Why It Matters
Alabama’s 7th Congressional District — one of the state’s most economically distressed — heads into a rare competitive Republican primary this summer as the state navigates a contentious redistricting dispute that has drawn national attention. The outcome could test whether a Republican can make inroads in a district that hasn’t sent a GOP member to Congress in over six decades.
What Happened
Two Republican candidates are vying for their party’s nomination in the August 11 special primary for Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. Former educator Ammie Akin, 44, and retired pastor David Perry, 63, are competing for the chance to face Democratic incumbent Rep. Terri Sewell in the November 4 general election.
Sewell, who faces no primary challenger, is seeking her ninth consecutive term representing the district, which spans western central Alabama including portions of Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties.
Gov. Kay Ivey called the special election in May following a special session of the state legislature. The 7th District was among four congressional districts — along with the 1st, 2nd, and 6th — included in that special election process.
Redistricting Backdrop
The race takes place against the backdrop of a prolonged redistricting battle. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Alabama to use its 2023 legislature-approved congressional map for this cycle rather than a court-ordered version. The 2023 map had previously been struck down by a federal court as racially discriminatory.
The court-ordered map, which was used in the 2024 elections, resulted in the election of two Black representatives — the first in Alabama history. Both the 2023 map and the court-ordered version place the Black voting-age population of the 7th District above 50%.
By the Numbers
The economic and social data underlying the 7th District race paint a stark picture of the challenges facing whoever wins the seat:
- The district recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 6.7% — in 2024.
- Approximately 28.1% of children in the district lived in poverty in 2024.
- Alabama’s statewide violent crime rate stood at 360 per 100,000 people in 2024, though Tuscaloosa Police Department data show a decline from 2024 to 2025.
- Three school systems within the district are currently under state intervention.
The Candidates
Perry, the retired pastor, is leaning heavily on the district’s economic struggles to make his case. “The district hasn’t done any better, it’s actually gotten worse,” he said. “Number one in poverty and number one in crime, and last in economic growth.”
Akin, the former educator, is taking a more forward-looking approach, arguing that the district’s difficulties represent untapped potential rather than an indictment of past leadership. “I think when many people look at the seventh district, they see challenges, but I see real possibility,” she said.
Both candidates will need to consolidate Republican support in what has long been a Democratic stronghold. The district has not been represented by a Republican in more than 60 years, making even a competitive primary an unusual development for the area.
What’s Next
The Republican special primary is set for August 11, with the general election to follow on November 4. The winner of the primary will face Sewell, who enters the general election as a strong favorite given the district’s partisan history.
The broader implications of Alabama’s redistricting dispute — including questions about whether the legislature-approved map will withstand further legal scrutiny — could shape congressional representation in the state well beyond this single race. The outcome will also be watched as an indicator of whether national Republican efforts to compete in majority-Black districts gain any traction in the Deep South.