Donnie Chesteen
Alabama State Senator, District 29 since 2018. Ran in 5 elections between 2010 and 2022, winning 5. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Alabama State Senator, District 29Born 1953
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 5
- 16 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.3%
- Chamber median 7.1%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +64.7
- Won 2022
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Education Policy · chair
- Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety · vice chair
- Agriculture Conservation and Forestry
- Finance and Taxation Education
- Finances and Budget Permanent Legislative
- Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
- Healthcare
- Transportation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Education · Became law Mar 2026
Administrative Law and Procedures · Became law Feb 2026
State Government · Failed in the House Apr 2026
Competitive Bidding · Failed in the House Mar 2026
Education · Failed in the House Feb 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Chesteen sits in the Alabama State Senate
Chesteen is closer to the center than 89% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Steve Livingston, David Sessions, Greg Albritton
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:44 PM ET
With Chesteen’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Alabama State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Chesteen’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Chesteen | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 2026 | HJR 326: Recognizing the need for a north-south transportation route in East Alabama | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 28–1 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | SB 341: Alabama Work Zone Safety Act; pilot program to establish photographic speed enforcement… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 30–1 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | SB 199: Sex offenders; restrictions for certain sex offenders further provided, Board of Pardons… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 26–6 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | HB 556: Montgomery County; legislative delegation, office and fund established | Not voting | Yes | Yes | Passed 28–1 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | SB 361: Dogs; tethering and confinement requirements provided; persons and activities exempted;… | Not voting | Yes | Yes | Passed 17–1 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Chesteen was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Alabama State Senate, District 29 | Won | — | R+59.3 | — |
| 2022 | Alabama State Senate, District 29 | Won | R+64.7 | R+55.2 | +9.5 |
| 2018 | Alabama State Senate, District 29 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 87 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $672K
- Spent
- $223.2K
Source: Alabama Secretary of State filings through Oct 30, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:13 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| James Chesteen PCC State | Active |
Source: Alabama Secretary of State filings through Oct 30, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:13 PM ET
Seats Chesteen has held
- Alabama State Senate, District 29 · since 2018
- Alabama House of Representatives, District 87 · 2010–2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Chesteen has run against
- Jimmy McCray (D) · 2026 election, won
- Nathan Mathis (D) · 2022 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Chesteen
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/c1ce8b3f-ea56-4c8f-ab74-2a02b8d10063
- Wikidata Q61633583
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET