What’s on the ballot? Get familiar with the races for Tuesday’s election

Published 6:00 am Saturday, February 29, 2020

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On Tuesday, voters in Chambers County and all across Alabama will head to the polls to cast a ballot for president and in statewide and local races in the 2020 primary.

There’s a lot on the ballot, though what voters see will be determined by their party and district. For instance, Democrats will get a chance to cast a vote for the Democratic nominee for president, while Republicans will pick between Donald Trump and Bill Weld.

Some of Chambers County will get to vote on the district 4 school board race, while others will not.

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Here’s a look at the entire ballot, covering what will be on ballots for both parties:

REPUBLICAN

PRESIDENT

The Republican ballot starts where you’d expect with the presidential race. President Donald Trump and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld are the nominees, with a third spot on the ballot available for “uncommitted.”

U.S. SENATE

The U.S. Senate race is listed next, and it figures to be one of the most competitive races around the state Tuesday. The options, in alphabetical order, are businessman Stanley Adair, U.S. House Representative Bradley Byrne, Alabama House Representative Arnold Mooney, former Chief Justice Roy Moore, Ruth Page Nelson, former U.S. Senator and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville.

If no candidate receives the majority of the votes, a run-off will be held March 31.

The winner will face Democrat Doug Jones in the general election in November.

OTHER STATEWIDE RACES

There are several other statewide races on the ballot as well, including associate justice of the Supreme Court, court of civil appeals judge, court of criminal appeals judge and president of the public service commission.

Incumbent Greg Shaw and State Sen. Cam Ward are running for associate justice of the supreme court, place No. 1.

State Rep. Matt Fridy and Phillip Bahakel are running for court of civil appeals place No. 2.

Incumbent Mary Windom is seeking re-election for court of criminal appeals place No. 1. Windom currently also presides over the court of appeals. She will be challenged by attorney Melvin Hasting.

Incumbent Beth Kellum leads three candidates who qualified for court of criminal appeals judge place No. 2. She will be challenged by former Jefferson County Court Judge Jill Ganus and attorney and former Lauderdale County Commissioner Will Smith.

Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh will face retired educator Robin Litaker. The winner will face the Democratic winner in the general election.

LOCAL RACES

In local races, incumbent Beth Abney and will take on Shannon Frailey in the race for Chambers County Revenue Commissioner. Jay Siggers and Doug Thomas will face off in the race for Chambers County Board of Education District 4.

DEMOCRATIC BALLOT

PRESIDENT

Democratic voters will get to decide between 14 candidates for president, though many of them have already dropped out of the race.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, American Hedge Fund Manager Tom Steyer and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren are among the names on the ballot.

STATEWIDE RACES

Retired attorney Laura Casey and former Jefferson County School Board candidate Robert Maris are Democratic candidates for president of the Public Service Commission. The winner will face the Republican winner in the general election.

ON BOTH BALLOTS

The majority of both the Republican and Democratic ballots are filled with delegate votes, where candidates will pair their choice for president with a pick of delegates to support that choice.

The other measure on both ballots is a proposed statewide amendment that would abolish the eight-person, elected state school board. If the amendment passes, the governor would have the power to appoint all nine members. The name of the board would also change to the Alabama Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education.

A state education secretary would also be appointed and would replace the current superintendent of education.