State Auditor Andrew Sorrell announced Monday he will run for the Republican nomination for secretary of state next year.

Sorrell was elected auditor in 2022 after serving one term in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing Colbert County.

The secretary of state’s office will be an open seat because Secretary of State Wes Allen has announced he is running for lieutenant governor.

The secretary of state serves as Alabama’s top election official, along with many other responsibilities.

“Alabama needs a committed conservative who will shield our elections from fraud while blocking illegal immigrants and other ineligible individuals from registering to vote,” Sorrell said in a press release.

“As secretary of state, I will ensure that honestly cast votes are counted honestly, and those who attempt to cheat at the ballot box are caught and punished for their actions.”

It is illegal for non-citizens to register to vote, and falsifying a voter application can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.

As auditor, Sorrell said he has saved taxpayers money by declining a state vehicle, relocating the office’s staff, and leaving an administrative assistant position unfilled.

Sorrell received a “Conservative Policy Warrior” award from the Alabama Policy Institute in 2020 and a perfect 100 rating on the American Conservative Union’s 2021 scorecard.

Sorrell said he started his first company at age 16 and owns four Alabama-based businesses that employ about 20 people.

Sorrell said he is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of preachers. He met his wife, Hannah, while they were traveling in on a church history tour in Rome in 2016. They have two daughters, Liberty and Glory.

The primary is in May 2026.