Marilyn Lands won a special election on Tuesday evening for a state House seat as a Democrat in deep-red Alabama.
“I think this is a giant step forward for Alabama. I think it's a victory tonight for women, for families, for Alabama in general. I want to get down there and repeal the bad ban on no-exceptions abortion. I want to protect IVF and contraception. But I also want to be a champion for health care — mental health care, but health care in general. I really feel like we need somebody down in Montgomery who understands mental health issues,” Lands said after her win.
Lands, who has a background as a mental health professional, centered her bid on reproductive rights, and criticized the state’s near-total abortion ban alongside a recent Alabama state Supreme Court ruling that temporarily banned in vitro fertilization.
“It feels like it's the start of a change here. And I think we'll see more change in 2026,” she said, when a reporter asked for her reaction to a Democrat winning the seat in a largely Republican state. “I think Alabama is changing — North Alabama in particular, but other parts. I think we're ready for something different. We are tired of Alabama being 49th and 50th in all the key metrics. We can do better. We are better. And I want to make that happen.”
