A Birmingham educator and entrepreneur believes she is the right person to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) in the Yellowhammer State’s newly redrawn Congressional District 7.
Ammie Akin has officially filed for the August 11 special Republican primary election for the district, arguing that voters in the area deserve a “fresh face” to represent them.
“The people of Congressional District 7 are ready for fresh, productive leadership focused on results—not scoring political points,” Akin said. “This district is full of hardworking people, small businesses, and the people who keep it moving every day. They deserve a voice that listens, stands up for them, and won’t back down when it matters. I’m running as an outsider who has spent my career working alongside people across this district, and I’m ready to solve real problems and deliver for Alabama.”
Akin joins David Perry as the only two Republicans to qualify for the special election contest.
“I’ve spent my life helping people overcome barriers so families and communities can grow stronger,” Akin said. “That’s not a political slogan, it’s just what I know how to do.”
The candidate has 25 years of leadership across every level of Alabama’s education system, as a classroom teacher, a school administrator, and a college professor training the next generation of principals and superintendents. She now plans to make education reform an essential part of her campaign.
“Children only get one chance at third grade,” Akin said. “A child struggling to read today becomes a teenager struggling to graduate tomorrow. A family driving two hours for healthcare can’t wait years for access closer to home. A farmer doesn’t get to postpone planting season while waiting for answers, and a small business owner can’t put payroll on hold and come back next year.”
In 2023, Akin and her husband, Will, also introduced a plan to revitalize a dormant elementary school in partnership with city leaders and local industry.
Funded through private donations, the project, known as Hub in the Hills, is nearing completion and will transform the school into a modern, collaborative campus where nonprofits and community organizations share space and resources, allowing more of every donated dollar to go directly toward serving people rather than maintaining buildings. The campus will include programming for adults with special needs and serve families from across Alabama and beyond, while creating jobs and expanding career opportunities locally.
“The people closest to a problem are usually the people most capable of finding the solution,” Akin said.
“Our teachers aren’t struggling because they don’t work hard. Our healthcare workers aren’t exhausted because they don’t care. The farmers, cattle producers, timber workers, manufacturers, educators, healthcare professionals, first responders, veterans, and small business owners across this district are the people who keep Alabama moving forward, and too often, the people doing the most important work are too busy doing it to advocate for themselves. My commitment to you is that your voice will be heard loud and clear in Washington.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
