Lieutenant Governor of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama lieutenant governor race?
Phillip Ensler has the strongest record in the Alabama lieutenant governor race. Phillip Ensler scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of John Wahl at 50, as of October 6, 2026. Phillip Ensler's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Phillip Ensler
56 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Republican
John Wahl
50 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- 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.
Phillip Ensler
- On the record2022-11
Became the first Jewish member of the Alabama Legislature in nearly 50 years.
Source: The Forward, Nov. 9, 2022
- Credit2026-08-19
Released a lieutenant governor platform including a state lottery, a data center moratorium and gun storage rules.
- Credit2026-09-23
Appeared with his Republican opponent at the state retirees' association candidate forum in Prattville.
- Credit2022-11-09
Took office as state representative for House District 74 in Montgomery in November 2022.
Source: Ballotpedia, Phillip Ensler
John Wahl
- Unresolved2026-09-01
Three plaintiffs filed a quo warranto suit in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Sept. 1, 2026 claiming he does not meet the seven-year residency requirement for lieutenant governor.
Where it stands: Pending in Montgomery County Circuit Court as of the latest reports found (September 2026); no ruling found.
Sources: WSFA, Sept. 1, 2026, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 2, 2026
- On the record2026-02
A Republican Party candidate committee rejected a challenge to his residency filed by former state Rep. Gil Isbell.
- On the record2020-12
Registered to vote in Tennessee in December 2020 and held a Tennessee driver's license he presented at a 2023 Alabama traffic stop; he said he had planned to move there.
- Credit2026
Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey for the 2026 race.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Wahl
- Credit2026-09-23
Appeared with his Democratic opponent at the state retirees' association candidate forum in Prattville.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Phillip Ensler. Campaign committee 32895 is registered and reporting; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
John Wahl. Statement of Economic Interests on file; the Ethics Commission director told him he was in compliance after his 2025 annual form, due April 30, was filed electronically on June 10, 2026. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2026, Alabama FCPA committee record, Wahl (33956)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Phillip Ensler. No public record found.
John Wahl. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Phillip Ensler. Spoke alongside Republican John Wahl at the Alabama Retired State Employees' Association candidate forum in September 2026.
John Wahl. Spoke alongside Democrat Phillip Ensler at the Alabama Retired State Employees' Association candidate forum in Prattville in September 2026.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Phillip Ensler. State representative since November 2022 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Phillip Ensler
John Wahl. Chaired the Alabama Republican Party from 2021 to January 2026 and chairs the Alabama Public Library Service board; no formal censure or conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Wahl, Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Phillip Ensler. Took the oath as a state representative in November 2022; no misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Phillip Ensler
John Wahl. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Phillip Ensler. One term in the Alabama House (District 74, since 2022); previously executive director of the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama and senior policy adviser to the Montgomery mayor.
Source: Ballotpedia, Phillip Ensler
John Wahl. Has not held elected public office. Led the state Republican Party as chairman for about five years and chairs the state library board; describes himself as a small businessman and farmer.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Wahl, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Phillip Ensler. Published a platform with specific proposals, including a state lottery with rebate checks, a data center moratorium and safe gun storage; sits on House Commerce, Financial Services and Insurance committees.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Aug. 20, 2026, Ballotpedia, Phillip Ensler
John Wahl. Has published positions in general terms through the Ballotpedia survey and forum remarks, including support for a retiree cost-of-living adjustment.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Wahl, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Phillip Ensler. Two channels documented: a public platform announcement and a candidate forum.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Aug. 20, 2026, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026
John Wahl. Two channels documented: the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey and a candidate forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Wahl, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Phillip Ensler. Moved from New York City to Montgomery about 2012 and represents a Montgomery House district. About 80.8 percent of itemized individual cash contributions, 2025 to Sept. 2026, came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: The Forward, Nov. 9, 2022, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
John Wahl. Lives in Limestone County and says he grew up in rural Alabama; held a Tennessee driver's license and registered to vote in Tennessee in 2020, and a residency suit is pending (see Record). About 84.9 percent of itemized individual cash contributions came from Alabama (FCPA data, 2026).
Sources: Alabama Daily News, Jan. 30, 2026, Alabama Daily News, Sept. 24, 2026, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Phillip Ensler. Led the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama as executive director; campaign committee 32895 is registered and reporting, with minor late filings of one to three days (technical, not scored).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Phillip Ensler, Alabama FCPA committee record, Ensler (32895)
John Wahl. Ran the state Republican Party organization as chairman from 2021 to 2026; committee 33956 is registered and reporting, with one major-contribution report filed two days late (technical, not scored).
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Wahl, Alabama FCPA committee record, Wahl (33956)
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Phillip Ensler. No public record found.
John Wahl. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Phillip Ensler. No public record found.
John Wahl. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Phillip Ensler. No public record found.
John Wahl. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Phillip Ensler. No public record found.
John Wahl. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Phillip Ensler. No public record found.
John Wahl. 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. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alabama lieutenant governor race?
Phillip Ensler has the strongest record in the Alabama lieutenant governor race. Phillip Ensler scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of John Wahl at 50, as of October 6, 2026. Phillip Ensler's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alabama lieutenant governor race in 2026?
Phillip Ensler (Democratic), John Wahl (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Phillip Ensler a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
Phillip Ensler scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is John Wahl a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
John Wahl scores 50 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 50 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.