James Richardson
James Richardson is a Republican candidate for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District in the August 11, 2026 special primary. A Marine veteran from Headland, Alabama, he comes from a multi-generational military family and worked as a Military Police officer. Richardson cites his stepfather's suicide after 22 years of Marine service as motivation for VA accountability and expanded private-sector care for veterans. He campaigns on border security, backing law enforcement, fiscal responsibility, lowering cost of living, protecting the Port of Mobile, and parental rights in education.
Positions on Key Issues
| Issue | Stance | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | James Richardson supports lowering health care costs by increasing price transparency to reduce premiums, expanding Health Savings Accounts, and cutting federal mandates that drive up costs; he ties this to defending life at every stage. | high | |
| Economy | James Richardson advocates for fiscal conservatism: cut wasteful federal programs, reduce overall spending, and oppose increases to the debt ceiling to shrink deficits and promote economic stability. He emphasizes responsible budgeting as essential for job growth and affordability. | high | |
| Abortion & Reproductive Health | James Richardson describes himself as pro-life and supports defending life at every stage. He ties this to healthcare affordability, advocating for lower premiums through price transparency and expanded Health Savings Accounts while opposing federal mandates that drive up costs. | high | |
| Immigration | James Richardson supports strong border security and enforcement of immigration laws, with Congress setting immigration policy, funding border enforcement, and equipping Customs and ICE, in partnership with local law enforcement to keep communities safe. | high | |
| Firearms & Second Amendment | James Richardson supports defending the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans and opposes broad, unconstitutional gun-restriction proposals. His campaign pledges to defend life, liberty, and the Second Amendment. | high | |
| Foreign Policy | James Richardson supports a hardline border security and immigration enforcement posture as a core element of U.S. foreign policy, including funding for border enforcement, support for ICE and Customs, and working with federal and local partners to curb fentanyl and drug trafficking, while defending national sovereignty. | high | |
| Climate/Energy | James Richardson supports energy reliability through an all-of-the-above American energy approach including natural gas, nuclear, and responsible offshore production. He advocates for modernizing the electric grid and removing federal barriers to keep energy costs low and power reliable during hurricanes and heat waves for Wiregrass families. | high | |
| Education | James Richardson supports parental involvement and authority in school curriculum, advocates for transparency in what is taught in classrooms, and opposes federal mandates that prescribe local education policy. | high | |
| Tech & AI | No public position found | low | No supporting sources |
| Civil Rights & Equality | No public position found | low | |
| Election Policy | No public position found | low | No supporting sources |
| Local Issues | James Richardson advocates for strong local security and law-enforcement partnerships, including border enforcement and protecting Alabama's I-10/I-65 corridors and the Port of Mobile from fentanyl; he also emphasizes pro-life, Second Amendment rights, and federal fiscal restraint as part of a locally-focused policy approach. | high |
Healthcare
highJames Richardson supports lowering health care costs by increasing price transparency to reduce premiums, expanding Health Savings Accounts, and cutting federal mandates that drive up costs; he ties this to defending life at every stage.
Economy
highJames Richardson advocates for fiscal conservatism: cut wasteful federal programs, reduce overall spending, and oppose increases to the debt ceiling to shrink deficits and promote economic stability. He emphasizes responsible budgeting as essential for job growth and affordability.
Abortion & Reproductive Health
highJames Richardson describes himself as pro-life and supports defending life at every stage. He ties this to healthcare affordability, advocating for lower premiums through price transparency and expanded Health Savings Accounts while opposing federal mandates that drive up costs.
Immigration
highJames Richardson supports strong border security and enforcement of immigration laws, with Congress setting immigration policy, funding border enforcement, and equipping Customs and ICE, in partnership with local law enforcement to keep communities safe.
Firearms & Second Amendment
highJames Richardson supports defending the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans and opposes broad, unconstitutional gun-restriction proposals. His campaign pledges to defend life, liberty, and the Second Amendment.
Foreign Policy
highJames Richardson supports a hardline border security and immigration enforcement posture as a core element of U.S. foreign policy, including funding for border enforcement, support for ICE and Customs, and working with federal and local partners to curb fentanyl and drug trafficking, while defending national sovereignty.
Climate/Energy
highJames Richardson supports energy reliability through an all-of-the-above American energy approach including natural gas, nuclear, and responsible offshore production. He advocates for modernizing the electric grid and removing federal barriers to keep energy costs low and power reliable during hurricanes and heat waves for Wiregrass families.
Education
highJames Richardson supports parental involvement and authority in school curriculum, advocates for transparency in what is taught in classrooms, and opposes federal mandates that prescribe local education policy.
Tech & AI
lowNo public position found
No supporting sources available
Election Policy
lowNo public position found
No supporting sources available
Local Issues
highJames Richardson advocates for strong local security and law-enforcement partnerships, including border enforcement and protecting Alabama's I-10/I-65 corridors and the Port of Mobile from fentanyl; he also emphasizes pro-life, Second Amendment rights, and federal fiscal restraint as part of a locally-focused policy approach.
Background
Career History
Served as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, continuing a family tradition of military service.
Top Donors
James Richardson raised approximately $7,676 as of July 22, 2026, the smallest campaign treasury in the AL-02 Republican primary field. About $5,766 came from self-funding (candidate contributions) and $1,910 from individual contributions. He had roughly $27 cash on hand as of mid-2026. His campaign is almost entirely self-financed with negligible outside support.
Voting Record
Has never held legislative office. Richardson is a Marine veteran who served as a Military Police officer. He has no elected voting record. His campaign platform emphasizes border security, veterans' healthcare accountability, pro-life policies, parental rights in education, and fiscal responsibility. He previously ran unsuccessfully in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary for Alabama's 1st Congressional District, receiving 3.5% of the vote.
About this research
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 8/2/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.