Alabama State Auditor Andrew Sorrell says he has delivered on his campaign promises, from reducing spending in his own office to improving oversight of more than $1.3 billion in taxpayer-owned property.

Now, the Republican incumbent is asking voters for another four years in a statewide office he says is often overlooked but plays an important role in government accountability and election administration.

“I’d say that I kept my campaign promises the first time I ran,” Sorrell said in an interview with 256 Today. “Those would be chiefly appointing registrars who are qualified, who care about election integrity.”

Sorrell, who took office in January 2023, faces Democratic challenger and Madison County Commissioner Violet Edwards in Tuesday’s general election.

Keeping track of taxpayer property

The state auditor’s largest responsibility is tracking government-owned property across Alabama.

“The largest duty is tracking the state’s $1.3 billion worth of taxpayer-owned property,” Sorrell said. “There’s over 300,000 inventory items. There are 180 different state boards and agencies that we audit and make sure that your stuff isn’t going missing.”

He said his office has implemented radio-frequency identification technology to improve tracking and accountability.

“We’ve already RFID chipped all 300,000 pieces of state inventory,” Sorrell said. “We’re auditing more property with less people than ever before.”

Sorrell also pointed to reductions in his office’s spending as evidence of his commitment to fiscal conservatism.

“I’ve not taken a state vehicle. I do not charge the state for my travel. I don’t file mileage reimbursement. I don’t file for transportation costs,” he said.

“I’ve been able to cut my own budget. The last two years I put in for a 2% budget decrease this year. I put in for a 1% budget decrease the year before. You don’t see people doing that in government these days.”

Election oversight and accountability

In addition to property audits, the state auditor participates in appointing members of county boards of registrars and serves on several state boards.

Sorrell said he has worked with other state officials to improve the process for selecting leadership on local boards of registrars.

“They had a different process in every county for who the chairman of the local Board of Registrars was going to be,” he said.

“Why don’t we make the most qualified person the chairman of the Board of Registrars in each particular county? And to their credit, the governor and the ag commissioner both agreed with me. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

Sorrell said he has also emphasized transparency and accessibility in the office.

“We are fully transparent. Everything we do is posted online. All of our audits are posted online,” he said.

Asked about Edwards’ campaign priorities, which include transparency and qualified appointments, Sorrell said he believes those are areas where his office has already made progress.

“It sounds like she wants to do everything that I’m already doing,” he said. “I think if you’re challenging an incumbent, the case you have to make is, what am I going to do better than the incumbent?”

A change in campaign plans

Sorrell originally entered the 2026 election cycle as a candidate for secretary of state before withdrawing from that race and seeking reelection as auditor.

He said the financial realities of running a statewide campaign played a significant role in his decision.

“When I dropped out of the secretary of state race, I was actually ahead in the polling. I was actually up 21 to 13 in the polling, but the money differential was going to be three to one or four to one,” Sorrell said.

“I’m going to be honest enough to say that money does matter. Money does move the needle, especially in these down-ballot races where you have trouble getting your message out.”

He said the decision was ultimately about continuing his public service.

“I just want to continue to serve the people of Alabama, and if that’s in the role as auditor, I’m proud to do another four years,” Sorrell said.

“I’m thankful to be here. I’m also thankful the election’s almost here because I’m ready for this to be over. I’ve been campaigning for 26 straight months.”

Reaching beyond party lines

Sorrell acknowledged that frustration with national politics could affect state races and said he has noticed changes in the political landscape while campaigning.

“There’s something different this election cycle, and I feel it,” he said. “I see Democrat signs in traditionally Republican households’ yards.”

While encouraging Republican turnout, Sorrell also offered reasons he believes Democrats and independents should consider supporting him.

He pointed to his opposition to Flock automated license plate reader cameras and his previous work on civil asset forfeiture reform while serving in the Alabama House of Representatives.

“I’ve been very outspoken against Flock cameras. I think they’re an unconstitutional violation of your Fourth Amendment right,” Sorrell said.

“I carried a civil asset forfeiture reform bill when I was in the Legislature. Most of my co-sponsors on that bill were Democrats. I don’t believe that your property should be forfeited without due process of law.”

Sorrell said those issues reflect his broader approach to constitutional rights.

“I’m a defender of civil liberties, and I love all the Constitution, not just the Second Amendment, not just the First Amendment,” he said. “I want to defend all of the constitutional amendments.”

He also expressed concern about conditions in Alabama’s prisons, saying the state needs to take a closer look at problems within the correctional system.

“I think there’s some legitimate problems in our prisons,” Sorrell said. “There’s enough in there that we do need to take a second look at our prisons.”

Looking toward another term

Before becoming state auditor, Sorrell represented portions of Colbert and Lawrence counties in the Alabama House from 2018 to 2022.

He said his goal remains continuing the work he began after winning statewide office in 2022.

“If you’d have told me 10 years ago I’d be running for reelection to a statewide office, I never would have believed it,” Sorrell said. “I don’t want anybody to think I’m disappointed having to drop back from secretary of state into the auditor race. I’m thankful to be here.”

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