By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
There are five days left in major party qualifying for the 2018 elections, and already politicos are looking at the Alabama congressional field.
All seven Alabama congressional incumbents have qualified for another term. There is no U.S. Senate race this year. U.S. Senator Doug Jones faces re-election in 2020. Alabama’s senior Senator Richard Shelby faces the voters next in 2022.
In Congressional District 1, incumbent Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, is seeking another term in the House of Representatives. At this point, Byrne does not have a primary opponent. He does, however, have Democratic challenger Robert Kennedy Jr. challenging him.
Kennedy burst onto the political scene last year in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Kennedy is a former U.S. Navy Commander and an alumnus of the naval academy.
Byrne is one of the early favorites for a run against Doug Jones in 2020.
When asked about that, Byrne told Fox 10’s Bob Grip, “Well, I’m running for re-election for the House of Representatives this year. I’ve been pretty clear that after the special Senate election we just had, that I would looking at the possibility of running for the Senate in 2020. But there’s a way off for now. I’ll look at it when it gets closer.”
In Congressional District 2, incumbent Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, is seeking her fourth term. Roby faces two qualified opponents at this point: state Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, and longtime Judge Roy Moore aide, Rich Hobson, in the GOP primary. Retired Army Sergeant Major Tommy Amason has announced his candidacy but has yet to qualify. The winner of the Republican primary will face Tabitha Isner in the general election.
In Congressional District 3, incumbent Mike Rogers, R-Saks, is seeking his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He does not have a qualified Republican primary opponent. No Democrat has formally qualified either, though former Miss America Mallory Hagan is reportedly considering qualifying as a Democrat for the seat.
In the 4th Congressional District, incumbent Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, is seeking his 12th term in Congress. Aderholt faces a Republican challenge from Anthony Blackmon. Lee Auman is running against Rick Neighbors in the Democratic primary.
In the 5th Congressional District, incumbent Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, is seeking his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He faces a primary challenger in veteran and businessman Clayton Hinchman. The winner of the Republican primary will face Peter Joffrion in the general election.
In the 6th Congressional District, incumbent Gary Palmer, R-Huntsville, is seeking his third term in Congress. At this point, Palmer has no Republican primary opponent. Danner Kline has qualified as a Democrat.
In the 7th Congressional District, incumbent Terri Sewell, D-Selma, does not have a qualified primary opponent. At this point, no Republican has qualified to run in the seventh district against Sewell, who is seeking her fifth term in Congress.
Democrats are hopeful that they can take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Republicans in this election.
The major party primaries are on June 5, 2018.
