Rodger Smitherman
Alabama State Senator, District 18 since 1994. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Alabama State Senator, District 18Born 1953
- In office
- 32 yrs
- Since 1994
- Bills became law
- 10
- 28 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 8.5%
- Chamber median 7.1%
- With party
- 78%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +61.5
- Won 2006
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Banking and Insurance · ranking democratic member
- Confirmations · ranking democratic member
- Education Policy · ranking democratic member
- Finance and Taxation Education · ranking democratic member
- Jefferson County Legislation · ranking democratic member
- Judiciary · ranking democratic member
- Rules · ranking democratic member
- Tourism · ranking member
- Transportation · ranking democratic member
- Energy Policy Permanent Legislative
- Finances and Budget Permanent Legislative
- Housing Finance Authority Legislative Oversight
- Public Accounts Legislative
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Education · Became law Apr 2026
Family Law · Became law Mar 2026
Property & Estates · Became law Mar 2026
State Government · Became law Mar 2026
Jefferson County · Failed in the House Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Smitherman sits in the Alabama State Senate
Smitherman is closer to the center than 75% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Billy Beasley, Linda Coleman-Madison, Kirk Hatcher
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:44 PM ET
With Smitherman’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats78%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Alabama State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Smitherman’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Smitherman | Dem. majority | Rep. 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 | No | Yes | Passed 26–6 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | HB 556: Montgomery County; legislative delegation, office and fund established | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 28–1 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | SB 361: Dogs; tethering and confinement requirements provided; persons and activities exempted;… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 17–1 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Smitherman 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 Senate District 18 | Won | — | D+58.2 | — |
| 2022 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2006 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+61.5 | — | — |
| 2002 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Alabama State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+49.3 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $358.6K
- Spent
- $124.8K
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.
| Rodger Smitherman PCC State | Active |
Source: Alabama Secretary of State filings through Oct 30, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:13 PM ET
Seats Smitherman has held
- Alabama State Senate, District 18 · since 1994
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Smitherman has run against
- Stanley Nance (R) · 2006 election, won
- William Fred Horn (I) · 1994 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Smitherman
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/3b925820-55f7-4d24-b4df-d924fd3d1bf7
- Wikidata Q7356735
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET