Jerry Carl

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Jerry Carl
Rep. Jerry Carl official photo.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byBradley Byrne
Personal details
Born (1958-06-17) June 17, 1958 (age 65)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Tina Carl
​
(m. 1981)​
Children2
Signature
WebsiteHouse website

Jerry Lee Carl Jr. (born June 17, 1958)[1][2] 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.

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.[3][4]

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.[5] He defeated incumbent Mike Dean in the Republican primary election in April,[6] and won the general election in November.[7] He was reelected over Margie Wilcox in 2016.[8] In 2019, Carl was selected to serve as Commission President.[9]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama § District 1

In June 2020, Carl announced he would run for the 1st district, which was being vacated by seven-term 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.[10][11] Carl defeated Democratic nominee James Averhart in the general election with 64.4% of the vote.[12] 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

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama § District 1

Carl is running for reelection in 2022.[13]

Tenure

Jerry Carl explains why he opposed the American Rescue Plan in 2021.

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."[14] Carl voted against the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, saying the bill was "rushed" too soon after the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and that it was too big and would add to the increasing national debt.[15]

As of January 2022, Carl had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 8% of the time.[16]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Carl is a self-described conservative.[18]

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."[18] Carl called Roe v. Wade "disastrous" and supported its overturning in 2022.[19]

Immigration

Carl supports the Trump wall on the U.S.–Mexico border, saying, "Jerry will stand with Trump, build the wall and end handouts for lawbreaking illegals."[18]

Gun control

Carl has said, "As a conservative, I'll stop liberals from destroying the Second Amendment."[18] The National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund endorsed him in 2020, claiming that he supports right to carry legislation.[20]

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.[21]

Climate change

Carl opposed President Joe Biden's moratorium on oil and gas production, claiming it would destroy as many as 24,000 jobs in Alabama.[22]

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.[23]

Electoral history

Republican primary results, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry Carl 38,359 38.7
Republican Bill Hightower 37,133 37.5
Republican Chris Pringle 19,053 19.2
Republican Wes Lambert 3,084 3.1
Republican John Castorani 1,465 1.5
Total votes 99,094 100.0
Republican primary runoff results, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry Carl 44,421 52.3
Republican Bill Hightower 40,552 47.7
Total votes 84,973 100.0
Alabama's 1st congressional district, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry Carl 211,825 64.4
Democratic James Averhart 116,949 35.5
Write-in 301 0.1
Total votes 329,075 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Carl married Tina in 1981, and they have two children.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Rep.-elect Jerry Carl (R-Ala.-01)". The Hill. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "CARL, JERRY LEE, JR – Candidate overview". FEC.gov.
  3. ^ "Jerry Carl". Alabama Republican Party. July 2, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Brannon, Michael (June 5, 2017). "1,500 jobs coming to Alabama as Amazon plans to open state's first sorting center". Sylacauga News.
  5. ^ McClendon, Robert (April 16, 2012). "Jerry Carl running on his business accomplishments in bid to top Mike Dean". AL.com.
  6. ^ McClendon, Robert (April 25, 2012). "Mobile County Commission: Mike Dean concedes to Jerry Carl (photo gallery)". AL.com.
  7. ^ "Businessman Jerry Carl wins District 3 Mobile County commissioner seat". AL.com. November 7, 2012.
  8. ^ "Carl claims victory in Mobile County Commission race". AL.com. March 2, 2016.
  9. ^ "Jerry Carl named new County Commission president". FOX10 News. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  10. ^ "Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl announces run for Congress". FOX10 News. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "Alabama Primary Election Results: First House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  12. ^ "Alabama Election Results: First Congressional District". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Tindell, Lisa. "Carl announces run for reelection". www.brewtonstandard.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "Rep. Jerry Carl explains his vote against impeaching Trump". FOX10 News. January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  15. ^ Moseley, Brandon (February 8, 2021). "Carl votes against Democrats' $1.9 trillion budget framework". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (October 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "Jerry Carl releases second TV ad in AL-01, pledges to 'end handouts for lawbreaking illegals'". Yellowhammer News. February 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  19. ^ Carl, Jerry. ""I applaud the Supreme Court for overturning the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision! "The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.""". Twitter. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "Your vote defends freedom! – Please vote Jerry Carl for U.S. House!". www.nrapvf.org. Retrieved March 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron (January 30, 2017). "Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  22. ^ Brandon Moseley (January 29, 2021). "Carl says Biden's moratorium on oil and gas leases on public lands will cost jobs". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  23. ^ Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lu, Denise (January 7, 2021). "The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  24. ^ "Coastal 150 endorses Jerry Carl for Congress". Alabama Political Reporter. June 4, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 1st congressional district
2021–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
370th 		Succeeded by
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