1 day ago
7
Compiled by Sym Posey | For The Birmingham Times
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Alabama voters will have a chance to cast their ballots for state, district and local candidates. Below, you will find a small bio for candidates in our area.
U.S. 6th Congressional District
Maurice Mercer (Democrat)
Maurice Mercer is the Democratic nominee for Alabama’s 6th Congressional District. He served on the Pelham City Council from 2012 to 2025 and earned a bachelor’s degree from Troy University. Mercer’s campaign emphasizes affordability, improved access to health care and education, and support for working families. He supports raising the federal minimum wage above its current $7.25 an hour and has highlighted his experience in local government as preparation for representing the district in Congress. See more at mauricemercer.com.
Gary Palmer (Republican, incumbent)
Gary Palmer has represented Alabama’s 6th Congressional District since 2015. Before entering Congress, he spent 24 years leading the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative public policy organization. Palmer’s platform emphasizes fiscal conservatism, reducing federal regulations, restrictions on abortion, gun rights and stricter immigration policies. He has also called for repealing the Affordable Care Act and supports policies protecting religious liberty. His reelection campaign offers voters the opportunity to weigh his congressional record against Mercer’s proposals on affordability, education and health care. See more at palmerforalabama.com.
U.S. 7th Congressional District
Terri Sewell (Democrat, incumbent)
Terri Sewell has represented Alabama’s 7th Congressional District since 2011. A Selma native, she graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School before building a career in public finance law. Sewell has focused much of her congressional work on voting rights, health care access, affordable housing and economic development. She has championed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and supported federal investments in rural hospitals and water and sewer infrastructure throughout Alabama’s Black Belt. Her reelection campaign emphasizes continuing efforts to protect voting access and expand economic opportunity. See more at sewellforcongress.com.
Ammie Akin (Republican)
Ammie Akin is the Republican nominee challenging Sewell in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. A former educator and nonprofit founder, Akin holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and advanced degrees in educational leadership from Samford University. Her professional background includes teaching students with special needs, serving as an interim school superintendent and founding Hub in the Hills, a nonprofit organization. Akin’s campaign emphasizes improving health care and public safety, expanding educational opportunities, encouraging responsible federal spending and reducing unnecessary regulations. See more through Ammie Akin’s candidate profile via Alabama Reflector.
Governor of Alabama
Doug Jones (Democrat)
Doug Jones is a former U.S. senator and federal prosecutor seeking Alabama’s governorship. He served in the Senate from 2018 to 2021 after winning a special election and previously served as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. Jones gained national recognition for prosecuting Ku Klux Klan members responsible for the 1963 bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church. His campaign emphasizes affordability, health care access, rural hospital funding, economic opportunity and government accountability. He supports expanding Medicaid, increasing the state minimum wage and investing in affordable housing. Jones has also proposed a temporary pause on new data center construction while communities evaluate potential effects on utilities and infrastructure. See more at DougJones.com.
Tommy Tuberville (Republican)
Tommy Tuberville is seeking the governorship after serving in the U.S. Senate since 2021. Before entering politics, he built a career as a college football coach, including leading Auburn University’s 2004 team to an undefeated season. Tuberville’s campaign emphasizes conservative economic policies, border security, school choice, gun rights and opposition to abortion. He supports reducing taxes and regulations to encourage business development and manufacturing investment and opposes expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Tuberville has also opposed a statewide moratorium on data centers while supporting a role for local communities in decisions about the facilities. He is running to succeed term-limited Gov. Kay Ivey. See more at coachforgovernor.com.
Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
Phillip Ensler (Democrat)
Phillip Ensler is a Democratic state representative from Montgomery seeking the lieutenant governor’s office. His campaign emphasizes affordable health care, public education, safer communities and reducing household costs. Ensler supports eliminating Alabama’s state grocery tax, establishing a state minimum wage, expanding Medicaid and investing in rural hospitals and mental health services. He has also advocated for stronger teacher compensation, universal prekindergarten and additional support for higher education. If elected, Ensler would preside over the Alabama Senate and help guide legislative proceedings. See more at phillipensler.com.
John Wahl (Republican)
John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Wahl presents himself as a conservative committed to limited government, religious liberty, election integrity and parental rights. His campaign supports school choice, gun rights, stricter border security and opposition to abortion. Wahl has also backed eliminating Alabama’s grocery tax and promoting policies intended to encourage business growth. As lieutenant governor, he would preside over the state Senate and make appointments to various boards and commissions. See more at votejohnwahl.com.
