HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — With approximately 80 percent of precincts reporting across North Alabama, the Democratic primary for the state’s 5th Congressional District is headed toward a runoff election to determine who will challenge the Republican incumbent in November.

In a three-way race where no single candidate has cleared the 50 percent threshold required to win the nomination outright, Andrew Sneed and Candice Dollar Duvieilh have established clear leads to advance to the head-to-head runoff.

According to the latest unofficial returns, a total of 42,010 votes have been tallied so far. Here is where the candidates stand:

• Andrew Sneed (DEM): 17,569 votes (41.82%)

• Candice Dollar Duvieilh (DEM): 14,975 votes (35.65%)

• Jeremy Devito (DEM): 9,466 votes (22.53%)

General Election Matchup Awaits Winner

Sneed, a primary frontrunner with 41.82 percent of the vote, holds a lead of more than 2,500 votes over his closest competitor. Duvieilh is securely in position for the second runoff spot at 35.65 percent, maintaining a comfortable cushion of more than 5,500 votes over third-place challenger Jeremy Devito, who trails with 22.53 percent.

Under Alabama election rules, because no candidate secured a simple majority, the top two vote-recipients will face off in a secondary runoff election.

The ultimate winner of the Democratic nomination will face a steep challenge in the general election this November, squaring off against incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Dale Strong. Strong, who has represented the reliably conservative 5th District since his election in 2022, ran unopposed in Tuesday's Republican primary, allowing him to bypass the primary cycle and preserve his campaign resources for the fall.

The 5th Congressional District encompasses the northernmost tier of Alabama, including Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, and the surrounding Tennessee Valley communities.