Tommy Battle is the current mayor of Huntsville, having been elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012, 2016, and 2020. John Hamilton took over as City Administrator on January 1, 2014, when Rex Reynolds retired.

A five-member/district City Council governs the city. Districts 2, 3, and 4 had council elections in August 2018, while Districts 1 and 5 had elections in 2020, which were held concurrently with mayoral elections.

Everything from schools and planning to museums and downtown development is overseen by the city’s boards and commissions.

In Huntsville, Alabama, then-Senator Barack Obama held his first fundraiser for his presidential campaign in July 2007. In 2008, Obama won the Alabama Democratic Primary in Madison County by a significant majority. John McCain won Madison County with 57 percent of the vote in the general election. Donald Trump (R) won Madison County with 55 percent of the vote in the 2016 general election. Hillary Clinton (D) received 38% of the vote, while Gary Johnson (I) received 4%. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-5th Congressional District, AL), who was re-elected with 60 percent of the vote in 2016, represents Huntsville in Congress.