WASHINGTON — On the first night of new member orientation for the U.S. House, Rep.-elect Jerry Carl was already back in the swing of things, giving a Capitol tour to those who are traversing the halls for the first time this week.
Having previously served in Congress from 2021-2025, Carl stands out among a sea of incoming freshmen in town learning the ins and outs of Washington. But his enthusiasm rivals that of members who stepped onto the House floor for the first time Sunday night.
“I’m excited about serving my district and the great things we have in store,” Carl, R-Mobile, told Alabama Daily News Monday. “Feels like I never left.”
But with Republicans suffering bruising midterm losses, Carl is set to return to Congress next year in the minority, diminishing GOP lawmakers’ influence in Washington.
He’s experienced both sides of that spectrum. In his first term, Democrats controlled both chambers and the White House; in his second, Republicans took back the House majority while Democrats maintained control of the Senate and presidency,
Rep.-elect (and former Rep.) Jerry Carl is back in Washington for new member orientation. #ALPolitics
“It feels like I’ve never left.” https://t.co/zVWgsBc2S5
— Alex Angle (@alexangle_) November 9, 2026
After Republican defeats nationwide, including one in Carl’s neighboring 2nd Congressional District, he said Republicans need to get better at “messaging” on issues that matter the most to voters, including those that transcend political parties.
“I think that’s where we missed it,” Carl said, standing outside one of the orientation sessions. “I think there’s about 10 or 12% of the independents that we need to be a little more focused on versus just Republicans and Democrats.”
He said it starts with the cost of living.
“It’s affordability,” Carl told ADN. “Folks trying to put gas in the car to get to work, and they can’t afford it, and it hurts. It’s a crunch, and we need to figure out a way that we can help with that.”
The Mobile Republican won the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District election last Tuesday, encompassing Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and most of Covington County.
He defeated Democrat Clyde Jones by about 18 percentage points. But Carl lost his home county to Jones, while easily beating him in the district’s three deep-red counties.
In 2024, Carl lost in the GOP primary to Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, after a court-drawn map pitted the two incumbents against each other.
But with Alabama Republicans implementing a congressional map similar to the one Carl was originally elected under this year, Carl handily won the nomination in the special primary, after his most formidable primary opponent, State Rep. Rhett Marques, shifted to the 2nd District race.
Carl is replacing Moore, who is headed to the Senate, and will join Alabama’s six congressional incumbents, who all won reelection, next year in Washington.
Iran war
As the Iran war stretches into its eighth month, contributing to high gas and diesel prices, Carl said, “We’ve got to finish that up and get home, whatever finish up means.”
“I’d love to see the Saudis and the countries over there take over for us, do more of a ground check on it, do a sweep through there and clean it up. I’m not in favor of the U.S. putting boots on the ground, but we have got to get finished there and get out, get back home.”
The day after the midterms, Vice President JD Vance said that the war was the reason Republicans lost.
“If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest,” Vance wrote on social media. “But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.”
When Democrats take control next year, they’re likely to force more war powers resolutions as part of their effort to curb the war. Carl said he doesn’t know how we would vote on any potential resolution.
“I want to hear the arguments on that to be perfectly honest,” the Mobile Republican said. “I’m not a yes or no on that, but I’d like to hear the arguments on that personally.”
Committee preferences
Carl said he hopes to reclaim his seats on the Appropriations and Natural Resources panels next year.
In his second term, he served on both of those committees. During his first term in Congress, Carl was a member of the Armed Services and Natural Resources committees.
The Appropriations Committee is a coveted panel, which allows members to send federal dollars back home. Out of Alabama’s House delegation, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, is an appropriations cardinal, and Rep. Dale Strong joined the committee in the 119th Congress.
No Alabama member has been on the Natural Resources Committee since Carl lost reelection in 2024.
Top priorities
When he’s sworn in in January, Carl said he plans to first tackle VA health care issues. Mobile currently doesn’t have its own full-service VA hospital.
His other priorities revolve around infrastructure, including the new Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project and projects in Baldwin County.
“We’ve got a bridge project that, although it is funded, you’re still going to have some overages, and we’ve got to focus on getting that paid for,” Carl said.
GOP leadership elections
One of his first tasks as a member-elect this week will be choosing who will lead House Republicans next year.
The caucus will hold closed-door, secret-ballot contests for leadership positions Tuesday, as members decide who they want to move their party forward after the midterm elections.
The biggest fight is for minority leader between House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a hardline conservative.
Carl declined to tell ADN who he will support in the leadership election.