CULLMAN, Ala. – Unofficial 2026 Primary Election returns from Cullman County showed major wins Tuesday night, May 19, for Chad Whaley in the Cullman County Sheriff race; Richard Barnett in the Cullman County Commission, District 2 race; Mike Pitts in the Cullman County Revenue Commissioner race; and Kenneth Walker in the Cullman County Commission, District 1 race.
The results were based on Cullman County’s 50-of-51boxes election-night report, with one box still outstanding. The county reported 66,708 registered voters and 16,740 ballots cast, for an unofficial turnout of about 25.1%.
The Republican primary drew the overwhelming majority of local ballots, with 15,749 Republican ballots cast. The Democratic primary drew 980 ballots, with 11 nonpartisan ballots and two blank ballots also reported.
The Cullman County Sheriff race was one of the most closely watched local contests of the night following Sheriff Matt Gentry’s decision to seek the Republican nomination for Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1. Whaley led Tim Creel 10,257 to 5,125, or 66.68% to 33.32%.
Whaley previously told The Tribune his campaign focused on creating a dedicated warrant division, targeting high-crime areas, continuing the fight against illegal drugs, strengthening deputy and citizen training and expanding the school resource officer program.
Creel, a law enforcement veteran, previously told The Tribune his campaign focused on child protection, online exploitation investigations, illegal drugs and targeting traffickers and criminal networks.
In the Cullman County Commission, District 2 race, Barnett led Josh Speakman 8,059 to 5,454, or 59.64% to 40.36%. Barnett previously told The Tribune he wanted better public communication on road construction, support for law enforcement and more involvement from local companies in supporting schools.
Speakman had campaigned on economic growth, business loyalty, small business support and equitable treatment in economic development incentives.
In the Cullman County Revenue Commissioner race, Pitts led Kenneth Cornelius 7,735 to 6,655, or 53.75% to 46.25%. Cornelius previously told The Tribune his campaign focused on efficiency, public information sessions about exemptions and benefits and applying his business management and county government experience to the office.
In the Cullman County Commission, District 1 race, Walker led Reburn Miller 9,897 to 3,617, or 73.24% to 26.76%.
The Alabama Senate District 4 Republican primary also drew significant local attention. In Cullman County, Sen. Garlan Gudger led J.R. Bowling 8,958 to 6,319, or 58.64% to 41.36%.
Gudger, R-Cullman, announced in January that he was seeking another term representing District 4, which includes Cullman, Marion and Winston counties. In that announcement, he pointed to conservative legislation, district investment and his work in the Alabama Senate.
Bowling had positioned his campaign around accountability, local control, infrastructure, emergency services, small businesses and opposition to SB322. He previously told The Tribune his campaign was about giving District 4 “its voice back.”
Gentry, the outgoing Cullman County sheriff, dominated the Cullman County vote in the Republican Primary for Public Service Commission, Place 1. Gentry received 12,196 votes locally, or 78.84%, while incumbent Jeremy H. Oden received 3,274, or 21.16%.
Gentry previously told The Tribune he wanted to “bring transparency and accountability” to the Public Service Commission and later said he would call for a public rate hearing as his first order of business if elected.
On Primary night, he said, “I am very excited and thankful for the trust Republican Primary voters have shown today by nominating me as their Public Service Commissioner for Place 1. I’ll always be a sheriff, but I look forward to continuing my message of bringing transparency and change to the citizens in November.”
In statewide returns available Tuesday night, The Associated Press reported that Tommy Tuberville won the Republican nomination for governor and Doug Jones won the Democratic nomination, setting up a general election matchup between the former U.S. Senate rivals. The AP also reported that the crowded Republican Primary for U.S. Senate could head to a June 16 runoff if no candidate receives a majority.
Statewide election feeds showed Gentry leading Oden in the Republican PSC, Place 1 race, Barry Moore leading the Republican U.S. Senate field, John Wahl leading Wes Allen in the Republican Lieutenant Governor race, Katherine Robertson leading the Republican Alabama Attorney General race, Caroleene Dobson leading the Republican Secretary of State race, Young Boozer leading the Republican Alabama State Treasurer race and Andrew Sorrell leading the Republican Alabama State Auditor race. Those statewide feeds were still incomplete at the time reviewed.
