Jerry Carl

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Jerry Carl
BornJerry Lee Carl Jr.
17 6, 1958
BirthplaceMobile, Alabama, U.S.
OccupationPolitician, businessman
Known forU.S. Representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district (2021–2025)
EducationFlorida Gateway College
Children2
Website[[jerrycarlforcongress.com jerrycarlforcongress.com] Official site]

Jerry Lee Carl Jr. (born June 17, 1958) is an American politician and businessman from Mobile, Alabama, who served as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Carl built a career in the timber and real estate industries before entering public life as a member of the Mobile County Commission, where he served from 2012 to 2020 and spent his final two years as president of the commission.[1] In Congress, Carl represented a district encompassing much of southern Alabama, including parts of Mobile and the state's entire Gulf Coast shoreline. He lost renomination in 2024 after redistricting placed him in a primary contest against fellow incumbent Barry Moore. As of 2025, Carl is seeking to reclaim his former congressional seat in the 2026 election cycle.[2]

Early Life

Jerry Lee Carl Jr. was born on June 17, 1958, in Mobile, Alabama.[3] He grew up in the Mobile area, where he would eventually build both his business career and his political base. Carl has described his background as rooted in the private sector, emphasizing his experience as a businessman as a central part of his public identity.[4]

Before entering politics, Carl worked in the timber and real estate industries in southern Alabama. He built a business career over several decades, an experience he later cited as formative to his approach to governance and fiscal policy.[4] His business background became a recurring theme in his political campaigns, beginning with his first run for public office in 2012.

Education

Carl attended Florida Gateway College (formerly Lake City Community College) in Lake City, Florida.[3] Details regarding additional formal education beyond this institution are not extensively documented in available sources.

Career

Mobile County Commission (2012–2020)

Carl entered electoral politics in 2012 when he ran for a seat on the Mobile County Commission. He campaigned primarily on his business background, presenting himself as a fiscally conservative outsider who would bring private-sector experience to county government.[4] The race drew attention as part of a broader contest for seats on the commission.[5] Carl won his district's seat in the November 2012 general election, defeating his opponent to join the commission.[6]

Carl served on the Mobile County Commission for eight years, winning reelection in 2016.[7] During his tenure, he focused on county-level fiscal management and infrastructure issues relevant to the Mobile metropolitan area. In 2019, Carl was named president of the Mobile County Commission, a role he held during his final two years on the body.[1] His time as commission president coincided with his decision to seek higher office, as he announced his candidacy for Congress later that same year.

2020 Congressional Campaign

In 2019, Carl announced his candidacy for Alabama's 1st congressional district after incumbent Republican Bradley Byrne chose to vacate the seat to run for the United States Senate.[8] The open seat attracted a competitive Republican primary field, as the district was considered safely Republican.

Carl advanced to a runoff against former state senator Bill Hightower. The primary election results showed a competitive field in the district.[9] During the campaign, Carl ran television advertisements in which he pledged to take a hard line on immigration, vowing to "end handouts for lawbreaking illegals."[10] He received endorsements from several organizations, including the Coastal 150 group, which backed his candidacy ahead of the runoff.[11]

Carl defeated Hightower in the Republican runoff to secure the nomination. In the November 2020 general election, he faced Democrat James Averhart. Carl won the general election decisively, consistent with the district's strong Republican lean.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–2025)

Carl was sworn in as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district on January 3, 2021, succeeding Bradley Byrne.[13] As a freshman member, Carl was profiled as part of the incoming class of new House members.[14]

Carl's district encompassed a significant portion of southern Alabama, including parts of the city of Mobile and the entirety of the state's Gulf Coast. The district's economy was tied to industries including shipping and port operations, tourism, military installations, agriculture, and petrochemicals. Carl maintained an official congressional office and website through which he communicated his legislative priorities and constituent services.[15]

During his time in Congress, Carl aligned closely with the policy positions of former President Donald Trump. His voting record was tracked by FiveThirtyEight's Trump Score, which measured how frequently members of Congress voted in alignment with Trump's stated positions.[16] Carl positioned himself as a conservative member focused on issues such as immigration enforcement, fiscal conservatism, and support for the military installations in his district.

