Alabama state Senator Merika Coleman today announced her candidacy for treasurer of the Democratic National Committee.

One Republican and two Democratic candidates qualified for the Senate District 5 seat on Jan. 7. Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, was the only Republican candidate to qualify. Ryan Cagle, co-director of Jubilee House Community, a progressive nonprofit ministry in Parrish, and Sarah Watkins qualified with the Alabama Democratic Party.

No Black Alabamian has ever served in the U.S. Senate. And only four Black lawmakers have been elected to represent the state since Reconstruction.

Alabama Senate District 5 includes all of Fayette, Lamar and Walker counties, along with a portion of Tuscaloosa County

Rep. Shomari Figures comes to Washington representing a district created by a court order to give Alabama's black voters more just representation.

Trump, who got almost two-thirds of the vote in Alabama, is the model for shaking up the political establishment.

Candidates have from Jan. 14-28 to qualify, but some Tuscaloosa leaders have already announced their reelection plans.

Birmingham City Councilor Carol E. Clarke, who was elected in 2021 to represent District 8, will not seek re-election when her four-year term ends this year, she confirmed to AL.com. No other councilors have thus far announced their re-election plans. The primary will take place on August 26.

After Mike Johnson wins reelection The House and Senate will meet on Monday in a Joint Session of Congress to certify the results of the 2024 presidential vote.