POLITICS

Ensler Secures Democratic Nod; GOP Heads Toward Runoff

PUBLISHED May 20, 2026, 12:01 AM ET

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. State Rep. Phillip Ensler was projected Tuesday to be the Alabama Democratic Party’s nominee for lieutenant governor after defeating primary challenger Darryl D. Perryman, according to local reporting and Associated Press projections; Ensler previously served as Senior Policy Advisor for the City of Montgomery and will be on the ballot for the November 3 general election. This week local outlets and the Associated Press also reported that six Republicans vied for the GOP nomination and that vote totals late Tuesday showed John Wahl and Wes Allen receiving the majority of votes and appearing headed to a runoff; Wahl served as Alabama GOP chairman and holds an appointment to the Alabama Public Library Service Board, while Allen currently serves as secretary of state.

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

State primaries held on Tuesday; votes tallied and projections issued.
Associated Press projects Phillip Ensler as the Democratic nominee after defeating Darryl D. Perryman.
Associated Press projects John Wahl and Wes Allen to advance to a Republican runoff.
Parties begin planning for a potential Republican runoff and general election strategies.
November 3 scheduled as the date for the general election.

News Intelligence

This election could shape Alabama's future policies. As voters, you have the power to influence who takes office. If you're concerned about local issues, research the candidates' stances.

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Who Benefited

Phillip Ensler and Alabama Democrats benefit from a projected Democratic nominee, clarifying their ticket for the November 3 general election and allowing focused fundraising and outreach; Republican voters and candidates benefit from an expected runoff that will energize intra-party campaigns but delay a final GOP nominee.

Who Impacted

Republican voters and organizers face uncertainty and extended primary spending because a likely Wahl-Allen runoff delays selection of a unified GOP candidate for the Nov. 3 general election; individual Republican campaigns may suffer short-term resource strain and messaging fragmentation.

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