MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Wes Allen, who serves as Alabama’s Secretary of State and is known for advocating the state’s separation from a controversial voter registration agreement, announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor in 2026 on Tuesday.
In a statement from his campaign, Allen emphasized his commitment to standing against what he described as liberal agendas impacting society, children, and businesses. The Republican official’s history, he stated, speaks for itself as he prepares to campaign for this higher office.
Current Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth is not eligible for re-election due to term limits but is contemplating a gubernatorial run.
Following his election, Allen made headlines by pulling Alabama out of the Electronic Registration Information Center, a multi-state initiative designed to combat voter fraud, citing concerns over privacy. This decision aligned with moves by several other Republican-led states to sever ties with the organization. Allen subsequently introduced the Alabama Voter Integrity Database and established agreements with various states to enhance information sharing related to voter registration.
During his tenure as Secretary of State, he supported the enactment of new legislation that imposed stricter penalties for assisting with absentee ballot requests, including criminalizing the payment for distributing or collecting applications. He also endorsed measures that broadened the criteria for felonies impacting an individual’s voting rights in Alabama.
Allen previously spent one term in the Alabama House of Representatives and held the position of Probate Judge in Pike County for a decade.
In the legislature, he sponsored a bill making it a felony to administer gender-affirming treatments, such as hormones, to transgender minors. Additionally, he was among several probate judges who, in response to rulings that invalidated state bans on same-sex marriage, halted the issuance of marriage licenses entirely to circumvent licensing gay couples. This led to changes in the marriage license process in the state.
The primary elections are scheduled to occur in May of the upcoming year, setting the stage for Allen’s potential candidacy and the broader political landscape in Alabama.
