A new contender has emerged in the race to replace longtime Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson when voters go to the polls to decide their next mayor later this year in August 2025.
Spiro Cheriogotis, a District Judge for the Mobile County Circuit Court, announced his campaign in a video ad featuring he and his family discussing their core values. According to the video, he resigned from his judgeship on Monday.
“Everybody wants the best for their kids. Now that the kids are getting older, Spiro made the cutest list of kind of our values, our goals for the home,” his wife said from their kitchen counter.
“They’re all simple things that all the kids can understand. Be kind, be noble. Listen first, love second and third and fourth. If you make a mess, clean it up. Keep your promises. Family is most important. Treasure justice. Thank God. Ask for help. Speak truth. Be patient.”
Cheriogotis has served as an elected judge to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama for Mobile County since 2019. He ran unopposed for a second term to the bench in 2024.
Prior to his elected judgeship, he worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Mobile County from 2011 until 2016, before briefly entering private practice.
“I’m excited to drive over that bridge. I’m excited to take a flight out of the new downtown airport,” Cheriogotis said. “I’m excited to go to the arena and see one of my favorite bands. I want to make sure that everyone in this town has access to these wonderful things that we’re developing.”
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As of Tuesday morning, his campaign committee for district court judge is still registered as active and the Alabama Secretary of State’s website does not yet have a record of his candidacy for mayor available.
The former judge, referenced by his first name “Spiro” in the video ad and in his campaign branding, has entered what could be the most competitive local election of the 21st century for Mobile. As of now, he is squared off against Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson, who formally announced her campaign earlier this month.
Former Mobile City Councilman and County Commissioner Stephen Nodine tentatively announced a bid, although he has not filed any paperwork to run. Former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl intentionally stated that he will not be running for mayor after his two-term stent in Congress. Speculation still abounds over a potential bid by State Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) for the seat, after the election of her son, U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) to the district in November.
As reported by Yellowhammer News, while the length of Stimpson’s tenure alone makes the race interesting, changes in the demographics of the City of Mobile will make the contest particularly compelling.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the racial demographic breakdown in Mobile has changed dramatically. In 2000, 51.3% of the city was white, and the black population accounted for around 46.6%. According to the 2020 Census, those numbers have more than flipped, with 53.1% of the population black and 40.4% of it white.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
