Thomas Puts Power Bills, Party Labels on the Table
House District 50 Democrat calls for utility oversight, hemp law repeal and Medicaid expansion in an interview with Christopher Peeks
Alan Thomas is running as a Democrat, but the AL House District 50 candidate says his loyalty belongs to voters, not a party.
In an interview with Christopher M. Peeks, Thomas laid out a platform built around household costs, tighter oversight of Alabama Power and changes to State hemp and prison policies.
“The reason that I qualified as a Democrat was ballot access,” Thomas said.
Thomas faces Republican Bill Morris in the Nov. 3 general election.
Thomas said he entered the race because the district had gone more than 20 years without a contested election. Growth in western St. Clair County, he argued, has brought new voters and new demands to communities such as Springville, Argo, Margaret, Odenville and Moody.
He said residents are worried about gas prices, health care and roads built for a smaller population. He wants lawmakers to work with State road officials and rail companies to address traffic and train crossings.
Some of his sharpest remarks targeted this year’s Public Service Commission overhaul.
“I think every single legislator that voted for that particular bill should be voted out of office,” Thomas told Peeks.
Thomas argued that lawmakers traded stronger oversight for more government jobs. He criticized the cost of four added commissioners, their staffs and a new State Energy Secretary, saying the changes failed to deliver the scrutiny Alabama Power customers need.
The final version of HB 475 expands the PSC from three members to seven and creates a governor-appointed energy secretary. It also requires an annual public meeting and bars increases in retail base rates until Jan. 1, 2029. After that period, formal rate hearings can be triggered by five commissioners or the Energy Secretary.
Thomas also wants to repeal HB 445, Alabama’s 2025 hemp law. The enrolled legislation places consumable hemp sellers under ABC Board licensing, requires testing and labels, and bans smokable hemp products.
He said tighter access has hurt people who relied on hemp-derived products. He also backed marijuana decriminalization.
Thomas called for repeal of SB 71, arguing it weakens protection against pollution. The 2026 law limits State agencies’ ability to adopt environmental rules stricter than federal standards.
His agenda also includes Medicaid expansion and ending the State grocery tax.
On party labels, Thomas said he has no objection to running as a Democrat but wants more room for independent candidates and broader ballot access. He also voiced support for ranked-choice voting in primaries.
“Once elected, I'm going to be there speaking and making laws for everybody in the State of Alabama,” he said.
Thomas said he had raised about $10,000 through a grassroots campaign with no party support.
Prison policy drew another round of criticism. Thomas questioned State legal spending for corrections staff and called for better inmate health care and more parole opportunities for people who have shown they can return safely to society.
After initially describing some legal spending as criminal defense, he qualified that claim, saying the cases may have been civil suits.
Thomas closed by pointing to his own work helping residents navigate public benefits and medical care. He said serving people should begin before a candidate takes office.
“When we call our legislators, we want them to be responsive to our concerns,” he told Peeks. “We want them to hear us.”
Thomas’ full interview may be seen on YouTube and below:
