Neighbors resigns from Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee chair position

The Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee will begin a search for a new chairman after Rick Neighbors announced his resignation from the position effective immediately.

In a letter obtained by the Franklin Free Press, Neighbors sent his resignation to Ben Harris, Vice Chair for County Affairs with the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee on March 24, 2026.

Neighbors, who announced his intention to resign at the January 2026 meeting of the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee, attributed his decision to “changing circumstances and new commitments requiring my time and attention.”

He pledged to remain supportive of the Democratic Party and the work of the Franklin County Committee in any way he can.

Harris expressed his appreciation to Neighbors for his tireless service as chairman.

“Rick, thank you for your outstanding service. We look forward to continuing to work with the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee and continuing to work with you. We owe you a debt of gratitude and look forward to seeing you soon,” Harris told Neighbors. 

Neighbors became chair of the local Democratic Executive Committee in 2024, following the brief tenure of Trevor Prince as chairman.

Neighbors is a political veteran who unsuccessfully ran for the United States Congressional seat for Alabama’s District Four in 2012, 2018 and 2022.

He has been active in both local and state politics through the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee as well.

Under Neighbors’ tenure as chairman, the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee has remained active and engaged in politics, even though there are no Franklin County elected officials who are Democrats.

Beginning with the 2012 election, the political landscape of Franklin County began a meteoric shift from exclusive Democratic control to an across-the-board sweep by Republicans into all local offices as well as its two state legislative offices.

No local Democratic candidates qualified to run in the May 19, 2026, Alabama primary election, so the county will continue to have 100% Republican representation after the November 2026 general election.