Democratic Congressional candidate Andrew Sneed says voters across Alabama’s 5th Congressional District are frustrated with Washington, and he believes that dissatisfaction gives Democrats an opportunity to compete in one of the state’s most reliably Republican congressional districts.

Sneed, who won the June 16 Democratic runoff, will face Republican U.S. Rep. Dale Strong in the Nov. 3 general election. The district, which includes Huntsville and much of North Alabama, has been represented by Republicans since 2009.

In an interview with 256 Today, Sneed said his campaign has focused on meeting voters where they are and listening to concerns rather than relying on traditional political messaging.

“We founded this whole campaign on this idea of ‘hear every voice,’” Sneed said. “It’s not just a slogan. It turns out that if you go meet people where they are, listen to them, listen to their concerns and actually have plans that address them, they respond pretty well.”

Sneed, who owns and operates a small business and “spent 25 years working with his hands” before entering politics, said he believes his background offers voters a contrast to career politicians.

“Folks are feeling apathetic and cynical,” he said. “They feel like everywhere they look there’s rich politicians while they’re falling further and further behind.”

While acknowledging Alabama’s conservative leanings, Sneed said he has attracted support from some Republican voters who remain dissatisfied with Congress.

“I can’t tell you how many three-time Trump supporters donate to this campaign,” he said. “They still like the president, but they hate Congress.”

Sneed said he believes Congress has failed to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities and criticized Strong for supporting what he described as an expansion of executive authority.

“Our representative is continually ceding powers that belong to Congress,” Sneed said. “We’re smart here in the 5th District, we’re hardworking, and we’d like our congressman to match that.”

Government reform centerpiece

Central to Sneed’s campaign is what he calls the BAC Pledge, a five-point government reform platform that has gained support from congressional candidates across the country.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

BAC stands for Balance, Accountability and Candidates, reflecting what Sneed describes as an effort to restore constitutional checks and balances while increasing public trust in government.

The proposal calls for:

• Congressional term limits of 12 years in the House and 12 years in the Senate.
• Reversing the effects of the Citizens United decision to reduce corporate influence in politics.
• Banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks.
• Requiring a five-year waiting period before former lawmakers can become lobbyists.
• Establishing an enforceable ethics code for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

“People are tired of career politicians,” Sneed said. “Nobody wants corporations having more weight than citizens, and nobody wants members of Congress getting rich trading stocks while the people they represent are struggling.”

He also argued that Supreme Court justices should be held to higher ethical standards.

“It’s not too much to ask that the arbiters of the Constitution be above reproach,” he said.

Sneed said more than 120 congressional candidates nationwide have signed onto the pledge, and he noted that U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio recently became the first sitting member of Congress to endorse the initiative.

Looking ahead

Sneed said his campaign is ultimately focused on restoring public confidence in elected officials.

“I want 2026 to be a hope election,” he said. “It’s been a tough decade, and our politics are so divided. Folks are ready for something different. They’re ready for politicians who want to clean up Washington.”

He added that his approach to public service is rooted in lessons from his late father.

“My dad told me you have to like who you see in the mirror,” Sneed said. “He also taught me politics matters because politics affects policy, and policy affects people. Doing this without integrity isn’t worth doing at all.”

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