My name is James Richardson, I'm a Marine Vetaran living in Headland, Alabama, and I'm running to represent Alabama's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House. I grew up in a family that believed service means putting others first, whether in the classroom, in uniform, or in law enforcement. I carried that tradition forward as a Military Police officer, protecting the freedoms Thomas Jefferson called “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Now I’m running for Congress to protect those same values here at home.

My grandmothers spent their lives in classrooms, shaping young minds. My grandfather served in the Army and then dedicated 30+ years to law enforcement in Escambia County before being laid to rest at Barrancas National Cemetery. My father and uncle served in the Air Force, and I followed that tradition of service because protecting and serving people is what my family has always done.

I’ve also experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of veteran suicide. My Stepfather, a Marine who served 22 years in uniform, lost his life without the support he deserved from the VA. That tragedy is proof that veterans need more than promises, they need accountability, access outside VA norms, and care that works.

 

As a conservative Republican, I believe Alabama families deserve a congressman who will stand firm for secure borders, stop fentanyl before it reaches our communities, and work alongside law enforcement to keep neighborhoods safe. Washington should serve the people by empowering communities, not bury communities in red tape. Protecting our families means backing the blue with respect and accountability, and ensuring citizens, not politicians, set the priorities for safety.

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Families across South Alabama are being squeezed from every direction, groceries, utilities, insurance, housing, and the basic cost of living. Washington keeps spending, borrowing, and growing government while everyday people are left to figure it out alone. I’m running because working families deserve a representative who understands what it means to stretch a dollar and who will fight for policies that lower costs, rein in waste, and put government back on the side of the people it serves. Affordability isn’t a talking point; it’s the reality shaping every household in our district.

My priorities are simple:

 

•     Make Life Affordable Again: While weathly Washington insiders can absorb rising costs, South Alabama families are left carrying the burden with no accountability in sight.

•     Veterans: Real accountability at the VA, with care that prevents tragedies instead of excuses after the fact, by allowing more private sector care when VA waits are too long.

•     Back the Blue and Border Security: Protect Alabama’s I‑10/I‑65 corridors and the Port of Mobile to stop fentanyl and illegal substances, while standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with law enforcement to keep our communities safe.​

•     District jobs: Protecting and growing the industries that power South Alabama, from the Port of Mobile to our farms and small businesses by speeding up approvals and cutting red tape.

I’m methodical by nature. I will help build systems that stand up to scrutiny, and I welcome oversight because accountability is how you earn trust. If I represent you, you’ll always know where I stand, how I voted, and why. You’ll see the metrics. You’ll get the truth every time.

I’m ready to serve. If you want a representative who treats your trust like a sacred duty, I’m asking for your vote, and the chance to prove, day in and day out, that integrity still wins in South Alabama. Guided by service, family, and faith, I will defend life, liberty, and the Second Amendment.