2022 Reelection

Carl sought reelection in 2022. No Democratic candidate filed to challenge him, and he faced only Libertarian candidate Alexander Remrey in the general election. Carl won reelection comfortably, continuing to represent the 1st district for a second term.[17]

2024 Primary and Loss of Seat

The political landscape shifted significantly for Carl following the Supreme Court's decision in Allen v. Milligan (2023), which required Alabama to redraw its congressional map to include a second majority-Black district or something close to it. The resulting redistricting substantially altered the boundaries of several Alabama congressional districts, including the 1st district. As a consequence of the new maps, Carl found himself in a reconfigured district that overlapped with the territory of fellow Republican incumbent Barry Moore, who had represented Alabama's 2nd congressional district.[2]

Carl and Moore faced each other in the 2024 Republican primary. The incumbent-versus-incumbent contest was a direct result of the redistricting process, which forced the two sitting members into the same district. Carl lost the primary to Moore, ending his congressional tenure after two terms.[2] He left office on January 3, 2025, and Moore succeeded him as the representative for the redrawn 1st district.[13]

2026 Congressional Campaign

Following his departure from Congress, Carl signaled his interest in returning to political office. In August 2025, Carl filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run once again for Alabama's 1st Congressional District.[18] His filing came amid reports that Moore was considering a run for the United States Senate in 2026.[19]

On August 18, 2025, Carl formally announced his comeback campaign. In his announcement, he pledged to advance what he described as the "America First" agenda and conservative policy priorities.[20][2] Moore subsequently announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, leaving the 1st district seat open once again.

The Republican primary for Alabama's 1st Congressional District was scheduled for May 19, 2026. Carl faced a competitive primary field that included Rhett Marques, Joshua McKee, and several other Republican candidates.[21] Early polling in the race showed a competitive contest; one survey indicated that Carl had lost ground among Republican voters on an informed ballot, placing third in the field according to that particular poll.[22]

Personal Life

Carl has resided in Mobile, Alabama, throughout his adult life. He has two children.[3] Beyond his political career, Carl's professional life has centered on the timber and real estate industries in the Mobile area. He is affiliated with the Alabama Republican Party.[23]

Carl's FEC filings for his congressional campaigns are publicly available and document his campaign fundraising and expenditure activity across multiple election cycles.[24]

Political Positions

Carl has identified as a conservative Republican throughout his political career. During his time in Congress, he aligned closely with the policy positions of former President Donald Trump, particularly on issues of immigration, government spending, and support for the military.[25] In his 2020 campaign, Carl emphasized a hard-line stance on immigration, featuring the issue prominently in his television advertisements.[26]

In his 2025 campaign announcement for the 2026 election, Carl framed his candidacy around the "America First" agenda, signaling continued alignment with the policy priorities associated with Donald Trump's political movement.[2][27]

Electoral History

Carl's electoral record spans both county and federal races in Alabama:

