Attorney General of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama attorney general race?
Katherine Robertson has the strongest record in the Alabama attorney general race. Katherine Robertson scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jeff McLaughlin at 61, as of October 6, 2026. Katherine Robertson's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Jeff McLaughlin's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Jeff McLaughlin
61 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Strongest record
Katherine Robertson
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jeff McLaughlin
- On the record2026-05-11
Filed three 2026 monthly campaign finance reports for his attorney general committee late, on May 11, 2026, according to the Secretary of State.
Source: Alabama Secretary of State, FCPA Financial Disclosure Reports Filed Late
- On the record2001 to 2014
Self-financed his House campaigns and declined outside political donations.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser column by Brian Lyman via Yahoo News, Aug. 24, 2026
- Credit2026-09-23
Appeared with his Republican opponent at the state retirees' association candidate forum.
- Credit2010-12
The Legislature enacted the PAC-to-PAC transfer ban he had championed and named the law after him.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser column by Brian Lyman via Yahoo News, Aug. 24, 2026
- Credit2003 to 2010
Rated Above expectations on the State Legislative Effectiveness Score in two House terms, with 15 sponsored bills becoming law.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Katherine Robertson
- On the record2026-05
Ran a primary ad calling opponent Jay Mitchell a "lobbyist for a Muslim country"; Mitchell called it defamatory and demanded a retraction, citing pro bono work for an Uzbek opposition figure.
Source: Alabama Daily News, May 5, 2026
- Credit2026-05-26
Debated her runoff opponent at a Shelby County Republican forum in Pelham.
Source: Alabama Daily News, May 27, 2026
- Credit2026-09-23
Appeared with her Democratic opponent at the state retirees' association candidate forum in Prattville.
- Credit2018 to 2026
Has served as chief counsel to Attorney General Steve Marshall since 2018, after working for U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions.
Source: Alabama Daily News, May 17, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jeff McLaughlin. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found. Self-financed his House campaigns and led the push to ban PAC-to-PAC transfers; late 2026 reports are scored under Management.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser column by Brian Lyman via Yahoo News, Aug. 24, 2026
Katherine Robertson. Campaign committee 31708 is registered and reporting with no late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jeff McLaughlin. As a legislator his campaign finance reform efforts often put him at odds with members of his own party, per the Alabama Reflector editor; that record is more than 10 years old (E18).
Source: Montgomery Advertiser column by Brian Lyman via Yahoo News, Aug. 24, 2026
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jeff McLaughlin. Spoke at the state retirees' association forum alongside his Republican opponent in September 2026 and gave interviews on the office's role in utility rate cases.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Katherine Robertson. Took part in the Shelby County GOP runoff forum in May 2026 and the state retirees' association general election forum in September 2026.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, May 27, 2026, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jeff McLaughlin. Attorney for 36 years and a state representative for three terms with no formal conduct finding found.
Katherine Robertson. Chief counsel to Attorney General Steve Marshall since 2018 with no formal conduct finding found. A 2026 primary ad she ran drew a retraction demand from her opponent (see Record).
Source: Alabama Daily News, May 17, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jeff McLaughlin. Took the oath as a state representative for three terms; no misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jeff McLaughlin. Three terms in the Alabama House (District 27) and a practicing attorney for 36 years, including more than a decade as law partner of Attorney General Steve Marshall (E9).
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Sept. 11, 2018, Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Katherine Robertson. Chief counsel and deputy attorney general in the Alabama Attorney General's Office since 2018; earlier worked for U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, May 17, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, June 16, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jeff McLaughlin. Has stated positions such as a data center moratorium, consumer protection, ratepayer advocacy and staying out of national amicus briefs, mostly in general terms.
Katherine Robertson. Senior attorney in the office she seeks; has stated specific priorities such as public safety and state sovereignty litigation. Her campaign site has no section on utility rate cases, per the Alabama Reflector.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jeff McLaughlin. Two channels documented: a candidate forum and press interviews on his priorities.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Katherine Robertson. Two channels documented: candidate forums and a campaign issue site.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, May 27, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jeff McLaughlin. Guntersville resident who represented House District 27 from 1999 to 2010 and ran for Guntersville mayor in 2025. About 87.7 percent of itemized individual cash contributions in 2026 came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Montgomery Advertiser column by Brian Lyman via Yahoo News, Aug. 24, 2026, Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Katherine Robertson. Raised in Dallas County, Alabama. About 65.1 percent of itemized individual cash contributions, mid-2025 to Sept. 2026, came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, June 16, 2026, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jeff McLaughlin. The Secretary of State lists three 2026 monthly reports of his attorney general committee, due Feb. 3, March 3 and April 2, as filed on May 11, 2026. No fine or official finding was found.
Katherine Robertson. Senior manager in the Attorney General's Office as chief counsel; campaign committee 31708 has no late filing listed by the Secretary of State.
Sources: Alabama Daily News, May 17, 2026, Alabama FCPA committee record, Robertson (31708)
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jeff McLaughlin. State Legislative Effectiveness Score Above expectations in 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2010 (Below in 1999 to 2002); 15 bills he sponsored became law. The 2010 PAC-to-PAC transfer ban was named for him.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file, Montgomery Advertiser column by Brian Lyman via Yahoo News, Aug. 24, 2026
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jeff McLaughlin. No public record found.
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jeff McLaughlin. No public record found.
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jeff McLaughlin. No public record found.
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jeff McLaughlin. No public record found.
Katherine Robertson. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026; scorecard updated October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alabama attorney general race?
Katherine Robertson has the strongest record in the Alabama attorney general race. Katherine Robertson scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jeff McLaughlin at 61, as of October 6, 2026. Katherine Robertson's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Jeff McLaughlin's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alabama attorney general race in 2026?
Jeff McLaughlin (Democratic), Katherine Robertson (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jeff McLaughlin a good candidate for Attorney General?
Jeff McLaughlin scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Katherine Robertson a good candidate for Attorney General?
Katherine Robertson scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alabama race scored, and the Alabama 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.