Jerry Carl

Jerry Lee Carl Jr. (born June 17, 1958) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district is based in Mobile, and includes all of the state's share of the Gulf Coast. A Republican, Carl served as a member of the Mobile County Commission from 2012 to 2020, the last two years as president of the commission.

In 2019, Carl announced his candidacy for the House seat being vacated by incumbent Republican Bradley Byrne. He defeated former state senator Bill Hightower in a runoff for the Republican nomination and Democrat James Averhart in the general election. In 2024, following redistricting as a result of Allen v. Milligan, Carl ran against fellow incumbent representative Barry Moore in the Republican primary and lost renomination.

Early life and education
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Carl graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1977. He attended Lake City Community College (now Florida Gateway College) for a time, but left to move back to Mobile and start his first business.

Career
After leaving community college, Carl worked for Alabama Power. He then worked for Burford Equipment Company and as a salesman for various companies in Mobile. In 1989, Carl established Stat Medical, a healthcare equipment business. He later worked as a manager at Rotech Medical before establishing a real estate development firm. Carl founded Carl and Associates, a management group, in 2003. He then started Cricket and Butterfly, LLC, a lumber and timber company.

Carl ran for Mobile County Commission in 2012. He defeated incumbent Mike Dean in the Republican primary election in April, and won the general election in November. He was reelected over Margie Wilcox in 2016. In 2019, Carl was selected to serve as Commission President.

2020
In June 2020, Carl announced he would run for the 1st district, which was being vacated by incumbent and fellow Republican Bradley Byrne. He faced former state senator Bill Hightower, State Representative Chris Pringle, and two others in the Republican primary. Carl narrowly defeated Hightower in the primary, and they went to a runoff election. Carl defeated Democratic nominee James Averhart in the general election with 64.4% of the vote. The 1st has been in Republican hands without interruption since 1965, and the Democrats have only managed 40% of the vote once since then.

The 1st typically gives its incumbents very long tenures in Washington. When Carl took office on January 2, 2021, he became only the seventh person to hold the seat since 1919; all but one of his six predecessors held it for at least 10 years.

2022
Carl was reelected in 2022.

2024
In 2024, redistricting as a result of Allen v. Milligan placed both Carl and fellow incumbent representative Barry Moore in the same district, setting up a primary in which Carl and Moore were both incumbents pitted against each other in the 1st district. On October 30, 2023, Moore confirmed to 1819 News that he would run in the first congressional district, challenging Carl in the Republican primary.

In the Republican primary on March 5, 2024, Carl lost the Republican nomination to Moore by 3.4%.

117th Congress (2021–present)
One of Carl's first votes upon joining Congress was opposing the second impeachment of Donald Trump. He said he voted against impeachment because he believed the articles of impeachment "failed to reach the necessary threshold for impeachment." He also called impeachment "Nancy Pelosi's personal vendetta against President Trump." Carl voted against the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, saying the bill was rushed after the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and that it was too big and would add to the increasing national debt.

As of June 2023, Carl had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 9.7% of the time.

Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:
 * Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
 * Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
 * Committee on Natural Resources
 * Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

Caucus memberships

 * Republican Study Committee

Political positions
Carl is a self-described conservative.

Abortion
Carl is anti-abortion, saying in a campaign advertisement that "it's immoral to stop a beating heart". He has similarly promised to "protect the unborn." Carl called Roe v. Wade "disastrous" and supported its overturning in 2022.

Economy
During the 2023 United States debt-ceiling crisis, Carl voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

Immigration
In a 2020 television campaign advertisement, Carl said he would "stand with Trump, build the wall and end handouts for lawbreaking illegals."

Israel
Carl says that Israel is "America's most important regional ally." He supports its right to defend itself. He voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Gun control
Carl has said, "As a conservative, I'll stop liberals from destroying the Second Amendment." In 2020, the NRA Political Victory Fund graded Carl "AQ" and endorsed him. He was given an "A" grade and endorsed in 2022.

Impeachment of Donald Trump
Carl voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and voted to object to Pennsylvania's and Arizona's electors during the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.

Climate change
Carl opposed President Joe Biden's moratorium on oil and gas production, saying it would destroy as many as 24,000 jobs in Alabama.

Vote to overturn 2020 election
On January 6, 2021, Carl was one of 147 Republican lawmakers who voted to overturn results in the 2020 presidential election.

Personal life
Carl married Tina in 1981, and they have two children. Carl is a Baptist.