State Senator Jack Williams has officially entered the 2026 race for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. A Republican and fourth-generation farmer from South Alabama, Williams emphasized his agricultural background and legislative experience as central to his campaign.
“I’m concerned about the state of our agribusiness in Alabama,” Williams said.
“I look around today and I wonder, who is going to be growing crops and herding cattle a decade from now. The average farmer in our state is 60 years old, and most are just one bad season away from total collapse, and that’s not right.”
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Williams, who currently represents Senate District 34, said his campaign will focus on preserving Alabama’s agricultural heritage and food security. He is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump’s trade policies, particularly on tariffs targeting foreign agricultural imports.
“The President is on the right track in this levy of agricultural tariffs against other countries,” Williams said. “The imported beef and crops from communist countries and those without significant labor costs are killing the American farmer. In some cases, the foreign products might be cheaper for the consumer in some instances but cheaper is not always better. We are sacrificing quality and we are risking losing America’s independence of essential food sources.”
“Representing Senate District 34 has been an honor of a lifetime, and I’ve learned a lot about how to get things done in the world of politics, but there is more to be done,” Williams continued. “With the voters’ support, when I am elected as Commissioner of Agriculture, we will build on our previous accomplishments and work with President Trump’s team to strengthen Alabama.”
Williams was first elected to the Alabama Legislature in 2014 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Over the years, he has sponsored and supported a range of agriculture-focused legislation. Among the most notable, he helped pass a 2024 bill banning the sale of lab-grown meat products in Alabama. He also played a key role in advancing the Farmers’ Healthcare Bill and has pushed for tax incentives, such as the removal of sales tax on fencing materials, to support farm operations.
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In addition to his public service, Williams and his wife, Bobbie, built a successful farm and nursery business. In 1986, they founded Twin Oaks Nursery, Inc. in Wilmer. In 2004, they acquired Tom Dodd Nurseries, Inc. in Semmes, which has since become the largest nursery in Alabama and among the largest in the nation.
Their son, John Williams, owns and manages the day-to-day operations of the nursery, while their grandson, Mica, oversees the family’s cattle and hay farm.
“Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Industry is one of the most important positions in our state,” Williams said. “The department is the overseer of our food supply, the advocate of our farmer and a protector of our consumer. We don’t have time to waste and anyone who knows me can tell you that I will hit the ground running on day one.”
Williams is seeking to succeed current Commissioner Rick Pate, who is term-limited.
For more information about Sen. Williams, visit his campaign website or Facebook page.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
