Secretary of State of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama secretary of state race?
No candidate in the Alabama secretary of state race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Caroleene Dobson (7 of 15 criteria) and Wayne Rogers (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Caroleene Dobson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Wayne Rogers
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- 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.
Caroleene Dobson
- On the record2026
Signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge and the U.S. Term Limits pledge.
Source: Ballotpedia, Caroleene Dobson
- Credit2026-05
Explained her priorities for the office in a WSFA interview in May 2026.
- Credit2025
Has served on the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Source: Ballotpedia, Caroleene Dobson
- Credit2025-06-27
Proposed an election crimes unit for the Secretary of State's Office modeled on Florida's and lower business fees.
Wayne Rogers
- On the record2026-02
Served as interim chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party through Feb. 26, 2026.
- Credit2026
Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Wayne Rogers
- Credit2026-09
Proposed an "Alabama Voting Rights Act" and a $27,000 per-cycle cap on campaign contributions.
- Credit2026-09
Spoke to the Democratic Women of East Alabama about his election proposals.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Caroleene Dobson. Campaign committee 31989 is registered and reporting with no late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found. Signed the Taxpayer Protection and U.S. Term Limits pledges.
Sources: Alabama FCPA committee record, Dobson (31989), Ballotpedia, Caroleene Dobson
Wayne Rogers. Campaign committee 32286 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.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Caroleene Dobson. Shareholder at a Montgomery law firm and a member of the Alabama Forestry Commission; no formal conduct finding found.
Wayne Rogers. Attorney since 1988 and briefly interim chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party in 2026; no formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Wayne Rogers, Alabama Political Reporter, Feb. 19, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Caroleene Dobson. Real estate, natural resources and commercial finance attorney and law firm shareholder; has served on the Alabama Forestry Commission. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 27, 2025, Ballotpedia, Caroleene Dobson
Wayne Rogers. Practicing attorney since 1988; first-time candidate who has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Wayne Rogers, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 28, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Caroleene Dobson. Proposes an election integrity and security division inside the Secretary of State's Office modeled on Florida's, plus lower business filing fees and streamlined services.
Sources: Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 28, 2026, Alabama Political Reporter, June 27, 2025
Wayne Rogers. Proposes an "Alabama Voting Rights Act" with no-excuse absentee voting, Saturday voting and pre-registration at 16, plus a $27,000 contribution cap; most items need legislation, which the Secretary of State cannot introduce.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Caroleene Dobson. Two channels documented: published campaign platform and broadcast interviews (WSFA). Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 28, 2026, Ballotpedia, Caroleene Dobson
Wayne Rogers. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, talks to voter groups and press interviews explaining his proposals.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Wayne Rogers, Anniston Star via Yahoo News, Sept. 11, 2026, Alabama Reflector via Yahoo News, Sept. 28, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Caroleene Dobson. Born in Alabama and practices law in Montgomery. About 91.1 percent of itemized individual cash contributions, mid-2025 to Sept. 2026, came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Caroleene Dobson, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Wayne Rogers. Native of Thomasville in southwest Alabama and a Jefferson County resident. About 87.3 percent of itemized individual cash contributions, Aug. 2025 to Sept. 2026, came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Anniston Star via Yahoo News, Sept. 11, 2026, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Caroleene Dobson. Law firm shareholder; campaign committee 31989 has no late filing listed by the Secretary of State.
Wayne Rogers. Campaign committee 32286 has no late filing listed by the Secretary of State.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Caroleene Dobson. No public record found.
Wayne Rogers. 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 secretary of state race?
No candidate in the Alabama secretary of state race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Caroleene Dobson (7 of 15 criteria) and Wayne Rogers (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alabama secretary of state race in 2026?
Caroleene Dobson (Republican), Wayne Rogers (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Caroleene Dobson a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Caroleene Dobson has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Wayne Rogers a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Wayne Rogers has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
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.