Harris Hits Marques Over 67% Rise in Alabama Gas Tax
Hampton Harris says Rhett Marques challenged his campaign's math, but State records show Alabama's gas tax has climbed from 18 to 30 cents
Republican congressional candidate Hampton Harris is defending a campaign mailer attacking State Representative Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise) over Alabama's gas tax, saying State records back his claim that the tax has risen 67% since Marques voted for the Rebuild Alabama Act in 2019.
The dispute comes just days before Tuesday's Republican special primary for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, where Harris and Marques are among six GOP candidates seeking the nomination. There will be no runoff, meaning the candidate with the most votes on Aug. 11 will win the Republican nomination.
In a statement released Friday, Harris said Marques confronted him after a candidate forum Tuesday night over a campaign mail piece highlighting Marques' 2019 vote for the gas tax increase.
"A few folks have called today asking what happened after the forum Tuesday night, so I'll just set the record straight.
"Rhett Marques and his campaign consultant called me over afterward. Someone had sent her a photo of our latest mail piece - the one about the gas tax he voted for in 2019.
"He told me the 67% figure was wrong and that my campaign was lying.
"I told him I'd double-check it. So I did.
"Alabama's gas tax was 18 cents a gallon before that vote. Today it's 30 cents. That's 12 cents more.
"12/18 = 67%.
"A percentage increase is measured against where something started.
"Simple math.
"If your rent went from $1,000 to $2,000, that's a 100% increase - it doubled.
"Same arithmetic, same rule.
"The 67% is on the piece with the source printed right at the bottom: Alabama Dept. of Revenue, Act 2019-2.
"Anyone can look it up - I'd encourage you to."
State records support the basic math behind Harris' claim.
Before the Rebuild Alabama Act, Alabama imposed an 18-cent-per-gallon state gasoline tax. The 2019 law added 10 cents per gallon in three steps — six cents in 2019, two cents in 2020 and another two cents in 2021.
Marques, who represents House District 91, voted "yes" on the legislation. The House approved the bill with bipartisan support before Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law.
The law did more than impose the initial 10-cent increase. It also created an indexing system that allows the tax to rise or fall without another vote of the Legislature.
Beginning in 2023, the tax is adjusted based on changes in the National Highway Construction Cost Index. The adjustment occurs every other year and is capped at one cent per gallon for each adjustment.
That provision has since added another two cents to the tax.
The Alabama Department of Revenue lists the current State gasoline tax at 30 cents per gallon, effective July 1, 2025. That represents a 12-cent increase from the 18-cent rate in place before the 2019 law — or 66.7%, rounded to 67%.
The Department of Revenue said the most recent one-cent increase took effect July 1, 2025, under the indexing provision of the Rebuild Alabama Act.
Harris seized on the automatic increases as part of his broader attack on Marques' record.
"Here's what I keep coming back to. He voted for that tax in 2019.
"It's gone up on its own twice since - no vote, no debate - and it's set to go up again next year automatically.
"He's been in office the whole time."
Harris is not the only Republican in the race targeting Marques over his tax record.
Fellow AL-2 candidate David Matthews recently criticized Marques for the same 2019 vote. Marques disputed Matthews' broader claims about his tax record during a candidate forum, but Alabama Daily News' 2019 roll call confirms Marques voted for the Rebuild Alabama gas tax bill.
The issue could provide Harris and Matthews with an opening against Marques in the closing days of a crowded primary.
Harris, Marques, Matthews, Christian Horn, Joshua McKee and James Richardson are competing for the GOP nomination in the special primary next Tuesday, Aug. 11. The winner will advance to the November general election against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures.
Harris ended Friday's statement with a direct appeal to voters.
"The election is this Tuesday, August 11 - I would be thankful for your vote."
