State Democratic Party sets hearing for Perry County Commission seat won by one vote

The Alabama Democratic Party has set a hearing for June 15 to discuss the Perry County Commission District 1 primary election results that ended in a one-vote win.

The State Democratic Executive Committee Contest Committee has set an 11 a.m. hearing in Montgomery at the Alabama Democratic Conference to hear from candidates in the District 1 election where Donald Bennett Sr. beat 26-year incumbent Albert Turner Jr. by one vote.

Perry County Democratic Party representatives said there would be no recount in the very close election during a press conference on June 1.

There, Perry County Probate Judge Carlton Hogue, who is also chairman of the Perry County Democratic Executive Committee, certified 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.”

With no Republican opposition, that names Bennett the winner.

Turner tried to contest the results but sent the request to the probate judge’s office instead of the Democratic Party, which oversees primaries. Hogue said that meant Turner missed the deadline to contest. 

Turner appealed to the Alabama Democratic Party, which set June 15 for a hearing.

In a post on social media, Turner says his team is “prepared to demonstrate that the election night tabulation was intentionally reported inaccurately with malicious intent” and claims there was a discrepancy in the absentee ballots report.

Bennett says he will attend the hearing and “remains confident in the integrity of the Perry County Democratic Executive Committee and the process by which the results were properly certified.”

“The people of District 1 spoke on May 19^th,” Bennett said. “I remain committed to honoring your voices and to serving this community with the same dedication and purpose that led me to seek this office.”