Biography
Donald Mottern is the Democratic candidate for Alabama State Senate District 11 in the November 3, 2026 general election, running against incumbent Republican Lance Bell.[1][2] A journalist and former writer for the Shelby County Reporter, he says his priorities include infrastructure, education, health care and legalizing marijuana.[1][3]
Donald Mottern earned a high school diploma from Thompson High School and a bachelor's degree from The University of Alabama in 2017.[1] His career experience includes working as a journalist.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he said he has been recognized with multiple awards from the Alabama Press Association for writing on human interest, political and editorial topics, and that he has also been a small business owner and has worked in the hotel, food service and mortgage industries.[3]
Mottern advanced to the general election after the Democratic primary for the seat was canceled.[1] In the survey, he said he supports a statewide dam safety and inspection program, preserving the public's ability to elect members of boards that the state is seeking to change to appointed bodies, repairing Alabama's locks, roads and inland waterways, and legalizing marijuana.[3] He listed infrastructure, education, health care, marijuana legalization, public safety, immigration and gun rights as policy areas he is passionate about.[3]
- 1.Donald Mottern - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Alabama State Senate elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Donald Mottern - Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey responses) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Alabama Senate District 11
Donald Mottern is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Alabama Senate District 11 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
