Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Everett Wess is campaigning across Alabama against significant challenges, including a substantial funding gap and strong Republican advantage, with about a month and a half remaining until the election. Wess seeks to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama in a general election since 1992.
Republican nominee Barry Moore, a congressman from Enterprise, holds a considerable lead in campaign funds. Through the end of June, Wess had raised less than $4,000, while Moore had received almost $2.5 million in donations, according to data from the Federal Election Commission website. Both the Cook Political Report and Sabato Crystal Ball rate the Alabama Senate seat as "Solid Republican" and "Safe Republican," respectively.
J. Miles Coleman, associate editor for Sabato Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia, described Alabama as "a tough state to start out with" for Democrats. Coleman noted that President Donald Trump carried the state by 30 points in 2024, and "none of the main national parties really seem very invested in it."
Despite these structural disadvantages, Wess continues to attend events to meet with voters across the state. In a recent interview, Wess stated his focus is "on winning this election for the people of Alabama." He added that he is meeting with, speaking with, and listening to the citizens of Alabama.
The upcoming contest will determine the successor to U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is the Republican nominee for Alabama governor. A message seeking comment was sent to the Moore campaign on Tuesday.
Wess decided to run for the Senate after sensing voter dissatisfaction with Trump's performance, observing that "people are uncertain about what is going to happen next" and noting "confusion with the current administration, uncertainty with the current administration." He aims to address issues important to Alabama residents, prioritizing healthcare, public safety, and education.
The economy and inflation are central to Wess's campaign, reflecting priorities of other Democratic nominees. He noted that "prices have really not come down" since Trump took office, especially with "the start of the (Iran) war," which he said has contributed to high gas prices, groceries, and prescription drugs. Wess recalled a recent conversation with a voter who noted a dollar increase in the price of bread this year.
Wess also highlighted concerns about the budget reconciliation bill signed into law by Trump, which substantially shifts the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to states, potentially reducing the number of people receiving food assistance. He also pointed out that the bill did not extend tax credits from former President Joe Biden that helped reduce health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Wess expressed his belief that he could "put the Alabama citizens first."
While Democrats nationally may see a favorable environment, the party advantage in Alabama favors Moore. The Independent Voter Project, a nonprofit promoting election reform, estimated that nearly 2 million people in Alabama, approximately 55% of the electorate, favor the Republican Party, compared to about 1.2 million people, or 36%, who tend to favor Democrats. Alabama does not require voters to register with a political party.
Coleman explained that Alabama features "a bunch of strongly Republican exurbs and rural areas," with Democratic "beach heads in Jefferson County and Mobile" and the area around Huntsville "slowly getting a little less red," but not enough to offset some of these really Republican parts of the state. The Republican advantage was also evident in the primary election for this race in May, where more than 480,000 people voted for a Republican Senate candidate, compared to about 340,000 voters for Democratic candidates.
Democrats have overcome this party advantage in Alabama in the past. Doug Jones, currently the Democratic nominee for Alabama governor, won a 2017 special election against former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore. However, this contest was the only one on the ballot, and Moore, who faced allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct that he denied, had already alienated many Republicans. David Niven, an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, commented that a party's advantage can be neutralized if a candidate is "extraordinarily, personally noxious to people" and faces "a credible opponent."
Despite the difficult path, Wess believes he has a way to win. Wess said, "I am on the ground working, listening to the people," and believes this will make a difference in the race.
Wess currently works as an attorney for the Wess Law Firm in Birmingham. His past experience includes serving on the executive committee of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, teaching classes at Faulkner University, and serving on the board of Legacy Works, an organization focused on mentoring at-risk youth.
If elected, Wess plans to prioritize bringing federal dollars to rural parts of the state to invest in rural hospitals and strengthen their emergency departments. He also aims to recruit additional physicians and medical staff to rural areas and work to make prescription drugs and healthcare more affordable for residents.