Derek Chen announces that he is running for State Auditor

April 22, 2025 – Birmingham area attorney Derek Chen told the Alabama Gazette that he is running for the Republican nomination for State Auditor.

Incumbent State Auditor Andrew Sorrell (R) is running for Secretary of State meaning that this will be an open seat in 2026.

While Derek Chen is a first-time candidate he is well known within Republican political circles.

Chen has a bachelor's degree from Hope College, a small Christian college in Michigan. He earned his master's degree in business administration from the University of Alabama. He earned his law degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law.

Chen lives in Vestavia Hills resident, and practiced law in Jefferson County.

On his website, Chen says that he has been a longtime supporter of President Trump and his America First agenda. He was an early supporter of President Trump's 2016 Presidential bid and has remained a staunch supporter ever since.

Derek is a natural born United States citizen. His parents were legal immigrants from Taiwan – an island nation claimed by Communist China even though the two have been apart for over 76 years. Derek's family immigrated to the United States to flee the omnipresent threat posed by the Communist Chinese.

Chen says that his background gives him a unique perspective on the importance of being a responsible citizen and standing up against government overreach.

Chen faces a stiff primary opponent in Dadeville businessman Robert McCollum – a veteran of two statewide races for Public Service Commission. McCollum announced immediately after Sorrell announced he would not be running for a second term as the State Auditor.

The Republican Primary is scheduled for May 2026.