Voters choose Alabama governor and judge water rate hike

Alabama residents will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, to select a new governor and fill other federal and state offices. The top race features former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, the Democratic nominee, against current U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, the Republican nominee. Governor Kay Ivey is term-limited and will not run for a second term.

The lieutenant governor race also concluded its final public debate in Huntsville on Wednesday night. Democratic nominee Phillip Ensler and Republican nominee John Wahl addressed questions on education, affordability, and the impact of data centers on the state.

In Birmingham, a mass shooting occurred outside Legion Field shortly after the conclusion of the 85th annual Magic City Classic on Saturday night. The incident left one person dead and eight others with gunshot wounds.

The Central Alabama Water board of directors is considering the largest rate increase in ten years. The board was told that customer service phone lines have been overwhelmed for more than a month. This disruption followed the utility's switch to a new payment vendor.

Development work continues at the historic Yeilding’s Building in downtown Birmingham. Contractors installed a new decorative sign for The Yeilding, a mixed-use residential and commercial space. The project is scheduled to open later this year.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones spoke to the Rotary Club of Birmingham on Wednesday. He stated that Alabama lags behind other states in poverty, education, and health metrics despite recent business growth. Jones made this argument two weeks after his opponent, Tommy Tuberville, addressed the same group.

A new analysis from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama indicates that the state’s population has shifted over the past 15 years. However, the electorate is changing more slowly and in different ways than the general population. This demographic divergence may influence outcomes in the upcoming election.

U.S. Representative Terri Sewell is seeking reelection to the 7th Congressional District seat she has held since 2010. She discussed her campaign with WBHM reporter Andrew Yeager as Election Day approaches.