State Auditor of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama state auditor race?
Andrew Sorrell has the strongest record in the Alabama state auditor race. Andrew Sorrell scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Violet Edwards at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Andrew Sorrell's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Violet Edwards'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
Violet Edwards
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Andrew Sorrell
63 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 63
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.
Violet Edwards
- On the record2020 and 2024
Two county commission campaign reports were filed one and five days after their due dates, per the Secretary of State.
- Credit2026-05-28
Partnered with the Greater Huntsville Humane Society to supply four police departments with pet microchip scanners.
Source: WAFF, May 28, 2026
- Credit2026-09-21
Discussed her candidacy on Alabama Public Television's Capitol Journal.
- Credit2022-10-03
Received the University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Business 2022 Alumni of Achievement award.
Source: UAH News, Oct. 3, 2022
- Credit2020
Became the first Black woman to serve on the Madison County Commission; reelected in 2024.
Andrew Sorrell
- On the record2026-01-05
Ended his 2025 campaign for secretary of state and filed for reelection as auditor.
- On the record2025
Received campaign donations from the Frost family or related firms tied to the alleged First Liberty Ponzi scheme and returned them; said he personally lost money in the scheme.
- Credit2026-04
Published specific plans for a second term, including a Property Investigations Division.
Source: WSFA, April 29, 2026
- Credit2026-09-21
Discussed his record and plans on Alabama Public Television's Capitol Journal.
- Credit2024-11-08
The Examiners of Public Accounts reported no significant noncompliance in the State Auditor's Office for October 2018 to September 2023 (report 25-008, released Nov. 2024).
- Credit2019 to 2022
Rated "Meets expectations" by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as a state representative, with 70 bills sponsored and one enacted.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Violet Edwards. Campaign committee 32971 is registered and reporting with no 2026 late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Andrew Sorrell. Campaign committee 32997 (filed under his legal name, Justin Andrew Sorrell) 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.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Violet Edwards. Madison County commissioner since 2020, reelected in 2024, with no formal censure or conduct finding found.
Andrew Sorrell. State representative from 2018 to 2022 and state auditor since January 2023, with no formal censure or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrew Sorrell
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Violet Edwards. Has held sworn county office since 2020; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Andrew Sorrell. Took the oath as a state representative and as state auditor; no misuse-of-office finding and no action on certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrew Sorrell
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Violet Edwards. Madison County commissioner for District 6 since 2020; earlier a 13-year television and radio journalism career, nonprofit management and university development work. MBA from UAH.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Jan. 12, 2026, UAH News, Oct. 3, 2022
Andrew Sorrell. State auditor since January 2023 (first term not yet complete) after one term in the Alabama House for District 3; earlier a business owner.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrew Sorrell
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Violet Edwards. Campaign site states general priorities within the office: accounting for state property and funds, and qualified appointments to county boards of registrars.
Source: Violet Edwards campaign site
Andrew Sorrell. Specific plans within the office: a Property Investigations Division to track state property, refocusing the Voter Registration Advisory Board on election integrity, and higher pay for registrars and poll workers.
Source: WSFA, April 29, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Violet Edwards. Two channels documented: a campaign issues page and an Alabama Public Television Capitol Journal interview (Sept. 2026). Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Capitol Journal, Alabama Public Television, Sept. 21, 2026, Violet Edwards campaign site
Andrew Sorrell. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia survey answered (2021), a WSFA candidate interview (April 2026) and an Alabama Public Television Capitol Journal interview (Sept. 2026). Has not completed the 2026 survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andrew Sorrell, WSFA, April 29, 2026, Capitol Journal, Alabama Public Television, Sept. 21, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Violet Edwards. Represents Huntsville's District 6 on the Madison County Commission. About 86.5 percent of itemized individual cash contributions in 2026 came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: UAH News, Oct. 3, 2022, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Andrew Sorrell. Represented Colbert County in the state House and lists Muscle Shoals on his campaign committee. About 85.3 percent of itemized individual cash contributions to his auditor committee in 2026 came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: WSFA, April 29, 2026, Alabama FCPA committee record, Sorrell (32997), Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Violet Edwards. County commissioner overseeing county departments and budgets with the commission; her 2026 committee has no late filing listed. Two county-race reports (2020, 2024) were filed one and five days late.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, Jan. 12, 2026, Alabama FCPA, Reports Filed Late (June 26 to 28, 2020)
Andrew Sorrell. Heads the State Auditor's Office; campaign committee 32997 has no late filing listed. Staff size not found.
Source: Examiners of Public Accounts, report 25-008, Office of the State Auditor
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. State Legislative Effectiveness Score "Meets expectations" for 2019 to 2022; 70 bills sponsored, one became law (Center for Effective Lawmaking).
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Violet Edwards. No public record found.
Andrew Sorrell. Examiners of Public Accounts found no significant noncompliance in the State Auditor's Office for Oct. 2018 to Sept. 2023, a period he headed from January 2023.
Source: Examiners of Public Accounts, report 25-008, Office of the State Auditor
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 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 state auditor race?
Andrew Sorrell has the strongest record in the Alabama state auditor race. Andrew Sorrell scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Violet Edwards at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Andrew Sorrell's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Violet Edwards'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 state auditor race in 2026?
Violet Edwards (Democratic), Andrew Sorrell (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Violet Edwards a good candidate for State Auditor?
Violet Edwards scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 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 Andrew Sorrell a good candidate for State Auditor?
Andrew Sorrell scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 63 of 100. 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.