Alabama

This webpage houses the responses to 5 questions crafted by the Alabama Stance on Science team.

Only official candidates who will appear on ballots were contacted.

Candidates were contacted in September 2026 (with a follow-up to those who did not initially respond) and given the opportunity to answer all questions. Only the responses of candidates who answered the questions are included. None of the candidates' responses were modified in any way before being published on this resource page.

For the November 2026 General Election, only candidates in the following elections were contacted:

1. Communities located along the coast, like those on Dauphin Island, face rising insurance premiums and more difficulty rebuilding after increasingly severe storms. Shoreline restoration and the management of natural buffer zones have shown promise in lessening the damage from hurricanes. What strategies, if any, would you pursue as a leader to protect our coastal communities? (see "Climate" and "Environment")
2. Natural gas generated about 45% of Alabama’s electricity in 2024, while renewable sources generated about 9%. Energy affordability is an important concern for many Alabamians. What role, if any, should renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal play in Alabama’s strategy to provide affordable, reliable, and resilient energy? (see "Energy")
3. Alabama is a state inextricably tied to its waterways, whether it be through fishing, tourism, irrigation, or the water we all need to drink. What actions, if any, will you take to ensure the health of Alabama’s rivers and lakes? (see "Environment")
4. Over the past few years, federal funding for scientific research has faced the prospect of significant cuts. Alabama’s universities, hospitals, and research institutions receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding each year, supporting scientific discovery, workforce development, and economic growth. What policies, if any, do you plan to implement to support scientific research in Alabama? (see "Science Funding")
5. Alabama has attracted major data center investments in recent years, with projects totaling billions of dollars announced across the state. How do you see data centers impacting Alabama’s, and the wider United States’, economy, livelihoods, energy infrastructure, and environment? (see "Artificial Intelligence", "Energy", and "Environment")