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In a friendly forum for Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District, Democratic candidates on Tuesday discussed how to overturn President Donald Trump’s agenda and get incumbent U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer out of office.
Candidates for the district, which includes part of the Birmingham metro, largely agreed on supporting social services, finishing the war in Iran and ending aggressive immigration enforcement. They had different opinions on abortion and how to tackle data centers.
“I haven’t talked to a single constituent who is in favor of data centers,” said Maurice Mercer, a former Pelham city councilman.
Palmer was first elected in 2014. His Republican primary challenger is Case Dixon.
Candidates will be on the ballot for a special primary Aug. 11, called after Alabama redrew its congressional district maps this summer.
Democratic candidates are:
- Ashtyn Kennedy, an activist and opponent of Alabama Power,
- Jacob Bouma-Sims, a disability advocate,
- Maurice Mercer, an account executive and former local official,
- Keith Pilkington, a registered nurse and veteran.
The forum was hosted by the North Jefferson County Democrats club. Pilkington could not attend.
Data centers
Kennedy has been a vocal opponent of both data centers and Alabama Power. In comments, she frequently said she believed enforcing anti-trust laws would improve life for local residents.
She said she believes Alabama residents are being exploited and that data centers will have long-term negative consequences.
“They are poisoning the South for profit,” she said.
Kennedy said if elected, she would support a federal moratorium on data center development, and work with state officials to create better local rules.
Mercer was less opposed to data centers, but said he also would support a federal and state pause to evaluate rules and protections.
“I will stand up for you to make sure that data centers don’t take over and leave us with bad water and bad energy and a bad cost,” he said.
Bouma-Sims proposed creating a federal organization, like the Tennessee Valley Authority, for the southern part of the state so that Alabama Power has less of a monopoly.
Abortion
Kennedy said she fully supports abortion, reproductive health care and the right to privacy.
Bouma-Sims and Mercer both said they are personally ambivalent about abortion, but believe the ability to get one should be protected.
“I don’t believe in abortion on demand or as birth control,” Mercer said. “However, I do support a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.”
Bouma-Sims said he feels conflicted about abortion, but feels Alabama has proven that legal bans do more harm than good.
“I would oppose a national abortion ban,” he said.
Immigration and foreign policy
Mercer said he wants to enforce U.S. border control, but people already in the country should be treated fairly.
If an immigrant is contributing to their community and hasn’t committed any crimes, they should be able to stay, he said.
Kennedy said she wants to revisit a bipartisan 2024 immigration reform bill in Congress. Instead of funding more Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff and domestic arrests, she said she wants to direct funding to improving the legal immigration process.
Each candidate said they want to quickly end the war in Iran, but Bouma-Sims said he also wants to end American aid to Israel.
Voting rights and elections
Several local voters asked questions about elections and the future of democracy.
“I’m here because I’m worried about the future of our country,” said Josh Padgham.
Each candidate encouraged voters to show up at the polls.
As an advocate and as someone with autism, Bouma-Sims said he is used to working across the aisle.
Bouma-Sims and Mercer said that if elected, they would support a national redistricting commission so that voting districts aren’t determined by state legislatures.
“We have to organize, mobilize and vote,” Mercer said.
“I believe that facing Gary Palmer in November, I am the most qualified,” he said. “I’ve spent 13 years as an elected official, with government budgets, transparency, maintaining a AAA bond rating.”
Kennedy said that if elected, she would help pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
And she said while she disagrees with the redistricting effort that changed Alabama’s districts, she believes there is an opportunity to send someone else to Washington.
“Everyone is ready for a change,” she said. “And with this redistricting, they handed it to us on a silver platter. I’m ready for the fight that comes after the win, because it’s going to be a big one.”
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