No recount for Perry County District 1 election after officials say Turner missed key deadline

Perry County election officials said Monday that there will be no recount in the County Commission District 1 seat.

Perry County Probate Judge Carlton Hogue said in a press conference on Monday morning at the Perry County Courthouse that the Democratic Party for Perry County certified challenger Donald Bennett as the Democratic nominee for the District 1 seat in the November 2026 general election and “no further action will be taken regarding the official election results.”

Incumbent Albert Turner Jr., who held the seat for 26 years before losing in this primary, has insisted in comments on social media and with Black Belt News Network that he will contest the May 19 primary election after losing by eight votes in the original count and by one vote after provisionals were counted a week later.

Turner submitted a letter to the probate office within the 24-hour required window on May 26 requesting a recount. However, Hogue said that request was should have been made to the executive committee of the Democratic party, not to the probate judge’s office.

On May 29, Turner delivered a letter requesting a recount to the Perry County Democratic Executive Committee, but Hogue says that was two days after the legal deadline. Because of that, Hogue said the committee had no authority to act on it. Hogue is also chairman of Perry County Democratic Executive Committee.

“The probate judge does not have the authority to change Alabama’s statutory deadlines, extend a missed contest period or accept a recount request assigned to the county executive committee,” he said. “The law must be followed whether a candidate wins or loses by one vote, 100 votes or 1,000 votes.”

Turner has questioned the validity of the election saying irregularities give him “grounds for a challenge” and says he will go to Montgomery to challenge the results. He also said the Democratic Party is required to set a hearing date and that he has the right to appeal to the state party. 

Hogue said disappointment in an election result “does not create evidence of wrongdoing,” adding that “losing a close race does not give any candidate the right to attack the integrity of the election process.”

He said the provisional ballots were canvassed properly, the records preserved and every eligible vote counted. “The lawful result was determined. The voters’ decision must be respected,” he said.