Caroleene Dobson to run for Alabama secretary of state

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Montgomery attorney Caroleene Dobson, a Republican who ran for Congress last year, announced Thursday she is running for secretary of state in 2026.

The secretary of state serves as Alabama’s chief elections official. The office also maintains business records and government records for the state.

Dobson said her priorities if elected include election security, reducing fees and getting legislation passed that will enable statewide post-election audits.

“As secretary of state, I will reduce fees on Alabama businesses, streamline services for the public, and I will never back down from the liberal activist groups who want to undermine the security of our elections,” Dobson said in a statement.

The office of secretary of state will be open in 2026. Current Secretary of State Wes Allen is running for lieutenant governor in 2026.

State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, also a Republican, is also running for secretary of state. Sorrell is a former member of the Alabama Legislature.

Dobson, a graduate of Harvard College and Baylor University School of Law, is a shareholder in Maynard Nexsen law firm. She specializes in natural resources, commercial finance and real estate law.

In 2024, Dobson ran for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District but lost to Democrat Shomari Figures. A federal court redrew the south Alabama district after ruling that Alabama had purposely diluted the influence of Black voters — who make up 27% of the state’s population.

Dobson said as secretary state that she wants to replicate the Florida Election Crimes and Division, an enforcement unit dedicated to investigating voter fraud and other election crimes.

“On the national level, I will advocate for President Trump’s commonsense election reforms,” Dobson said. “I will also leverage my legal experience to fight back against out-of-state activists who are constantly attempting to use the courts to undermine our election security measures.”