Chessboards, Buffets, and Power Bills: Why Alabama’s Place 2 Primary is the One to Watch ​

By Christopher M Peeks January 26, 2026

Chessboards, Buffets, and Power Bills: Why Alabama’s Place 2 Primary is the One to Watch

​Qualifying is over for the 2026 election in Alabama. With the pieces on the political chessboards in place, the Yellowhammer State has quite a few interesting races.

​With the Governor's race a foregone conclusion, politico people, starved for campaign food, have a buffet of races to feast on, both statewide and local. One in particular to watch, that will be as tasty as a side of fried okra to complement the main courses of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor races, will be the battle for Place 2 on the Public Service Commission. The voters should devour this part of the smorgasbord because this depends on whether your power rates go up and down over the next four years.

​Five candidates qualified to run in the May 19th GOP primary. Two of the five are lesser known. The first will start with Jeff Boyd, a former Orange Beach city councilman, who ran for mayor a few years ago and had previously ran for the Alabama Senate.

​The next person up, Priscilla Andrews, some of you may recall from four years ago while running for commissioner in Houston County made racist remarks to some Black people telling them “Have fun hanging off that tree limb.” and “I won’t be hanging from a tree limb or vine-like you for sure. banana eater.” I have never heard the latter before. I take offense to that as well. I like bananas.

​Moving right along, assistant District Attorney in Franklin County Brent Woodall is making his second try for a seat on the PSC. Four years ago he came very close to unseating incumbent commissioner Jeremy Oden in Place 1. Fueled by telling the voters of a hidden tax imposed on the rate payers by the Public Service Commission, Woodall surged into the runoff eventually losing to Oden by a 52% to 48% margin. Everyone anticipated a rematch of the two but when Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry entered the foray, his massive campaign war chest caused Woodall to switch to Place 2 and that message that ignited his insurgency four years ago seems to have lost its bite this time around.

​Now we come to the man dubbed Mr. 49% due to the countless statewide offices he lost in Alabama from anywhere from State Treasurer to Secretary of State to the Court of Criminal Appeals and even the school board, Mr. Jim Zeigler. Zig, who most recently served two terms as State Auditor, has the name recognition and after leaving that position four years ago he has been a journalist for several outlets, the most latest Yellowhammer News.

​This may help boost Zig who is always had problems raising money. With his contacts with Paul Shashy, he may receive the funding he needs to be competitive in a statewide race.

​Lastly, we come to the incumbent Chris Beeker III, whom Governor Ivey appointed earlier this year when his father Chip Beeker resigned due to health reasons. This appointment left a bad taste in the mouth of voters and he could pay the price for it at the box.

​This should be a fun one to watch. Expect the gloves to come off and turn into a battle royal as each candidate launches a barrage of attacks on the other and see who checkmates whom in the May 19 GOP primary.