Steve Clouse first Alabama House member to announce 2026 re-election campaign

State Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) has announced he’s running for re-election to the Alabama House in 2026. Clouse has represented parts of the Wiregrass in the legislature since 1994 and now becomes the first state lawmaker to announce his campaign in the 2026 cycle. Clouse says he previously considered retiring after his current term, but was persuaded to continue by strong encouragement from constituents and colleagues.

Clouse stepped down as chairman of the House general fund budget committee to run for Speaker of the House after former State Rep. Mac McCutcheon’s decision to step down.

“I just had a just overwhelming amount of encouragement from my constituents in Dale and Houston County, and also from other House members from around the state,” Clouse told Yellowhammer News on Tuesday about his 2026 aspirations.

“We got so many young members in the House now, and they’re doing a great job, and I feel like I’ve been an asset to them the last two years, and want to continue to be that. Along with that, Speaker Ledbetter has encouraged me to run again, and I appreciate that. And so I decided that I’m going to seek re-election.”

Clouse’s career as an elected official in the Wiregrass region spans over three decades. He notes that he has been a legislator during both Democratic and Republican majorities, as well as periods of surplus and proration.

He expects the 2025 session to be busy and productive. Clouse said lawmakers will revisit bills delayed last year due to stalled gambling legislation, which failed in the Senate, and said he anticipates debates on healthcare, immigration, and financial issues as federal COVID-19 relief funds diminish.

“I think the budgets have sort of been on cruise control the last three or four years, because of the monies that all the states have received from the federal government due to COVID, and that is filtering out of the system now, and I think you’re going to start seeing the financial issues become more front and center here in the next few years to come.”

Over the past several years, Clouse says he has worked closely with the Wiregrass legislative delegation to secure major wins in mental health, forensics, and agriculture. He highlighted the imminent opening of a mental health crisis center in Dothan, one of six statewide, which will provide crucial support for families in the region.

Clouse also discussed the reopening of the Dothan forensics lab, which was closed during the 2008-2009 recession. The new facility, expected to open in the coming months, will expedite drug testing for law enforcement, saving time and resources.

He also pointed to the development of an innovation center in Dothan, in partnership with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. The center will focus on agricultural products, particularly peanuts, and engage local schools in agriculture education through dual enrollment programs.

“They’ve been very successful in Huntsville with their genomics up there and cancer related issues that they’re dealing with. This is going to be focusing on agricultural products, different byproducts that comes, like from Peanuts, and they’re going to be going into all the schools in southeast Alabama in the ag classes with dual enrollment, teacher teach kids importance of agriculture. So it’s important for our ag community, important for innovating new businesses related to AG. So so we’re really excited about that and and want to continue those efforts there.”

The 2026 Alabama primary election will be held on May 5, 2026. Office-seekers can begin declaring their candidacies and raising funds one year prior, now just over 100 days away.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.