Alabama State Board of Education election, 2020

2022 → ← 2018
Alabama State Board of Education
Election details
Filing deadline: November 8, 2019
Primary: March 3, 2020 Primary runoff: July 14, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent(s): Jackie Zeigler (R) (District 1) Stephanie Bell (R) (District 3) Vacant (D) (District 5) Jeffrey Newman (R) (District 7)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Alabama
Ballotpedia analysis
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Alabama executive elections
Public Service Commissioner State Board of Education (4 seats)

Alabama held an election for four of nine seats on the state board of education on November 3, 2020. The primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was November 8, 2019.

Incumbent Jackie Zeigler won election in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 1.

Incumbent Stephanie Bell won election in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 3.

Tonya Smith Chestnut won election in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 5.

Belinda Palmer McRae won election in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 7.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Alabama modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Any qualified voter could cast an absentee ballot in the general election.
• Candidate filing procedures: The petition deadline for unaffiliated presidential candidates was extended to August 20, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Candidates and election results

District 1

General election candidates

• Jackie Zeigler  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
• Tom Holmes  (Democratic Party)

 Democratic primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Tom Holmes ✔

 Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Jackie Zeigler (Incumbent) ✔

District 3

General election candidates

• Stephanie Bell  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
• Jarralynne Agee  (Democratic Party)

 Democratic primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Jarralynne Agee ✔

 Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Stephanie Bell (Incumbent) ✔

District 5

General election candidates

• Tonya Smith Chestnut  (Democratic Party) ✔
• Lesa Keith  (Republican Party)

 Democratic primary runoff candidates

• Fred F. Bell
• Tonya Smith Chestnut ✔

 Democratic primary candidates

• Fred F. Bell ✔
• Ron Davis
• Pamela Laffitte
• Patrice McClammy
• Woodie Pugh Jr.
• Joanne Shum
• Tonya Smith Chestnut ✔
• Billie Jean Young

Did not make the ballot:

• Phillip Ensler
• Robert White II

 Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Lesa Keith ✔

District 7

General election candidates

• Belinda Palmer McRae  (Republican Party) ✔ 

= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
 Democratic primary candidates

The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.

 Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Belinda Palmer McRae ✔ 

= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Note: Belinda Palmer McRae was the only candidate to file for election, so the primaries were canceled and she automatically advanced to the general election.

Past elections

2018

See also: Alabama State Board of Education election, 2018

District 2

General election

General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 2

Tracie West defeated Adam Jortner in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tracie West (R)	66.5	128,498
		Adam Jortner (D)	33.4	64,437
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	155

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 193,090 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Alabama State Board of Education District 2

Tracie West defeated Melanie Hill in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama State Board of Education District 2 on July 17, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tracie West	50.7	21,547
		Melanie Hill	49.3	20,917

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 42,464
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 2

Adam Jortner advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 2 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Adam Jortner

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 2

Melanie Hill and Tracie West advanced to a runoff. They defeated John Taylor and Sybil Little in the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 2 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Melanie Hill	32.9	19,677
✔		Tracie West	31.7	18,963
		John Taylor	28.5	17,038
		Sybil Little	7.0	4,159

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 59,837
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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District 4

General election

General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 4

Incumbent Yvette Richardson defeated Don Wallace in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 4 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yvette Richardson (D)	67.4	142,282
		Don Wallace (R)	32.5	68,571
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	139

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 210,992 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 4

Incumbent Yvette Richardson advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 4 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Yvette Richardson

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 4

Don Wallace advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 4 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Don Wallace

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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District 6

General election

General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 6

Incumbent Cynthia Sanders McCarty won election in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 6 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cynthia Sanders McCarty (R)	98.8	155,682
		Other/Write-in votes	1.2	1,843

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 157,525 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 6

Incumbent Cynthia Sanders McCarty advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 6 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Cynthia Sanders McCarty

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

District 8

General election

General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 8

Wayne Reynolds defeated Jessica Fortune Barker in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 8 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Wayne Reynolds (R)	61.0	137,524
		Jessica Fortune Barker (D)	38.9	87,714
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	174

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 225,412 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 8

Jessica Fortune Barker advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 8 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Jessica Fortune Barker

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 8

Wayne Reynolds defeated Rich McAdams in the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 8 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Wayne Reynolds	51.8	30,885
		Rich McAdams	48.2	28,693

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 59,578
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Click [show] at the right to view more past election results.

2016 On November 8, 2016, Jackie Zeigler won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 1. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 1, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Jackie Zeigler 100% 195,549 Total Votes 195,549 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 8, 2016, Stephanie Bell won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 3. She defeated Jarralynne Agee in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 3, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Stephanie Bell Incumbent 73.3% 199,296      Democratic Jarralynne Agee 26.7% 72,595 Total Votes 271,891 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 8, 2016, Ella Bell won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 5. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 5, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Ella Bell Incumbent 100% 183,712 Total Votes 183,712 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 8, 2016, Jeffrey Newman won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 7. He ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 7, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Jeffrey Newman Incumbent 100% 202,420 Total Votes 202,420 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. 2014 On November 4, 2014, Betty Peters won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 2. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 2, 2014 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Betty Peters Incumbent 100% 89,137 Total Votes 89,137 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 4, 2014, Yvette Richardson won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 4. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 4, 2014 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Yvette Richardson Incumbent 100% 99,618 Total Votes 99,618 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 4, 2014, Cynthia Sanders McCarty won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 6. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 6, 2014 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Cynthia Sanders McCarty 100% 105,827 Total Votes 105,827 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 4, 2014, Mary Scott Hunter won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 8. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 8, 2014 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Mary Scott Hunter Incumbent 100% 103,145 Total Votes 103,145 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. 2012 On November 6, 2012, Tracy Roberts won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 1. She defeated Herndon Inge in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 1, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Tracy Roberts 69.2% 167,798      Democratic Herndon Inge, III 30.8% 74,520 Total Votes 242,318 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 6, 2012, Stephanie Bell won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 3. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 3, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Stephanie Bell Incumbent 100% 193,177 Total Votes 193,177 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 6, 2012, Ella Bell won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 5. She ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 5, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Ella Bell Incumbent 100% 200,790 Total Votes 200,790 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 6, 2012, Jeffrey Newman won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 7. He ran unopposed in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 7, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Jeffrey Newman 100% 172,798 Total Votes 172,798 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. 2010 On November 2, 2010, Betty Peters won re-election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 2. She defeated Betty Letlow in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 2, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Betty Peters Incumbent 60.9% 108,974      Democratic Betty Letlow 39.1% 69,951 Total Votes 178,925 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 2, 2010, Yvette Richardson won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 4. She defeated Tom Dooley in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 4, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Yvette Richardson 63.9% 96,175      Republican Tom Dooley 36.1% 54,427 Total Votes 150,602 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 2, 2010, Charles Elliott won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 6. He defeated Kimberly Harbison Drake in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 6, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Charles Elliott 78% 153,057      Democratic Kimberly Harbison Drake 22% 43,046 Total Votes 196,103 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections. On November 2, 2010, Mary Scott Hunter won election to the office of Alabama State Board of Education, District 8. She defeated Mary Ruth Yates in the general election. Alabama State Board of Education, District 8, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Mary Scott Hunter 63.1% 122,547      Democratic Mary Ruth Yates 36.9% 71,796 Total Votes 194,343 Election results via Alabama Division of Elections.

See also

Alabama	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis
Alabama State Executive Offices Alabama State Legislature Alabama Courts	2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 Alabama elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016	Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Alabama State Board of Education official website

Footnotes

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