You’d think finding out who represents you in Montgomery would be a three-second Google search, right? Well, it’s actually kind of a mess right now. If you've looked at a map lately, you probably noticed things look a little different than they did a few years ago. Alabama's political landscape is shifting, not just because of who’s in the seats, but because the seats themselves have been moved around by judges and lawmakers in a back-and-forth redistricting fight that feels like it’s never going to end.
Basically, the Alabama State Senate is made up of 35 people. Each one of these Alabama state senators by district is supposed to represent roughly 137,000 people. But with the 2026 election cycle kicking into high gear and a court-ordered remedial map now in play, knowing exactly who's who—and where they stand—is more important than ever.
The Power Players in the Current Session
As of January 2026, the Senate is meeting for its regular session. It’s an election year, so the energy in the State House is, honestly, a bit frantic. Republicans still hold a massive supermajority—27 seats to the Democrats' 8. That means they can pretty much pass what they want if they stay united, but "staying united" is always easier said than done when local interests start clashing with state-wide party goals.
Leadership at the Top
Before we get into the full list, you've gotta know who's actually running the show.
- Will Ainsworth (R): As Lieutenant Governor, he’s the President of the Senate. He doesn't vote unless there's a tie, but he wields a lot of gavels.
- Garlan Gudger (R): He represents District 4 (Cullman area) and is the President Pro Tem. If you want a bill to move, you usually need his blessing.
- Steve Livingston (R): The Majority Leader from District 8. He’s the guy making sure the Republican caucus stays on the same page.
- Bobby Singleton (D): The Minority Leader from District 24. Even with a small group, he’s a veteran at finding leverage where most people don't see any.
The Full Breakdown: Alabama State Senators by District
Here is the current lineup for the 2026 session. Keep in mind that some of these folks aren't running again, and a few are brand new faces who just won special elections.
Districts 1 through 10: The North Alabama Contingent
District 1 is held by Tim Melson (R), a doctor from Florence who’s been around since 2014. Right next door in District 2, we have Tom Butler (R), but here’s the kicker: he’s retiring. This seat is wide open for the 2026 election, and people are already scrambling for it. Arthur Orr (R) holds District 3 (Decatur), and he’s basically the gatekeeper of the state's education budget. If you care about school funding, he’s the name you hear most.
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District 4 belongs to the Pro Tem himself, Garlan Gudger (R). Moving over to District 5, we have a relatively new face: Matt Woods (R). He just won a special election in 2025 to replace Greg Reed, who left to work for Governor Kay Ivey. Woods represents a huge chunk of West Alabama, including Jasper and parts of Tuscaloosa.
Rounding out the north, Larry Stutts (R) is in District 6, Sam Givhan (R) covers District 7 (Madison County), and Steve Livingston (R) is in District 8. District 9 is now held by Wes Kitchens (R), who also came in through a special election recently. Finally, Andrew Jones (R) represents District 10 out of Centre.
Districts 11 through 20: The Central and Birmingham Hub
This area is where things get really dense. Lance Bell (R) has District 11, and Keith Kelley (R) has District 12. Randy Price (R) represents District 13, covering the Lee County/Opelika area.
District 14 is April Weaver (R), who is a major voice on healthcare issues. In the Birmingham suburbs and Shelby County, you’ve got Dan Roberts (R) in District 15 and the legendary J.T. "Jabo" Waggoner (R) in District 16. Jabo has been in the legislature since 1966. Seriously. He’s seen it all.
Shay Shelnutt (R) holds District 17. Then we hit the Democratic stronghold in Birmingham. Rodger Smitherman (D) in District 18, Merika Coleman (D) in District 19, and Linda Coleman-Madison (D) in District 20. These three represent some of the most consistent voting blocks in the state.
Districts 21 through 35: The Black Belt to the Coast
Heading south, Gerald Allen (R) holds District 21 in Tuscaloosa. Greg Albritton (R) is in District 22; he’s the General Fund budget chairman, so he’s the one wrestling with how much money goes to prisons and state agencies. Robert Stewart (D) holds District 23, representing a massive swath of the Black Belt.
Bobby Singleton (D) is in District 24, followed by Will Barfoot (R) in District 25 (Montgomery area). Kirk Hatcher (D) holds District 26, and Jay Hovey (R) is in District 27. Billy Beasley (D), a pharmacist from Clayton, has held District 28 for years.
Down toward the Wiregrass and the Gulf, Donnie Chesteen (R) is in District 29, and Clyde Chambliss (R) holds District 30. Josh Carnley (R) represents District 31. Chris Elliott (R) is the guy for Baldwin County in District 32. Vivian Davis Figures (D) is the long-time senator for District 33 in Mobile. Jack Williams (R) is in District 34 (though he’s running for Ag Commissioner now), and David Sessions (R) holds District 35.
Why the 2026 Election Matters Right Now
Usually, state senators serve four-year terms and everyone kind of forgets about them until the next primary. But 2026 is different. Because of the ongoing litigation over redistricting, the map being used right now—the "remedial map"—has changed the boundaries for several districts.
The courts found that the previous lines likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of Black voters. The new map aims to fix that, which means some incumbents are suddenly looking at voters they’ve never represented before. It’s making everyone in Montgomery very nervous.
What’s on the Table in 2026?
- The Overtime Tax: There’s a big push this year to revisit how overtime pay is taxed.
- School Choice: The CHOOSE Act is getting a lot of attention, with some senators wanting to pour even more money into private school vouchers.
- Healthcare: Expansion is still the "elephant in the room." While the leadership hasn't fully committed to Medicaid expansion, the conversation is more active than it’s been in a decade.
How to Actually Use This Information
Don't just look at the list of Alabama state senators by district and click away. If you have an issue with your local road, your kid's school, or your small business taxes, these are the people who actually have the power to fix it. A U.S. Senator in D.C. can’t help you with a state highway project, but your state senator can.
- Verify your district: With the new maps, you might not be in the district you think you are. Use the "Find My Legislator" tool on the Alabama Legislature website (alison.legislature.state.al.us).
- Check the committee assignments: If you care about the environment, see if your senator is on the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry committee. If they are, your email carries ten times more weight.
- Track the bills: The 2026 session is short. It started in mid-January and will wrap up by late March. If you want to influence a vote, you have to do it now.
The reality of Alabama politics is that things move fast when the leadership wants them to and glacially slow when they don't. Knowing your senator is the first step in making sure they’re moving in the direction you actually want. Stay on top of the election filings as we head toward the May primaries, because several of these seats will have new faces by this time next year.