State Rep. Marilyn Lands says voters in Alabama House District 10 are increasingly focused on affordability and education as she seeks a full term representing the Huntsville-area district in the Nov. 3 general election.

Lands, a Democrat, won a nationally watched special election in March 2024 after former Republican Rep. David Cole resigned following his conviction on voter fraud charges. She now faces Republican Aaron Thomas, a Madison business owner, in one of Alabama’s most competitive legislative races.

A licensed professional counselor who has worked in private practice and community mental health, Lands said her path to elected office developed gradually through community involvement and legislative advocacy.

She said working with former Republican Rep. Mike Ball on mental health legislation helped her understand the impact state government has on residents’ daily lives.

“That really got me thinking about the process and seeing it in action and for the first time, really understanding that state and local politics really affect us more in our day-to-day lives than what happens at the national level,” Lands said.

When Ball decided not to seek another term, Lands said she chose to run.

“I thought, no, I can’t let that happen,” she said.

Although she narrowly lost in 2022, Lands returned to win the 2024 special election, flipping the district to Democratic control.

“We flipped the district and it was a big day,” she said. “We caught a moment and made national news and all the things and gave people hope, I think, that things could be different.”

Lands said campaigning this year has differed significantly from the special election because turnout alone will not determine the outcome.

“In a special, you’re really trying hard to turn out your voters,” she said. “This time around, we’ve got to add to our base, so we’re focused on not just getting our people out to vote, but getting more people to the polls.”

She said she has been canvassing since February and has noticed a shift in voter concerns.

“People are hurting,” Lands said. “We definitely are having an affordability crisis and people are feeling that punch. They’re struggling to balance the checkbook and make ends meet. And that comes up consistently over and over at the doors.”

Lands said she also continues to receive support from some Republicans.

“I have Republican support. I had even a Republicans for Marilyn event,” she said. “I think that I appeal to a lot of people who consider themselves traditional Republicans. And I hear over and over at the doors because I often knock the Republican doors, people saying, ‘I feel like my party has left me,’ or ‘This isn’t my party anymore.’”

She said Democrats are also energized heading into the fall campaign.

“I think people are hugely excited,” Lands said. “It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve had all seven of the constitutional offices listed. We have more candidates running up here in Madison County than I have seen in forever.”

Among her legislative accomplishments, Lands pointed to the Alabama Maternal Health Care Act, which provides presumptive Medicaid eligibility for qualifying pregnant women so prenatal care can begin before the full application process is completed.

“I’m absolutely most proud of the Alabama Maternal Health Care Act, which was passed and signed into law, passed both houses unanimously,” she said.

Lands said the legislation addresses delayed prenatal care, which contributes to poor maternal and infant health outcomes.

“We know that the earlier a woman gets into prenatal care and gets taking those vitamins and doing all the good things and if there are any underlying health conditions that we can catch them early and take best care of mom and baby,” she said.

She said earlier treatment should also reduce healthcare costs.

“You won’t have expensive procedures that could be prevented. Women won’t be in the hospital as long. Babies won’t be in the NICU as long,” Lands said. “Getting that care early means that the delivery side of things goes much easier.”

Looking ahead to the 2027 legislative session, Lands said she plans to continue focusing on maternal health, mental health and reproductive healthcare.

She said she intends to reintroduce legislation she previously sponsored to protect access to contraception and in vitro fertilization, along with a proposal establishing a citizen-led ballot initiative process in Alabama.

Beyond healthcare, Lands identified education funding and affordability as Alabama’s biggest challenges.

“We need more funding for our public school system,” she said. “We’ve got to provide every child in this state with a quality education.”

Lands also said lawmakers should devote more attention to easing financial pressures on families through measures such as eliminating the state grocery tax and reducing taxes on overtime pay.

“I think more and more we are hearing how families are trying to make ends meet,” she said. “As state legislators, we need to really look at how we can help them.”

She criticized portions of this year’s legislative session, saying lawmakers spent too much time on symbolic issues instead of addressing residents’ everyday concerns.

“I felt like we came out of this past session wasting a lot of time on frivolous items like renaming the Gulf of Mexico and the Star-Spangled Banner,” Lands said. “We have real problems in this state. We have real issues that need real solutions.”

Lands said her priorities as a legislator remain rooted in accessibility and constituent service.

“I have promised to be transparent. I’ve promised to be responsive because I think that’s what a good public servant does,” she said. “I meet with constituents all the time. I respond to emails. I am working very, very hard to represent the people that elected me.”

In addition to her legislative work, Lands said she is leading a mental health prevention task force that will pilot a program this fall at Morris and Williams elementary schools in partnership with Kids to Love. She is also organizing a community Health and Wellness Resource Fair on Sept. 19 at the Huntsville City Schools Center for Technology, featuring health resources, family activities and bilingual programming.

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