State Sen. Steve Livingston has officially qualified for a fourth term representing Alabama Senate District 8, a sprawling district that stretches across Jackson, DeKalb and Madison counties and spans some of the state’s most rural communities and fastest-growing areas.
Livingston, a Republican who was first elected in 2014, currently serves as Senate Majority Leader. He said he has no announced challengers as he begins his re-election campaign.
“I’m finishing up my third term and qualified this morning for a fourth term,” Livingston said. “I don’t have any opponents yet and we’re not looking for any either.”
A district of contrasts
Senate District 8 covers all of Jackson County, much of northern DeKalb County, and a northeastern portion of Madison County, including Hazel Green, New Market, Buckhorn and a stretch into Huntsville near Monte Sano and Alabama A&M University.
Livingston said the district is almost evenly divided by population across the three counties, but the needs vary widely.
“You have very rural, agriculture-based communities in Jackson and DeKalb counties,” he said. “Then you come into Huntsville and you’ve got Redstone Arsenal and engineers. Their needs are different, yet some of them are the same.”
Representing such a geographically large and diverse district can be challenging, Livingston said, but it also shapes his approach to policymaking.
Broadband expansion among top accomplishments
When asked what he is most proud of during his time in the Legislature, Livingston pointed to early work on broadband expansion, particularly in rural North Alabama.
He said legislation allowing broadband providers to use existing electrical rights-of-way helped set the stage for large-scale expansion, especially through electric cooperatives.
“That really made an impact,” Livingston said. “Both DeKalb and Jackson counties are now pretty much 100% covered.”
The investment proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to reliable internet became essential for education, healthcare and business.
“We had some folks with vision,” Livingston said. “We were a little ahead of the game.”
A short legislative session expected
The Alabama Legislature convenes Tuesday for the final year of the four-year quadrennium, a session Livingston expects to be brief.
“I’ve told folks we’ll basically do five things,” he said. “The education budget, the general fund budget, local bills, confirmations — and then we’ll go home.”
While some lawmakers may push priority legislation, Livingston said election-year dynamics tend to limit broader action.
“People want to get back behind the campaign,” he said.
Lottery and gaming remain hot topics
Despite the shortened session, Livingston said he continues to hear from constituents about the possibility of a state lottery, particularly in border counties like those in his district.
“We hear about it every day,” he said.
However, Livingston expressed skepticism that comprehensive gaming legislation will advance this year. A major gaming package failed by one vote in the Senate last year, and the numbers are even tighter now following a recent resignation.
“I don’t think we would come at it until we knew we had the votes,” he said.
The Legislature convenes at noon Tuesday in Montgomery.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.