State Auditor and former Alabama House member Andrew Sorrell Monday announced he will run for secretary of state in 2026.
He is the first announced candidate in the race. Current first-term Secretary of State Wes Allen last week said he would run for lieutenant governor next year.
“Alabama needs a committed conservative who will shield our elections from fraud while blocking illegal immigrants and other ineligible individuals from registering to vote,” Sorrell, a Republican, said in a written statement. “As secretary of state, I will ensure that honestly cast votes are counted honestly, and those who attempt to cheat at the ballot box are caught and punished for their actions.”
In his candidacy announcement, Sorrell said since becoming auditor in 2022, he’s saved the state money by declining the use of the state vehicle, relocating the office’s staff and leaving an administrative assistant position unfilled.
“I was DOGE before DOGE was cool,” Sorrell said about Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s stated initiative to find waste and fraud in the federal government.
Prior to running for auditor, Sorrell served one term in the Alabama House, representing part of Colbert County in northwest Alabama. In the House, Sorrell was often a lone “no” vote on General Fund and education budgets.
“Throughout my time in the Legislature, I consistently voted for smaller government and lower taxes, which sometimes resulted in a trip to the woodshed from the leadership and lobbyists, but I remained true to my deeply conservative beliefs and slept well at night.”
Sorrell owns a real estate investment company and pawn shop and gun retail store with locations in Florence and Madison.