Incumbent Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler is currently leading against state Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, in the GOP primary run-off election for the Republican nomination for Alabama Secretary of State, according to a recent poll from McLaughlin & Associates.
The poll, conducted between June 6 and June 9 and funded by the Alabama Forestry Association, shows Zeigler with 34.4 percent over Allen at 28.2 percent, with 37.4 percent of individuals polled undecided.
The June poll also revealed Zeigler marked high in favorability, with 29.6 percent declaring they held a favorable opinion of the candidate, in contrast to 19.4 percent stating they held an unfavorable opinion of the candidate. Out of those who said they held a favorable opinion of Zeigler, the majority indicated they held a somewhat favorable opinion.
By comparison, 21.8 percent see Allen in a favorable light, and only 8.0 percent held an unfavorable opinion of the state representative. A greater majority of individuals surveyed held no opinion or had never heard of the candidate, according to the June poll.
According to historical polling data collected from McLaughlin & Associates earlier this year, Allen’s favorability rating has risen upwards by ten percentage points from 11.8 percent favorable in March to now 21.8 in June. Zeigler’s favorability rating has been marginally increasing from 22.2 percent in March to 29.6 percent now in June.
Also, according to the historical data, both candidates unfavorably have risen since March, with Allen bearing the highest rise at 4.2 percent in March to 8.0 now in June. In comparison, Zeigler’s unfavorably has only risen 2.2 percent, from 17.2 in March to now 19.4 in June.
Recently, both Republican candidates participated in a Q&A concerning the roles and responsibilities of the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, answering questions on topics ranging from maintenance of voter rolls to the Business Services side of the office.
The runoff election to decide the Republican candidate for Alabama secretary of state is scheduled for June 21.
The winner will face the presumptive Democratic nominee Pamela Laffitte on Nov. 8. Midterm Elections.