  • 2012: Won election to Mobile County Commission, District 3.[28]
  • 2016: Won reelection to Mobile County Commission, District 3.[29]
  • 2020: Won Republican primary runoff against Bill Hightower; won general election against Democrat James Averhart for Alabama's 1st congressional district.[30]
  • 2022: Won reelection against Libertarian Alexander Remrey; no Democratic opponent filed.[17]
  • 2024: Lost Republican primary to Barry Moore following redistricting.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Jerry Carl named new county commission president".FOX10 News.https://www.fox10tv.com/news/jerry-carl-named-new-county-commission-president/article_7efaa150-aeeb-11e9-8b80-6b18ed6eaf28.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Alabama Republican launches comeback run for congressional seat he lost to fellow incumbent".AL.com.August 18, 2025.https://www.al.com/politics/2025/08/alabama-republican-launches-comeback-run-for-congressional-seat-he-lost-to-fellow-incumbent.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "CARL, Jerry Lee, Jr.".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001054.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Jerry Carl running on his business background".AL.com.April 2012.https://www.al.com/live/2012/04/jerry_carl_running_on_his_busi.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Mobile County Commission: Mike Dean, Jerry Carl win Republican runoff".AL.com.April 2012.https://www.al.com/live/2012/04/mobile_county_commission_mike.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Businessman Jerry Carl wins District 3 commission seat".AL.com.November 2012.https://www.al.com/live/2012/11/businessman_jerry_carl_wins_di.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Carl claims victory in Mobile County Commission District 3".AL.com.March 2016.https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2016/03/carl_claims_victory_in_mobile.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl announces run for Congress".FOX10 News.2019.https://www.fox10tv.com/news/mobile-county-commissioner-jerry-carl-announces-run-for-congress/article_2c2c4d3e-3ac4-11e9-9a4d-e72ec64ac63b.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Results: Alabama House District 1 Primary Election".The New York Times.March 3, 2020.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/03/us/elections/results-alabama-house-district-1-primary-election.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Jerry Carl releases second TV ad in AL-01, pledges to end handouts for 'lawbreaking illegals'".Yellowhammer News.https://yellowhammernews.com/jerry-carl-releases-second-tv-ad-in-al-01-pledges-to-end-handouts-for-lawbreaking-illegals/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Coastal 150 endorses Jerry Carl for Congress".Alabama Political Reporter.June 4, 2020.https://www.alreporter.com/2020/06/04/coastal-150-endorses-jerry-carl-for-congress/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Results: Alabama House District 1".The New York Times.November 3, 2020.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-alabama-house-district-1.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Representative Jerry Carl".Congress.gov.https://www.congress.gov/member/jerry-carl/C001054.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Rep.-elect Jerry Carl, R-Ala.-01".The Hill.https://thehill.com/new-members-guide-2020/527555-rep-elect-jerry-carl-r-ala-01.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Congressman Jerry Carl".Office of Congressman Jerry Carl.https://carl.house.gov/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Congress Trump Score".FiveThirtyEight.https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Jerry Carl".Ballotpedia.https://ballotpedia.org/Jerry_Carl.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Jerry Carl files to run for his former congressional seat".Alabama Daily News.August 8, 2025.https://aldailynews.com/jerry-carl-files-to-run-for-moores-congressional-seat/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Jerry Carl files for congressional run amid Moore for Senate rumors".1819 News.November 8, 2025.https://1819news.com/news/item/jerry-carl-files-for-congressional-run-amid-moore-for-senate-rumors.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Jerry Carl announces comeback bid for Alabama's 1st Congressional District".Alabama Political Reporter.August 18, 2025.https://www.alreporter.com/2025/08/18/jerry-carl-announces-comeback-bid-for-alabamas-1st-congressional-district/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Jerry Carl (R), Rhett Marques (R), Joshua McKee (R), and three others are running in the Republican primary for Alabama's 1st Congressional District on May 19, 2026".Ballotpedia News.January 23, 2026.https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/01/23/jerry-carl-r-rhett-marques-r-joshua-mckee-r-and-three-others-are-running-in-the-republican-primary-for-alabamas-1st-congressional-district-on-may-19-2026/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Alabama Poll: Jerry Carl 'collapses' to third place on informed ballot".Yellowhammer News.https://yellowhammernews.com/alabama-poll-jerry-carl-collapses-to-third-place-on-informed-ballot/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Jerry Carl".Alabama Republican Party.https://algop.org/jerry-carl/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Jerry Carl – Candidate".Federal Election Commission.https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H0AL01055.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Congress Trump Score".FiveThirtyEight.https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Jerry Carl releases second TV ad in AL-01, pledges to end handouts for 'lawbreaking illegals'".Yellowhammer News.https://yellowhammernews.com/jerry-carl-releases-second-tv-ad-in-al-01-pledges-to-end-handouts-for-lawbreaking-illegals/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Jerry Carl announces comeback bid for Alabama's 1st Congressional District".Alabama Political Reporter.August 18, 2025.https://www.alreporter.com/2025/08/18/jerry-carl-announces-comeback-bid-for-alabamas-1st-congressional-district/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Businessman Jerry Carl wins District 3 commission seat".AL.com.November 2012.https://www.al.com/live/2012/11/businessman_jerry_carl_wins_di.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "Carl claims victory in Mobile County Commission District 3".AL.com.March 2016.https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2016/03/carl_claims_victory_in_mobile.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  30. ↑ "Results: Alabama House District 1".The New York Times.November 3, 2020.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-alabama-house-district-1.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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