Shay Shelnutt
Alabama State Senator, District 17 since 2014. Ran in 5 elections between 2014 and 2022, winning 5. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Alabama State Senator, District 17Born 1967
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 4
- 18 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 22.9%
- Chamber median 7.1%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +82.2
- 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.
- Banking and Insurance · chair
- Education Policy · vice chair
- Confirmations
- Finance and Taxation General Fund
- Finances and Budget Permanent Legislative
- Healthcare
- Jefferson County Legislation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Education · Became law Apr 2026
Education · Became law Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Shelnutt sits in the Alabama State Senate
Shelnutt is closer to the center than 15% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Keith Kelley, Lance Bell, Larry Stutts
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:44 PM ET
With Shelnutt’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: Shelnutt’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Shelnutt | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 2026 | HJR 326: Recognizing the need for a north-south transportation route in East Alabama | Not voting | 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 | Yes | 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 Shelnutt 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 17 | Won | — | R+65.1 | — |
| 2022 | Alabama State Senate, District 17 | Won | R+82.2 | R+67.5 | +14.7 |
| 2018 | Alabama State Senate, District 17 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama State Senate, District 17 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama State Senate, District 17 (runoff) | Won | +3.2 | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama State Senate, District 17 (primary) | Won | +4.2 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $378K
- Spent
- $81.7K
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.
| Shay Shelnutt PCC State | Active |
Source: Alabama Secretary of State filings through Oct 30, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:13 PM ET
Seats Shelnutt has held
- Alabama State Senate, District 17 · since 2014
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Shelnutt has run against
- John Fortenberry (L) · 2022 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Shelnutt
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/9487b441-352c-43be-a2bb-8abc45e20671
- Wikidata Q45921832
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET