Jerry Carl holds a commanding lead in the Alabama Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District, driven by his prior service as U.S. representative and stronger performance in the May 19 primary results compared with earlier polling. State Representative Rhett Marques remains the main challenger after advancing alongside Carl, though his support has not kept pace following a brief lead in pre-primary surveys. The remaining candidates, including Austin Sidwell and others, register minimal backing. Ongoing litigation over district maps and the shift to an August primary under new boundaries continue to shape the field, with Carl benefiting from higher voter familiarity in key areas.