Cullman County unofficial election-night results
50 of 51 boxes reporting
Registered voters and ballots cast
- Registered voters: 66,708
- Ballots cast: 16,740
- Democratic ballots cast: 980
- Republican ballots cast: 15,749
- Nonpartisan ballots cast: 11
- Blank ballots cast: 2
Democratic Primary
Governor
- Doug Jones: 748, 76.80%
- Will Boyd: 113, 11.60%
- Chad “Chig” Martin: 41, 4.21%
- Yolanda Rochelle Flowers: 40, 4.11%
- Jamel J. Brown: 19, 1.95%
- Nathan “Nate” Mathis: 13, 1.33%
- Undervotes: 6
Lieutenant Governor
- Phillip Ensler: 549, 62.81%
- Darryl D. Perryman: 325, 37.19%
- Undervotes: 106
United States Senator
- Dakarai Larriett: 260, 29.38%
- Mark S. Wheeler II: 252, 28.47%
- Kyle Sweetser: 192, 21.69%
- Everett Wess: 181, 20.45%
- Undervotes: 95
United States Representative, 4th Congressional District
- Amanda N. Pusczek: 541, 61.27%
- Shane Weaver: 342, 38.73%
- Undervotes: 97
Public Service Commission, Place 1
- Jeff Ramsey: 329, 37.73%
- James O. Gordon: 317, 36.35%
- John Northrop: 226, 25.92%
- Undervotes: 108
State Democratic Executive Committee, male
- Darron Mitchell: 22, 52.38%
- James Kinsman: 20, 47.62%
- Undervotes: 5
Republican Primary
Governor
- Thomas Tuberville: 13,427, 88.14%
- Ken McFeeters: 1,168, 7.67%
- “Alabama” Will Santivasci: 638, 4.19%
- Undervotes: 516
Lieutenant Governor
- John Wahl: 5,836, 40.23%
- Wes Allen: 5,017, 34.58%
- Pat Bishop: 1,145, 7.89%
- Nicole Jones Wadsworth: 950, 6.55%
- Rick Pate: 935, 6.44%
- Stewart Hill Tankersley: 378, 2.61%
- George Childress: 247, 1.70%
- Overvotes: 14
- Undervotes: 1,227
United States Senator
- Jared Hudson: 5,665, 38.03%
- Barry Moore: 3,941, 26.45%
- Steve Marshall: 3,747, 25.15%
- Rodney Walker: 820, 5.50%
- Seth Burton: 275, 1.85%
- Dale Shelton Deas Jr.: 251, 1.68%
- Morgan Murphy: 198, 1.33%
- Overvotes: 14
- Undervotes: 838
United States Representative, 4th Congressional District
- Robert B. Aderholt: 11,581, 77.56%
- Tommy Barnes: 3,350, 22.44%
- Overvotes: 3
- Undervotes: 815
Alabama Attorney General
- Katherine Robertson: 5,255, 36.45%
- Jay Mitchell: 4,889, 33.91%
- Pamela L. Casey: 4,273, 29.64%
- Overvotes: 8
- Undervotes: 1,324
Alabama State Senator, District 4
- Garlan Gudger: 8,958, 58.64%
- J.R. Bowling: 6,319, 41.36%
- Overvotes: 4
- Undervotes: 468
Alabama Secretary of State
- Caroleene Dobson: 8,931, 66.34%
- Christopher Christian Horn: 2,980, 22.13%
- Glenda S. Jackson: 1,552, 11.53%
- Overvotes: 8
- Undervotes: 2,278
Alabama State Treasurer
- Young Boozer: 8,698, 64.48%
- Steve Lolley: 4,792, 35.52%
- Undervotes: 2,259
Alabama State Auditor
- Andrew Sorrell: 9,463, 69.92%
- Derek Chen: 4,071, 30.08%
- Undervotes: 2,215
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
- Corey Hill: 5,520, 41.27%
- Jack Williams: 4,069, 30.57%
- Christina Woerner McInnis: 3,767, 28.16%
- Overvotes: 8
- Undervotes: 2,365
Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1
- Matt Gentry: 12,196, 78.84%
- Jeremy H. Oden: 3,274, 21.16%
- Overvotes: 3
- Undervotes: 276
Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 2
- Jim “Zig” Zeigler: 5,359, 40.62%
- Chris Beeker: 3,391, 25.65%
- Brent Woodall: 2,674, 20.23%
- Priscilla Andrews: 1,785, 13.51%
- Overvotes: 10
- Undervotes: 2,530
Alabama State Board of Education, District 6
- Cathi Bradford: 8,371, 64.09%
- Marie Manning: 4,690, 35.91%
- Overvotes: 2
- Undervotes: 2,686
Cullman County Commission, District 1
- Kenneth Walker: 9,897, 73.24%
- Reburn Miller: 3,617, 26.76%
- Overvotes: 2
- Undervotes: 2,233
Cullman County Commission, District 2
- Richard Barnett: 8,059, 59.64%
- Josh Speakman: 5,454, 40.36%
- Overvotes: 4
- Undervotes: 2,232
Cullman County Revenue Commissioner
- Mike Pitts: 7,735, 53.75%
- Kenneth Cornelius: 6,655, 46.25%
- Overvotes: 5
- Undervotes: 1,354
Cullman County Sheriff
- Chad Whaley: 10,257, 66.68%
- Tim Creel: 5,125, 33.32%
- Overvotes: 3
- Undervotes: 364
Cullman County Board of Education Hanceville, District 4
- Kenny Brockman: 1,053, 53.34%
- Stephen McRea: 921, 46.66%
- Overvotes: 2
- Undervotes: 277
Alabama State Republican Executive Committee, Cullman County, Place 2
- Cathi Bradford: 7,899, 59.60%
- Jamie Speakman: 5,355, 40.40%
- Overvotes: 6
- Undervotes: 2,489
Alabama State Republican Executive Committee, Cullman County, Place 4
- J.R. Bowling: 7,536, 56.24%
- Samuel “Sam” L. Roberts: 3,524, 26.30%
- Chatty Freeman: 2,339, 17.46%
- Overvotes: 12
- Undervotes: 2,338
Cullman County Republican Executive Committee, West
- Jamie Speakman: 5,912, 29.52%
- Tommy Wilkinson: 5,265, 26.29%
- Chatty Freeman: 4,604, 22.99%
- Jacqueline B. Schendel: 4,247, 21.21%
- Overvotes: 18
- Undervotes: 27,201
Cullman County Republican Executive Committee, East
- Jeff Lawson: 6,236, 30.77%
- Cathi Bradford: 5,858, 28.90%
- David W. Grissom: 5,173, 25.52%
- Carol Cline: 3,001, 14.81%
- Overvotes: 6
- Undervotes: 26,973
Cullman County Republican Executive Committee, At Large
- Champ Crocker: 7,536, 13.95%
- Jeff “Clem” Clemons: 6,778, 12.55%
- Steve Cummings: 6,467, 11.98%
- Kelly Duke: 5,934, 10.99%
- Rex Sorrow: 5,505, 10.20%
- Jeremy H. Oden: 5,333, 9.88%
- Gwen B. Parker: 4,476, 8.29%
- Jeremy Cline: 4,207, 7.79%
- Morris L. Williams: 4,015, 7.44%
- Greg “Tally” Johnson: 3,744, 6.93%
- Overvotes: 63
- Undervotes: 87,683
Cullman County Republican Executive Committee, City of Cullman
- Alex J. Chaney: 1,315, 29.79%
- Waid Harbison: 1,246, 28.23%
- Michael Sapp: 1,145, 25.94%
- G. Rhys Battles: 708, 16.04%
- Undervotes: 4,376
Cullman County Republican Executive Committee, West Point, District 1
- J.R. Bowling: 1,312, 59.74%
- Samuel “Sam” L. Roberts: 884, 40.26%
- Overvotes: 2
- Undervotes: 244
Cullman County Republican Executive Committee, Fairview, District 2
- Todd Floyd: 840, 55.15%
- Mike Ball: 683, 44.85%
- Undervotes: 337
Nonpartisan statewide amendments
Proposed statewide amendment 1
- Yes: 13,596, 88.02%
- No: 1,851, 11.98%
- Overvotes: 8
- Undervotes: 1,285
Proposed statewide amendment 2
- Yes: 7,531, 50.72%
- No: 7,316, 49.28%
- Overvotes: 6
- Undervotes: 1,887
