Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Lumpkin Statehouse Bid
A Jefferson County judge ruled the local court lacked jurisdiction to decide whether Alicia Escott Lumpkin was qualified to run.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Should government employees be barred from running for office while still on the job?
Jefferson County District Judge Chuck Price dismissed a lawsuit late Monday challenging Alicia Escott Lumpkin's candidacy for the Alabama statehouse. Lumpkin had defeated State Rep. Juandalynn Givan in the Democratic primary.
Why it matters
The ruling leaves unresolved whether a city employee who has resigned may run for office under Birmingham's Mayor/Council Act. Because the act has no enforcement mechanism, Givan's challenge could not proceed in local court.
Judge Price ruled that the state's Mayor/Council Act does not declare a resigned employee ineligible to run, and the court found no jurisdiction to hear the case. Givan may still appeal the dismissal to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
The players
Chuck Price
Jefferson County District Judge who dismissed the lawsuit and previously declined to recuse himself from the case.
Alicia Escott Lumpkin
Democratic nominee who defeated State Rep. Juandalynn Givan in the primary and whose candidacy was challenged in court.
Juandalynn Givan
Alabama state representative who lost the Democratic primary and sued to challenge Lumpkin's qualifications.
Randall Woodfin
Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, whose appointed employee Lumpkin was alleged to remain while seeking office.
The details
Givan sued Lumpkin and Alabama Democratic Party leaders in June, alleging Lumpkin was not qualified because she still worked for Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. Price also issued a gag order in September barring lawyers from posting about the case on social media, and declined to step aside despite Givan's request.
Timeline
June: Givan filed suit against Lumpkin and Alabama Democratic Party leaders.
September: Price issued a gag order on lawyers' social media posts about the case.
Late Monday, November 2, 2026: Price dismissed the lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction.
Political Context
Birmingham's Mayor/Council Act bars appointed city employees from seeking elected office, yet the act contains no enforcement provisions or liability for violators. Lumpkin and the city also pointed to a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that state courts lacked jurisdiction over challenges to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's qualifications.
Voters in the heavily Democratic district face no Republican opponent, so the Democratic primary result effectively decides the seat. The unresolved eligibility question could still affect the seat if Givan's appeal succeeds.
The takeaway
Candidate eligibility rules only matter if someone can enforce them, and in this case the court found no forum to do so. Readers tracking the race should watch whether Givan pursues an appeal.
Further reading
For more on how candidate eligibility fights unfold, see Elections coverage across Birmingham.
Live Poll
Should government employees be barred from running for office while still on the job?
