John Northrop is from Andalusia, Alabama. He has a bachelor 27s degree from Birmingham-Southern College and two master 27s degrees from Harvard University. He and his wife, Ericka, have two sons.

Alabama Public Service Commission election, 2026 - Ballotpedia

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John Northrop is from Andalusia, Alabama. He has a bachelor 's degree from Birmingham-Southern College and two master 's degrees from Harvard University. He has volunteered with the Citizens Climate Lobby, the Sierra Club, the Homewood Environmental Commission, and the Transit Citizens Advisory Board. He lives with his wife, Ericka, and their two children in Birmingham, Alabama. 

John is a retired educator. He previously served as the head of the Alabama School of Fine Arts from 1997 to 2011. He also worked as an associate commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Education, an assistant superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, and an administrator for Riverside Unified School District in California and Tucson Unified School District in Arizona. Before his education career, John reported and edited for daily and weekly newspapers, including the Birmingham News, Birmingham Post-Herald, and Samoa News. He is also a published author.

John previously worked as the head of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, an associate commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Education, an assistant superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, an administrator for Riverside Unified School District and Tucson Unified School District, and as a journalist at the Birmingham News, Birmingham Post-Herald, the Birmingham Reporter, and the Samoa News. 

John Northrop's campaign for Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1, is his first time running for public office.

2026 Qualified Candidates - Alabama Democratic Party

John's campaign for Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1, is his first time running for public office.

2026 Alabama General Election

2026 Alabama Primary Election

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For Candidate John Northrop on Issue utility-costs:  
Supports setting utility rates and profits no higher than southeastern averages.

Supports setting utility rates and profits no higher than southeastern averages.

For Candidate John Northrop on Issue utility-costs: Advocates for containing costs by requiring Alabama Power Company to maintain adequate but not excessive generating capacity in line with industry standards.

Advocates for containing costs by requiring Alabama Power Company to maintain adequate but not excessive generating capacity in line with industry standards.

For Candidate John Northrop on Issue utility-costs: Advocates for promoting distributed power generation to reduce reliance on expensive centralized generation.

Advocates for promoting distributed power generation to reduce reliance on expensive centralized generation.

For Candidate John Northrop on Issue utility-costs: Supports ending the Alabama Power connection surcharge for rooftop solar.

Supports ending the Alabama Power connection surcharge for rooftop solar.

For Candidate John Northrop on Issue utility-costs: Advocates for raising Alabama Power's "net metering" credit for rooftop solar generation.

Advocates for raising Alabama Power's "net metering" credit for rooftop solar generation.

For Candidate John Northrop on Issue utility-costs: Supports requiring utility incentives for localized conservation efforts such as insulation and windows.

Supports requiring utility incentives for localized conservation efforts such as insulation and windows.

- Supports setting utility rates and profits no higher than southeastern averages.
- Advocates for containing costs by requiring Alabama Power Company to maintain adequate but not excessive generating capacity in line with industry standards.
- Advocates for promoting distributed power generation to reduce reliance on expensive centralized generation.
- Supports ending the Alabama Power connection surcharge for rooftop solar.
- Advocates for raising Alabama Power's "net metering" credit for rooftop solar generation.
- Supports requiring utility incentives for localized conservation efforts such as insulation and windows.

Utility Costs

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John Northrop

Jennifer Pike

Emileigh Crouch

Buket Urgen

Matthew Tomas

James O. Gordon

Jeff Ramsey

- A public service commissioner is a member of the Alabama Public Service Commission, an elected state agency that regulates utility companies. The commission is composed of three members, including a president and two associate commissioners.
- Commissioners oversee and regulate services such as electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications across the state.
- In Alabama, public service commissioners are elected in statewide, partisan elections to four-year terms. Candidates may not have financial interests in or be employed by utility companies.
- Commissioners earn an annual salary set by state law, which is approximately $114,639 per year.

A state official who regulates utility services and sets rates.