Tommy Barnes Launches Bid to Serve NW Alabama in Congress

Colbert County Commissioner Tommy Barnes has taken the next step in his bid for U.S. Representative in Alabama’s 4th Congressional District, qualifying last week to appear on the ballot this fall.

Barnes, who has served in local government for years, said the region has lacked active federal leadership for nearly three decades. At the heart of his campaign are job growth, better infrastructure, improved healthcare access, and term limits for members of Congress — all issues he says have been neglected under current leadership.

“We have way too much poverty and too few high-paying jobs in District 4,” Barnes said, criticizing what he views as a lack of focus on Northwest Alabama’s economic challenges.

Barnes pledged to champion term limits for members of Congress, saying career politicians lose touch with the people they represent. “WE NEED TERM LIMITS,” he said, adding that he would push for legislation to cap terms for federal lawmakers.

Barnes also called attention to gaps in broadband and cell service across the region. He called reliable internet a necessity for economic growth and public safety, saying limited connectivity has hindered efforts to attract high-tech employers.

On energy policy, Barnes would support federal incentives for small modular nuclear reactors in partnership with TVA and Alabama Power as a way to strengthen local power supplies and attract industry jobs.

He also criticized federal funding patterns for education in the region, saying institutions like the University of North Alabama have not received adequate support compared with other areas of the state.

Barnes decried the decline of rural hospitals and rising insurance costs. He said federal lawmakers have failed to act while closures of healthcare facilities and shifting insurance markets leave residents without local care options.

On tourism and local industry, he argued that Fourth District assets — from its scenic waterways and parks to its rich music and textile heritage — have not been effectively promoted at the national level.

Barnes said he will focus on these priorities over his first terms in office “as you support and vote for Tommy Barnes, a proven leader.”

Barnes is a longtime public servant and Republican elected official from Northwest Alabama. He serves as the District 1 County Commissioner in Colbert County, where he has spent more than a decade working on local infrastructure, economic development, and utilities issues. Barnes previously retired as civil operations manager with Sheffield Utilities after a 20-year career and holds a degree in chemical engineering. He has also worked in industry and environmental engineering roles, giving him technical experience in water, wastewater and energy systems. A native of Sheffield with deep roots in the Shoals, Barnes emphasizes hands-on leadership and community engagement in his work. He is married and a family man who cites service and practical problem-solving as core to his approach in public office.

The Fourth District is currently represented by Republican Robert Aderholt, who has served in the U.S. House since 1997. Barnes and Aderholt will face off in the May 19 primary election.

For more information on Tommy Barnes, follow his campaign on Facebook.