Lee McInnis (D) – AL-03 House 2026

About

Lee McInnis is the Democratic nominee for Alabama's 3rd Congressional District. A native of Birmingham who grew up in Homewood, he served in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1989 as an Arabic linguist in Army Intelligence and later spent 28 years in the Defense Intelligence Community, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Bahrain and service as Acting Director of Intelligence for NATO/USA Special Operations in Afghanistan. A disabled veteran with three degrees from Auburn University, he runs on a platform focused on healthcare access, rural hospitals, education, the economy, veterans' care, and fair taxes, and has held a series of town halls across the district while calling on Rogers to debate.

Biography sources 5

Positions on Key Issues

Positions of Lee McInnis on key issues
Issue	Stance	Sources
Healthcare	McInnis says Republican policies have contributed to healthcare deserts in Alabama's 3rd District, including counties without hospitals, pediatricians, trauma centers, or labor-and-delivery services, as well as shortages in mental-health care and underfunded emergency medical services. He states that “we can have healthcare for all,” but the campaign page does not specify a particular legislative plan or program.	Lee McInnis for Congress — The Issues
Economy	McInnis says the economy should work for everyone. His campaign argues that policies favoring the ultra-wealthy drive up costs for struggling families and that wealthy Americans should pay a fairer share of taxes; he says he would level the playing field for working families and make life more affordable.	Lee McInnis for Congress — campaign issues
Abortion & Reproductive Health	McInnis's campaign publicly emphasizes expanding healthcare access and addressing shortages that include labor-and-delivery services, but the campaign's reviewed policy materials do not state an explicit position on abortion legality, abortion access, or other reproductive-health policies.	Lee McInnis for Congress — The Issues Issues — Lee McInnis for Congress
Immigration	McInnis says the immigration system is broken and supports comprehensive reform: securing the border with modern systems, faster vetting, expanding H-2A and H-2B visas according to industry needs, and extending renewable temporary residence for those workers. He also states that immigrants are guaranteed constitutional rights and criticizes what he describes as inhumane deportation operations.	A New Discussion About Immigration
Firearms & Second Amendment	At a November 19, 2025 town hall, McInnis said he would support creating red-flag laws and banning assault weapons. His campaign’s current issues page does not publish a separate firearms or Second Amendment policy; no newer, directly attributable firearms statement was located in the searches conducted after August 26, 2026.	U.S. congressional candidate Lee McInnis holds open town hall Issues – Lee McInnis for Congress
Foreign Policy	McInnis, a former defense intelligence officer, has criticized the U.S. military action against Iran as a "needless war" and argued that the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have a moral and constitutional obligation to investigate conditions for deployed service members. He has called for congressional oversight of the Department of Defense and for holding the administration accountable for the treatment of troops.	Who Speaks For Our Service Men and Women? Issues – Lee McInnis for Congress Lee McInnis for Congress
Civil Rights & Equality	Lee McInnis has said that government should protect the civil rights of every person. He has also opposed Alabama redistricting decisions he characterized as harmful to voting rights and racial representation, and has called for defending voting rights and the protections of the Voting Rights Act.	Lee McInnis Speaks to County Democratic Party Lee McInnis for Congress blog: We Must Fight for Voting Rights SCOTUS ruling prompts District 1, 2 candidate shakeup, Democrats’ scorn
Education	McInnis says every child should have access to a free, high-quality education in a safe environment, regardless of ZIP code or learning challenges. He criticizes proposals to reduce the federal Department of Education's enforcement capacity and argues that state and local control alone has left Alabama's primary-education system near the bottom nationally; he says he would fight to ensure equitable educational opportunities.	What Gutting the Department of Education Looks Like in Alabama
Election Policy	McInnis has called for defending voting rights and the protections of the Voting Rights Act, and has opposed Alabama redistricting decisions he characterized as harmful to voting rights and racial representation. He has also pledged to accept no money from corporate PACs or PACs representing foreign governments, and at a November 2025 town hall said he would work to make it illegal for members of Congress to own individual stocks.	U.S. congressional candidate Lee McInnis holds open town hall Lee McInnis for Congress blog: We Must Fight for Voting Rights Issues — Lee McInnis for Congress
Local Issues	McInnis says his local agenda for Alabama’s 3rd District centers on improving rural health-care access, including addressing hospital, pediatric, trauma, maternity, mental-health, and emergency-medical-service shortages; he also emphasizes affordability and education. He says that, if elected, he would hold town halls and remain accessible to constituents, framing face-to-face listening and district advocacy as priorities.	Lee McInnis for Congress — campaign platform Democratic congressional nominee holds town hall in Opelika McInnis brings congressional campaign town hall to Opelika

Review an issue

Healthcare

McInnis says Republican policies have contributed to healthcare deserts in Alabama's 3rd District, including counties without hospitals, pediatricians, trauma centers, or labor-and-delivery services, as well as shortages in mental-health care and underfunded emergency medical services. He states that “we can have healthcare for all,” but the campaign page does not specify a particular legislative plan or program.

Sources:

Lee McInnis for Congress — The Issues

Choose another issue above to review the remaining researched positions.

No public position found: Climate/Energy, Tech & AI

Background

Career History

Arabic Linguist, U.S. Army 1983 – 1989

U.S. Army

Served in Army Intelligence as an Arabic linguist.

Intelligence Officer

Defense Intelligence Community

28-year career in the Defense Intelligence Community, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Bahrain, culminating as Acting Director of Intelligence for NATO/USA Special Operations in Afghanistan.

Instructor

Technical college in Aiken, South Carolina

Taught communications and American government at a small technical college after retiring from federal service.

Education

Auburn University Bachelor's degree (1983)

Auburn University Master's degree in Communications and international relations (1987)

Auburn University Master of Arts in History (2024)

Top Donors

Raised approximately $60,787 in the 2026 cycle through September 30, 2026, entirely from individual contributions — no PAC, party committee, or corporate money accepted. Campaign has spent $28,900 and holds $9,462 cash on hand. Endorsed by Communication Workers of America Locals 3908/3909, the Alabama New South Alliance, and For The Future Victory Fund; the campaign website pledges to accept no money from corporate PACs or PACs representing foreign governments.

Sources

MCINNIS, VICTOR LEE - Candidate overview - FEC Lee McInnis vs Mike Rogers - Local Candidates Lee McInnis for Congress - Official Campaign Website

Voting Record

Has not held legislative office and has no prior elected or executive record. A U.S. Army veteran (1983–1989) and 28-year Defense Intelligence Community career officer, McInnis's governing approach is evidenced by campaign pledges: protecting healthcare access and rural hospitals, defending public education, fair taxation, and veterans' care, and committing to town hall meetings and refusing corporate PAC money. His Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey outlines these priorities for Alabama's 3rd District.

Sources

View full voting record Lee McInnis for Congress - Official Campaign Website CAMPAIGN 2026: Lee McInnis enters Third District U.S. House race - WAKA 8

About this research

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated August 28, 2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.