MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Caroleene Dobson, a legal practitioner known for her Republican candidacy for Congress last year, has announced her intention to run for the role of Alabama’s secretary of state in the 2026 elections.
The office of the secretary of state in Alabama is a crucial position tasked with overseeing elections, as well as managing the state’s business and governmental records.
Dobson has outlined a series of objectives she plans to prioritize if she is elected, emphasizing the importance of election security, cutting down costs, and facilitating the passage of new legislation that would make statewide post-election audits possible.
“My focus as secretary of state will include reducing costs for Alabama businesses and streamlining services for Alabamians,” Dobson declared in a statement. “I am committed to resisting efforts by liberal activist groups that threaten the integrity of our election processes.”
The position of secretary of state will be open for election in 2026 due to the current officeholder, Wes Allen, pursuing a campaign for lieutenant governor in the same year.
Among other contenders for the secretary of state role is Andrew Sorrell, a fellow Republican and the state auditor known for his legislative experience in the Alabama Legislature.
Dobson, who holds degrees from Harvard College and the Baylor University School of Law, is a prominent shareholder at the Maynard Nexsen law firm, specializing in areas such as natural resources, commercial finance, and real estate law.
In a previous political bid, Dobson campaigned for a congressional seat in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in 2024; however, her bid was unsuccessful as she lost to Democrat Shomari Figures. This election followed a federal court’s decision to redraw the district boundaries to address concerns that Alabama had previously taken actions to diminish the voting power of Black residents, who constitute 27% of the state’s population.
Dobson revealed her intent to create an election enforcement division mirroring the Florida Election Crimes and Division to focus on investigating allegations of voter fraud and other electoral offenses.
“On a broader scale, I will support President Trump’s straightforward election reform measures,” Dobson added. “I intend to utilize my legal expertise to confront and counter outside influences that use litigation to challenge and weaken our election security protocols.”