Alongside colleagues and friends, State Sen. Tom Butler announces retirement in 2026 after decades of service to Alabama

On Tuesday morning, State Sen. Tom Butler announced formally that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Butler was joined by fellow lawmakers, local officials, and longtime friends who gathered to honor his decades-long Alabama legislative career. “This is a sad day – and a happy day,” Butler (R-Madison) said. “Sad for me, happy for my wife. She was doing a little dance this morning.” Butler, 81, a pharmacist by trade, who was first elected to the Alabama House in 1982, has served a total of more than 40 years in the state legislature across both chambers and parties. “I have enjoyed my tenure