For over eight years now, I have been stalking Robert Aderholt’s voting record. I have written many articles relating this information to the public in newsletters, articles, and newspaper editions. I have talked about this at many events, political campaigns, and meetings. Who is listening? Aderholt won his last election with a larger percentage than ever before. I ask myself over and over, what is the problem? The problem is Democrats. Democrats in Alabama will not put forth the effort to go to the polls and vote. When we do not vote, we give the Republicans a free win in their continued destruction of our State.
Alabama is one of the poorest states in the nation. We remain on the bottom of education, infant mortality, healthcare, and jobs. We rate high in poverty, low wages, and infrastructure. We put more attention on winning a college football championship than we do on the education that our students are receiving. Just think about the changes we could make if every Democrat got as excited about winning an election as they are about winning a football game!
Alabama has one of the worst Medicaid programs in the nation. This is due a lot to Gov. Ivey’s refusal to expand Medicaid. We saw rural hospitals close, and here we are almost in 2026, and there are more to come. Nationwide, Alabama ranked as having the 3rd highest infant mortality rate, the 9th highest maternal mortality rate, and the 4th highest preterm birth rate. Additionally, the state ranked 43rd in terms of access to adequate prenatal care and had the 13th highest rate of low-risk Cesarean births. In this day of modern medicine, this is a shame.
Medicaid expansion policies in Alabama have been a hot topic for several years, as the State remains one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Due to this lack of expansion, there are nearly 300,000 Alabamians in the healthcare coverage gap. Please be reminded that the Republicans have been doing their best to kill the Affordable Care Act for years. This would kick over 20 million Americans off their healthcare, which also includes Veterans.
Access to mental health care remains a significant issue. Alabama ranks last nationally for school-based mental health access, with severe shortages of counselors and therapists for students facing anxiety and depression. The state struggles with a lack of mental health professionals, leading to long wait times and residents traveling far for care, with low pay hindering recruitment. Many adults with mental illness are uninsured, and cost is a primary reason for not seeking care, exacerbated by Alabama’s not expanding Medicaid. Insufficient state funding for competitive salaries contributes to the workforce shortage, making it hard to attract and retain professionals. Stigma and lack of knowledge about available resources prevent many from seeking help. Jails are often ill-equipped to handle individuals with mental illness, leading to tragic outcomes.
Robert Adernolt has been the Representative for District 4 for over twenty-five years. District 4 is all of Marion, Franklin, DeKalb, Winston, Fayette, Lamar, Walker, Cullman, Blount, and Colbert Counties, and parts of Tuscaloosa, Lauderdale Counties. The poverty rate in these counties are extremely high. Marshall County has the highest rate, with 25,602 people living below the poverty level.
It may surprise you to learn that District 4, in Alabama, had the highest vote for Donald Trump of any other District in the nation! Not the state…the nation. Trump has been very forthcoming with his agenda to cut Social Security or, even worse, privatize it. He did not hesitate to cut off food stamps to the needy during the shutdown. The Republicans like to call Social Security the culprit of our national debt crisis, even though working Americans pay into this every paycheck. They ignore the fact that the rich do not pay their fair share of taxes. Multi-billion-dollar profit corporations pay absolutely zero taxes. We cannot ignore the fact that we have a president who spends our money like an unlimited water flow. His golf trips alone cost the taxpayers millions of dollars every single trip he makes to his Florida resort. We now have construction going on for a ballroom that is costing the taxpayers $300 million. The jet that was a gift from Qatar will cost the taxpayers over $1 billion to convert, and this is going with Trump when he leaves office, if he does.
All of these people who are struggling to put food on the table, buy their kids shoes, pay for their meds, and keep a roof over their heads will go out and vote for this. Why? Is it because they are brainwashed by the lies that spew out of Trump’s mouth or the propaganda from Fox News? Is it the pulpit preachers who get up on Sunday morning with their false narrative about how Democrats are a bunch of queer loving, baby-killing devil worshipers? Yes, it’s all of that and more.
The bottom line still goes back to the fact that Democrats stay home on election day and do not vote. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have heard a Democrat say, “It does no good to vote,” or “There is no one to vote for,” or my favorite one…”If my customers find out that I am a Democrat, I will lose my business.” Are we really in a state where it’s come to this? Apparently, we are.
I will never stop pushing the idea that Democrats have everything to be proud of. It was our Party who has passed the laws that define the democracy of our nation. So many use the abortion excuse to shy away from Democrats. The Democratic Party does not advocate abortion. We support a woman’s right to choose. Big difference! There is an old, tired story of gun control. “Oh, those Democrats are gonna git’ch guns.” Has a Democrat ever knocked on a door and asked for a gun? The Democratic Party supports the law for background checks to prevent guns from falling into the hands of the wrong people. No, it won’t stop it, but it will help.
This coming November 2026, the Democrats are putting qualified people on the ballot to run for office. A good example is for Governor. Tommy Tuberville has proven himself to be one of the most uninformed, ignorant candidates in history. He is raking in money from the Republicans because they believe that a bad Republican is better than a Democrat. It’s all about control. We have one of the best candidates running on the Democratic ticket that has ever been. Dr. Will Boyd. He is the real deal!
If we ever expect to see anything in Alabama getting any better, then we have to VOTE!! We have to stop this game of intimidation and stand up. John Lewis said, “When you see something that you know is wrong…say something.” Your voice is at the polls. They may smirk. They may insult. They may play that game, but they can’t stop your voice at the polls!!! Democrats can outnumber the Republicans in Alabama. It’s up to you, or we will stay on the road to nowhere.
Lynda Kirkpatrick
Marion County Democratic Party Chair
House District 17 State Democratic Executive Committee Alabama Democratic Party