On May 6, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed HB 258. It changes the midterm primary date from the fourth Tuesday in May to the Tuesday just prior to Memorial Day. In most years, this won’t change anything. But in 2026 it means the primary will be May 19, not May 26.

The non-presidential independent candidate deadline, and the deadline for a new party petition, is always on the date of the non-presidential primary, so this means that 2026 petitions will also now be on May 19 instead of May 26.