Montgomery Wins Alabama House Seat, Becomes State’s First Transgender Legislator

Allison Montgomery won Alabama House District 25 on November 3, defeating Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby and becoming the state’s first transgender legislator. The district is in Madison County, which Donald Trump carried in each of his three presidential campaigns, including by nine percentage points in 2024. With 95% of votes counted, Montgomery had 53.3% and Rigsby 46.7%.

Montgomery said her gender was not why she sought office. She said she wanted to serve the public and urged a focus on policy rather than culture-war disputes. In her victory statement, she said she would work especially hard for people who oppose her.

Her campaign addressed healthcare costs, artificial intelligence data centers, potential ethical conflicts, the dominance of Huntsville’s hospital, exploitation of people, and freedom of religion. Montgomery supports Medicaid expansion and a lengthy pause on major AI computing-facility developments. She has also said she is a practicing Christian and supports separation of church and state.

Montgomery said she planned to rest for several weeks before discussing her plans as a lawmaker. She said she had been careful about campaign promises because she would need to deliver on them, and called for collective work on policies for Alabama residents.

Democrats gained another seat in the Alabama legislature, bringing their representation to 31, while Republicans retained a 74-seat majority. The election also saw Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress and win several gubernatorial races.

Alabama Voters Choose Montgomery Over Culture-War Politics

Alabama voters sent Democrat Allison Montgomery to the state House, rejecting Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby in a district located in a county Donald Trump won three times. With 95% of votes counted, Montgomery led 53.3% to 46.7%—a win for a campaign focused on policy rather than attacks over identity.

Montgomery said she ran to serve the public, not because of her gender, and urged people to stop letting culture-war issues distract from substantive policy. She said she would work especially hard for those who oppose her.

Her agenda includes Medicaid expansion to address healthcare costs and a lengthy pause on major AI computing-facility developments. She also campaigned on potential ethical conflicts, the dominance of Huntsville’s hospital, exploitation of people, and freedom of religion. She has said she is a practicing Christian who believes in separating church and state.

The result adds to Democratic gains in a midterm election in which the party took control of both congressional chambers and won several governorships. In Alabama, however, Republicans still hold 74 legislative seats to Democrats’ 31. Montgomery said she would rest for several weeks before outlining her plans, adding that lawmakers must develop policies together rather than rely on lobbyists.

One Alabama House Seat Flips as Republicans Keep State Majority

Democrat Allison Montgomery won Alabama House District 25, unseating Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby by 53.3% to 46.7% with 95% of votes counted. The result flips one seat, but Republicans still hold 74 seats in the state legislature, compared with Democrats’ 31.

Montgomery’s win makes her Alabama’s first transgender legislator. Her campaign emphasized issues including healthcare costs, AI data center development, conflicts of interest and the dominance of Huntsville’s hospital. She supports Medicaid expansion and a lengthy pause on major AI computing-facility developments.

Montgomery has argued that culture-war debates distract people from corporate interests and policy questions. She said she would work especially hard for those who oppose her and called for lawmakers to develop policies collectively. She plans to rest for several weeks before outlining her work as a legislator.

The race took place in Madison County, which Donald Trump carried in each of his three presidential campaigns. Montgomery’s victory came amid a national midterm in which Democrats took control of both congressional chambers and won several gubernatorial contests. In Alabama, Republicans maintained the clear majority in the state legislature.