A new poll conducted this month among Republican primary voters shows Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth has a major advantage in the 2026 governor’s race over a key potential contender.

The survey, conducted by top-ranked Remington Research Group, asked voters if the election were held today, who they would cast their ballot for in a head-to-head matchup between Will Ainsworth and Rick Pate.

34% of those polled said they would vote for Ainsworth, while 5% said they would vote for Pate and 61% remained undecided.

Both Ainsworth and Pate were first elected to statewide office in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Ainsworth as Lt. Governor, after serving a term in the Alabama House, and Pate as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, after serving as mayor of Lowndesboro for ten years.

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Across the board, Ainsworth routed Pate in Birmingham (35%), Huntsville (48%), Mobile (26%), and Montgomery (37%), with Pate topping out in Huntsville at 6%. 

Ainsworth’s favorability was also surveyed statewide with 30% of those polled reporting a favorable opinion, 11% an unfavorable one, and 50% having no opinion. 

Ainsworth, who calls Guntersville home, polled favorably across congressional districts, in particular, the 4th District (40% favorable), the 2nd District (36% favorable), as well as Districts 6 and 7 (35% favorable). His highest unfavorable came from District 3 (22% unfavorable) and District 1 (12% unfavorable).

The 2026 Republican primary election will be held May 26, 2026, now just over 500 days away. Candidates for statewide and legislative office can begin declaring their candidacy and raising funds exactly one year before that date, which is now just over 150 days away.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270