Tom Holmes (Alabama) - Ballotpedia

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Tom Holmes (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Alabama's 1st Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Holmes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Tom Holmes was born in Mobile, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1968. He earned a high school diploma from Murphy High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Mobile in 1967, and a graduate degree from Jacksonville State University in 1975. His career experience includes working as a public policy advocate. He previously worked as a public school teacher, public service professional, and nonprofit executive. Holmes has been affiliated with the following organizations:^[1]^[2]

Alabama Arise
Cottage Hill Civitan Club
Boy Scouts of America Mobile Area Council
Eagle Scouts
The Arc of Mobile County
The Arc of Alabama
The Arc of the United States
Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
Trinity Episcopal Church
Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast

Elections

2024

See also: Alabama's 1st Congressional District election, 2024

Alabama's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

Alabama's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Alabama District 1

Incumbent Barry Moore defeated Tom Holmes in the general election for U.S. House Alabama District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Barry Moore (R)	78.4	258,619
		Tom Holmes (D)	21.5	70,929
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	306

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 329,854
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Tom Holmes advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Alabama District 1.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Gary Johnson (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Alabama District 1

Incumbent Barry Moore defeated incumbent Jerry Carl in the Republican primary for U.S. House Alabama District 1 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Barry Moore	51.7	53,956
		Jerry Carl	48.3	50,312

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 104,268
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Nathan Woodring (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Holmes in this election.

2020

See also: Alabama State Board of Education election, 2020

General election

General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Jackie Zeigler defeated Tom Holmes in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jackie Zeigler (R)	72.7	212,461
		Tom Holmes (D)	27.2	79,380
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	294

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 292,135
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Tom Holmes advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 1.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jackie Zeigler advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 1.

2018

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Alabama State Senate District 35

David Sessions defeated Tom Holmes in the general election for Alabama State Senate District 35 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Sessions (R)	67.6	29,046
		Tom Holmes (D)	32.3	13,896
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	37

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,979 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Alabama State Senate District 35

Tom Holmes advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Senate District 35 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Tom Holmes

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama State Senate District 35

David Sessions advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama State Senate District 35 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		David Sessions

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Tom Holmes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Holmes' responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Mobile, educated in Mobile County Public Schools, and graduated from Murphy High School. I received a B.A. degree from University of Mobile, a graduate degree from Jacksonville (Alabama) State University in Public Administration, and completed graduate studies in Public Administration at Auburn University. I am a U.S. Navy veteran, with service during the Vietnam War era. I worked in the Mobile County Probate Court and was social studies teacher, Murphy High School and Dunbar Junior High School. I was district executive, Mobile Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. I was personnel development specialist, East Alabama Planning Commission (Anniston) and nutrition coordinator and area agency on aging director, Birmingham Regional Planning Commission. I joined the State of Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (Montgomery) as a state plans coordinator and served as Chief, Technology Section, Science and Technology Division. I was administrative assistant and executive assistant for Governor Fob James. I was executive director/CEO, The Arc of Alabama and Board President, The Arc of Mobile County, advocating for the rights of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. I am an Eagle Scout and BSA Troop 3 Leader, and member, Cottage Hill Civitan Club, Mobile County Democratic Executive Committee, and Alabama Arise. I am a licensed lay preacher and lay eucharistic minister at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Economy. Our nation works best when it works for everyone. Increasing economic opportunities for our citizens means increasing the minimum wage to a living wage, eliminating the gender gap to ensure equal wages for equal work, especially for women and minorities, eliminating unfair taxes, and practicing fiscal responsibility so that we may grow our economy without growing our debt. We must also continue our investment in small businesses, which are the backbone of our nation's economy.
Voting Rights. Every citizen's vote should be heard at the ballot box. I support ways to improve voter participation, including absentee voting, curbside voting for seniors and those with disabilities, and easing burdensome restrictions on voter ID aimed at limiting minority voter participation. The Voting Rights Act should be re-established and strengthened. I strongly support the fair and independent drawing of state and federal legislative districts and the elimination of partisan or racial gerrymandering for fair elections.
Immigration. Our country's immigration laws are inadequate and are not working. Members of Congress should work with the President to address effective changes to our laws. Every immigrant should be treated with dignity and respect and be entitled to due process under our laws. In addition, adequate holding facilities should be provided and funded without the need to separate families and children.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Reproductive Rights. I am pro-life, but I do not believe that I should force my beliefs on any other American citizen. I do not believe that governments (federal, state, or local) should enact laws that tell anyone what health decisions they are allowed to make over their own bodies.