U.S. Senate
Everett Wess (Democrat)
Everett Wess is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor. An attorney, prosecutor and municipal judge, Wess brings legal experience to the statewide race. His campaign has emphasized public safety, access to health care, civil rights and government accountability. He has criticized federal immigration enforcement practices that he believes threaten individual rights and raised concerns about trade policies and tariffs affecting Alabama consumers and businesses. Wess has also called for greater oversight of automated license plate reader technology used by law enforcement and private companies. See more at wessforsenate.com.
Barry Moore (Republican)
Barry Moore is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat. He has represented Alabama in the U.S. House since 2021 and previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives. Moore’s platform emphasizes border security, immigration enforcement, gun rights, conservative economic policies and restrictions on abortion. He supports President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda and has backed legislation restricting transgender students’ participation in school sports. Moore’s congressional record and conservative policy positions will be central to his campaign as he seeks to represent Alabama in the Senate. See more through barrymooreforalabama.com.
Alabama State Treasurer
Rosilyn Houston (Democrat)
Rosilyn Houston is the Democratic nominee for Alabama state treasurer, bringing decades of experience in banking, financial services and executive leadership. She previously held senior leadership positions at BBVA in the United States and Santander US and served as interim president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Houston’s campaign emphasizes transparency, accountability and modernizing the treasurer’s office. The office oversees the receipt, deposit and investment of state funds and administers responsibilities involving unclaimed property and state savings programs. Houston’s financial and organizational experience is central to her campaign’s argument that the office can improve public understanding of how state money is managed. See more at rozforalabama.com.
Young Boozer (Republican, incumbent)
Young Boozer is seeking another term as Alabama state treasurer, an office he previously held from 2011 to 2019 before returning in 2021. A Birmingham native, Boozer earned an economics degree from Stanford University and a master’s degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. His career includes nearly five decades of experience in banking, finance and investments, as well as service as deputy state finance director. Boozer highlights his work on the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program, known as PACT, and efforts to strengthen the Alabama Trust Fund. His campaign emphasizes financial stewardship, investment management and operating the treasurer’s office efficiently. See more at boozerfortreasurer.com.
Jefferson County Sheriff
Mark L. Pettway (Democrat, incumbent)
Mark L. Pettway is seeking a third consecutive term as Jefferson County sheriff after first winning election in 2018. His law enforcement background includes work with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Birmingham Police Department and Fairfield Police Department, where he gained experience in patrol, investigations and detective work. Pettway holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Faulkner University. As sheriff, he oversees law enforcement operations and public safety responsibilities across Jefferson County, including unincorporated communities. His reelection campaign will give voters an opportunity to assess his record and approach to policing, public safety and the management of the sheriff’s office. See more through jeffcosheriffal.com.
Jacob “J.J.” Reach (Republican)
Jacob “J.J.” Reach is challenging Pettway after approximately 30 years in law enforcement. A retired captain with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Reach previously led divisions involving patrol, corrections, sex offender enforcement and school resource operations. His experience includes overseeing school safety operations across 62 schools and participating in criminal investigations, including cold homicide cases. He currently works as an investigator with the Calera Police Department. Reach’s campaign emphasizes public safety, accountability, stronger law enforcement staffing and improved recruitment and retention. His proposals include establishing a dedicated gang unit and investing in professional development and school resource officers. See more at Elect Reach for Sheriff.
Jefferson County Commission
Camara Blue (Democrat)
Camara Blue is the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Jimmie Stephens for Jefferson County Commission District 3. The commission oversees county budgets, infrastructure, public services and economic development initiatives that affect residents and businesses throughout Jefferson County. Blue’s candidacy gives District 3 voters an alternative to Stephens’ established record in county government. Blue’s platform includes strengthening support for first responders, expanding workforce development, adding storm shelters for unincorporated areas, and increasing government transparency and community engagement. See more through www.camaraforcommissioner.com
Jimmie Stephens (Republican, incumbent)
Jimmie Stephens has served on the Jefferson County Commission since 2010 and currently serves as commission president. A former Bessemer City Council member, Stephens brings experience in local government and business ownership, including operating Jimmie’s Food Center and leading Stephens and Son Enterprises. He has also served on civic and public boards, including the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority and the Jefferson County Department of Health Board. Stephens has emphasized economic development, quality of life in unincorporated communities and cooperation among local governments. He has also identified stronger zoning rules for data centers as a priority as communities weigh the facilities’ potential effects on infrastructure and surrounding neighborhoods. See more through keepjimmiestephens.com.
Sources: Alabama Reflector, BirminghamWatch.org, Alabama Secretary of State
