Alabama’s 1st Congressional District Republican primary is shaping up to be a competitive race with less than six weeks until the May 19 election, as former Congressman Jerry Carl and State Rep. Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise) battle for the open seat.

The seat became open when incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) chose to run for U.S. Senate rather than seek reelection. Winning the Republican primary in the heavily red district is tantamount to winning the general election.

Carl held the seat from 2021 to 2025 before losing a tight 2024 primary to Moore after redistricting placed the two incumbents in the same district. Marques, who has served in the Alabama House of Representatives, carries an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and has out-raised Carl in several recent fundraising periods.

A poll conducted March 31 through April 2 by PI Polling for Alabama Daily News found Carl leading with 23 percent support among 505 likely Republican primary voters, followed by Marques at 19 percent, with 50 percent of voters still undecided.

The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, making the two candidates’ support statistically indistinguishable. Also in the race are Joshua McKee, a former Army Green Beret, Austin Sidwell, James Dees, John Mills, and James Richardson.

Alabama requires a candidate to win a majority of primary votes to claim the nomination. If no candidate clears 50 percent on May 19, the top two finishers advance to a runoff on June 16.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].