Nine of the Alabama Senate’s 35 seats are expected to be “open” in 2018 elections, with incumbents saying they plan not to seek reelection or to seek other offices.

But Senate District 31, which includes Coffee, Covington and Pike counties, along with a portion of Dale, won’t be one of those.

Incumbent Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, confirmed on Tuesday his plans to seek a sixth term in the Alabama Senate. Holley was speaking at a legislative luncheon organized by the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce and hosted by PowerSouth.

At present, there are 25 Republicans in the Senate. Holley said at last count, nine of them do not plan to seek reelection next year, which would mean at least a 25 percent turnover in the upper chamber of the legislature.

Holley, who is known for his firm knowledge of Senate rules, as well as expertise in state budgets, chairs the Senate Governmental Affairs committee. He also serves on Finance and Taxation Education, Rules, Transportation and Energy and Veterans and Military Affairs.

–Michele Gerlach