Everett Wess
Democrat · Challenger · U.S. Senate (AL) · 2026
Birmingham-based attorney and Democratic nominee facing a prohibitive underdog status in Alabama's solidly Republican U.S. Senate race.
Before politics: Worked for over a decade in technology and engineering, including roles supporting NASA, military, and financial systems.
Their shot at this seat
Wess is highly unlikely to overcome a 15-point structural disadvantage and a massive fundraising gap, requiring an unprecedented shift in turnout and voter preference to become competitive.
Who's behind them
Wess has cultivated a loyal base of grassroots institutional support, but lacks the financial scale necessary to compete in a statewide race.
What could go wrong
Wess's late filing issues and history of electoral losses suggest a campaign that struggles to meet the high standards of administrative and political rigor.
Why they fit this seat
The openness of the seat following the incumbent's resignation offers Wess a unique opportunity to test whether his progressive platform can penetrate a historically conservative landscape.
Key contrasts
proposes raising minimum wage and eliminating taxes on tips
supports flat tax, cutting spending, and tax-free tips
Who this moves: Working-class families struggling with inflation and cost of living.
1 of 6
| Issue | Everett Wess | Barry Moore | Who this moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy and taxes | Supports proposes raising minimum wage and eliminating taxes on tips | Supports supports flat tax, cutting spending, and tax-free tips | Working-class families struggling with inflation and cost of living. |
| Healthcare | Supports advocates for rural hospital funding and affordability | Opposes supports ACA repeal and increasing consumer choice in insurance | Rural voters concerned about hospital closures and healthcare access. |
| Abortion and social issues | Supports supports reproductive freedom and equal justice | Supports supports federal abortion bans and restrictions on IVF access | Voters prioritizing reproductive rights and civil rights protections. |
| Democracy and elections | Avoids faces uphill climb in solidly Republican state | Supports campaigns as a Trump-aligned conservative and MAGA warrior | Voters frustrated by inflation who may consider Democratic alternatives. |
| Immigration and border | Supports supports law enforcement and funding for immigration courts | Supports supports zero-tolerance, border wall, and deporting undocumented immigrants | Voters concerned with border security and public safety. |
| Foreign policy and defense | Supports supports Israeli security and humanitarian aid for Gaza | Mixed opposes Ukraine aid; skeptical of Netanyahu's influence on Trump | Voters concerned with the Israel-Palestine conflict and humanitarian issues. |
Who has more standing to be believed
| Credibility axis | Everett Wess | Barry Moore |
|---|---|---|
Insider knowledge | Never held elected office; has served as municipal judge and public defender. | Currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021. |
Message discipline | Documented 1993 Republican candidacy contradicts current Democratic party affiliation. | Documented reversals and flip-flop coverage reported by press without resulting apology or staffing change. |
Moral legitimacy | Same-party primary rival Dakarai Larriett received endorsements from Wess's own brothers. | Endorsed by party organization, Donald Trump, and various conservative groups. |
Scandal resilience | One documented informal complaint regarding late filing of financial disclosure reports. | Multiple FEC compliance issues and a past acquittal on perjury charges. |
Pressure absorption | Won contested primary runoff after multiple prior unsuccessful judicial campaigns. | Won contested primaries against credible challengers, including an incumbent in 2024. |
Never held elected office; has served as municipal judge and public defender.
Currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021.
1 of 5
Network
Endorsements and money spent against
In-state power players
- Alabama AFL-CIO
- Alabama Democratic Conference
- Alabama New South Alliance
- Alabama New South Coalition Jefferson County Chapter
- Cullman County (AL) Democrats
- JusticeCare Alliance Pac
- Shelby County (AL) Democrats
Mobilization
Signals against
No information — no opposition-only outside-spend committees recorded — absence of data, not absence of oppositionThe case they'd make
Everett Wess entered this open race to represent working-class, rural, and socially progressive voters who are currently disillusioned by the state's economic and political status quo. By leveraging his background as a public defender, he frames his platform as a direct response to the urgent needs of those struggling with rising costs and dwindling access to local healthcare. His candidacy specifically seeks to build a coalition among those prioritizing civil rights, reproductive access, and economic relief.