Equality. I respect the dignity of every human being. Every American, no matter their race, creed, color, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation, is entitled to equal respect and treatment before the law.

Education. Quality public education is the bedrock of American society and the foundation of our nation's future leaders. I will work for a public education system that recruits, trains, and retains the best K-12 public school personnel.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., General Colin Powell, and President Jimmy Carter. I would like to follow the example of President Jimmy Carter because of his faithful and unselfish service to our nation at home and abroad, and of former FBI Director James Comey and former Attorney General (and Eagle Scout) Jeff Sessions for their commitment to support and defend the U.S. Constitution over the illegal demands of a sitting president.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

To Kill a Mockingbird (book by Harper Lee); An Honorable Profession: A Tribute to Robert F. Kennedy (book by Pierre Salinger, et al.); A Higher Loyalty (book by James Comey); The American President (film written by Aaron Sorkin).

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Supporting and defending the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Abiding by the laws of the United States and the State of Alabama.

Respecting the dignity of every human being.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty, integrity, duty to God and my Country, respect for the dignity of ALL human beings, respect for the religious beliefs of ALL, and respect for the laws of our nation and state.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Representing American values and the interests of ALL constituents of the Congressional District, not just large corporations and special interests.
Making honorable decisions that are in the best interests of the District, Alabama and the nation.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Leaving out federal government in better condition that it is presently.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. I was 18 years old at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

beginning at age 15, my very first job was a part-time (25 to 30 hours per week) job while in high school at a Mobile laundry and cleaners. I held this job for approximately two (2) years.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Atticus Finch.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Summer" as recorded by John Denver.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Learning to overcome the prejudices I was taught as a child.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

With two-year terms, it is the Legislative Branch that is closest to the people.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Previous government experience provides a good foundation for understanding the complex processes of American government at the Federal, state, and local levels.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Reducing our nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Developing new resources of renewable energy and increasing consumers' use of renewable energy.
Addressing the increasing power and influence of Russia and China.

Maintaining positive international relations with Ukraine, our NATO allies, our allies in the Middle East, and Israel.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No. The term length should be changed to four (4) years.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

The members of the U.S. House should be limited to serving no more than two (2) terms each.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Representatives Adam Schiff and Liz Chaney and former Representative Jack Edwards.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, with reasonable negotiations to find common ground.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

I would work to ensure that we have fair taxes for ALL Americans - individuals, small businesses and corporations.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The U.S. House and its committees should use their investigative powers to hold bipartisan, public hearings that are transparent and accountable to the American people.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None.

What committees interest you?

Appropriations, Agriculture, and Foreign Relations.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Congress should ensure Congressional legislative decisions and federal budget and expenditure decisions are transparent to the American public and the Legislative Branch should share accountability with the Executive Branch.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Tom Holmes did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Tom Holmes campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024	U.S. House Alabama District 1	Lost general	$17,699	$16,818
2018	Alabama State Senate District 35	Lost general	$23,050	N/A**
Grand total			$40,749	$16,818
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

U.S. House Alabama District 1

Personal

Footnotes

↑ The Andalusia Star-News, "Holmes will run for U.S. House District 1 seat," accessed November 19, 2023
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 19, 2024

Alabama's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Katie Britt (R)

Tommy Tuberville (R)

Representatives

District 1

Barry Moore (R)

District 2

Shomari Figures (D)

District 3

Mike Rogers (R)

District 4

Robert Aderholt (R)

District 5

Dale Strong (R)

District 6

Gary Palmer (R)

District 7

Terri Sewell (D)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (2)

	v • e State of Alabama Montgomery (capital)
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Government	Who represents me? \| U.S. President \| U.S. Congress \| Federal courts \| State executives \| State legislature \| State and local courts \| Counties \| Cities \| School districts \| Public policy

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