Who's running in Alabama's 3rd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Mike Rogers currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Raising baseline defense spending and rebuilding the defense industrial base.
Pay raises of 5–7% for service members.
Defence investments in Alabama, including Redstone Arsenal, Anniston Army Depot and Maxwell Air Force Base.
Continued support for Ukraine aid.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Alabama's 3rd District since January 2003.
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Authored the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House 216–212 and authorises about $4.5 billion for Alabama defence projects.
Won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary over Terri LaPoint; endorsed by President Trump and the NRA.
Entered April 2026 with about $2.6 million in campaign cash, according to Alabama Daily News.
Arguments in favor
Threats 'are constantly changing', and a $1.15 trillion defence baseline shows 'we're serious about getting after strengthening our military' — while rebuilding an industrial base that has 'shrunk from 51 prime defense contractors to six'.
— Mike Rogers, to Alabama Daily News
Voting for Rogers's defence bill is 'more timely than ever' as the war with Iran escalates.
— Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, to Alabama Daily News
Arguments against
'Mike Rogers doesn't represent us, he's voting against our best interest' — and he has failed to hold the Trump administration accountable.
— Lee McInnis, Democratic opponent, at his campaign launch reported by the Auburn Villager
The record defence budget Rogers authored 'is outrageous… the largest amount that we have ever seen requested by far', and it carried unrelated items like the SAVE Act.
— Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, to Alabama Daily News
What we couldn’t verify
Rogers's campaign website could not be located.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Exact May 19 primary percentages were not confirmed from the sources read.
Protecting health care coverage and rural hospitals from Medicaid cuts in the 2025 budget law.
Free, quality public education and revitalised technical education.
Addressing price increases and farm losses he attributes to tariffs.
A robust veterans' health care system.
Fair taxes, with corporations and billionaires paying their share.
Holding the administration accountable on due process, birthright citizenship and troop deployments in US cities.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Army Arabic linguist; 28-year career in the defence intelligence community.
Recipient of the Joint Staff Civilian Commendation Medal and DIA Director's Intelligence Medal.
Master's degrees from Auburn University.
Unopposed in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary.
Had about $15,000 cash on hand at the end of March 2026, according to Alabama Daily News.
Has not held elected office.
Organised a spring 2025 Indivisible Auburn Opelika town hall to which Rogers was invited but did not attend; his campaign slogan is 'Where is Mike Rogers?'
Held an August 2026 town hall in Opelika with other Democratic nominees; pledges to overturn the 2025 reconciliation law, ban congressional stock ownership, pass red-flag laws and ban assault weapons.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of McInnis could be found, so no arguments are listed for him (a case for him without any sourced criticism would be one-sided). Searched: 'Lee McInnis criticism', 'McInnis Rogers campaign responds', the Alabama Republican Party's statements on the Democratic nominees, and coverage in the Auburn Villager, Auburn Plainsman, WTVM, WAKA and Alabama Political Reporter. Rogers's office did not respond to WTVM's request for comment.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Alabama held its regular primaries on May 19, 2026 with runoffs on June 16; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality. After the US Supreme Court's April 2026 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, Alabama reinstated its 2023 Legislature-passed congressional map (allowed by the Supreme Court on June 2). The 3rd District's primary results were not voided — special primaries were held only in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th districts — but the statewide map change may have altered parts of its lines. Two candidates are certified for the ballot by the Secretary of State (certifications dated August 26, 2026): Republican incumbent Mike Rogers, who beat Terri LaPoint in the May primary, and Democrat Lee McInnis, unopposed. No independent candidates were certified for any Alabama congressional seat. The district covers east-central Alabama, including Anniston, Auburn and Opelika. Rogers was unopposed in the 2024 general election.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Alabama ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.