessions | Tom Holmes | Solid R |
Race Profile: Stutts, Morrow square off for Senate District 6