Longtime Lawmaker Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026
By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MADISON, AL — Alabama State Senator Tom Butler announced this week that he will not seek re-election in 2026, closing the chapter on one of the longest and most influential legislative careers in Alabama history.
Butler, 81, represents Senate District 2, which includes parts of Madison and Limestone counties. He first entered the Alabama House of Representatives in 1982, later serving in the State Senate from 1994 to 2010, and again from 2018 to the present.
“I’m not going to be a lame duck,” Butler told supporters at the Madison County Legislative Office. “I’m going to be out swimming the rest of them.”
A pharmacist by trade, Butler is known for championing public health, veterans’ services, and education. He played a key role in establishing AED programs in schools and helped Madison City Schools form its own system—now one of the state’s top performers.
Lawmakers across party lines praised Butler’s decades of service. Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) credited him with saving lives through health policy, while Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) noted Butler’s critical support during base realignment efforts that helped grow Redstone Arsenal.
Butler’s decision not to run in 2026 opens the door for new leadership in a fast-growing district. Businessman John Roberts has already announced his candidacy.
Despite retiring, Butler says he’ll remain active in helping his community and colleagues.
“Call me anytime I can help you,” he said.
Butler’s term will officially end in November 2026, but his impact on North Alabama—and state politics more broadly—is expected to endure.