It’s an election year in North Alabama and voters across the 5th Congressional District will choose their congressional representative when they go to the polls in November.
But first, three Democrats must face off in a primary to see who will go against incumbent republican Rep. Dale Strong in the general election on Nov. 3. Strong is running unopposed in the Republican Primary.
Three Democrats qualified to run in their primary on May 19: Jeremy Devito, Candice Duvieilh and Andrew Sneed.
All Democratic candidates and Rep. Strong answered the following questionnaire to help inform the voters of their values ahead of the primary.
What experiences have shaped your qualifications for this role, and what motivated you to seek election (or re-election) to the 5th Congressional District?
Jeremy Devito: My experiences are shaped by my military service, my career in procurement and supply chain management, and grassroots community engagement. As an Army combat veteran, I learned to lead and communicate in high-stress environments, and my career has given me firsthand insight into federal spending, waste, and accountability. Through community work—founding a veterans nonprofit, serving on the Limestone County Democrats Executive Committee, and coaching youth soccer—I’ve built teams and strengthened local networks. Those experiences, and my commitment to defend the Constitution and our communities, are what motivated me to run for Congress.
Candice Duvieilh: I am a government accounting expert and a policy analyst with over 15 years of public sector experience. I have analyzed and advised government entities on policy and budget for a large part of my career. As a mom and the wife of a disabled veteran, I am stepping up because families like mine deserve representation that works for them. The most vulnerable among us are being pushed to the fringes of legislative protection and that ends with me.
Andrew Sneed: Experience matters, and in my life, I’ve had a diversity of experiences both personally and professionally that make me uniquely qualified to represent this district. I started my career as a working actor in New York City after graduating from Lee High School and then Boston University. I eventually decided to return to the South and enter the trades. After becoming a master plumber and gasfitter and working for a local business for 7 years, I opened the business I had always believed I could in 2019.
After opening my business, I made the decision to fully fund my employees’ health insurance, among other benefits, because no one should be afraid to get hurt or be sick. I know because I’ve lived it. I’m a husband, a father of three little girls, and a job creator here, not a career politician. I’m able to see what’s broken and, as a whole systems thinker and problem-solver, I’m the right person to go to Washington DC on behalf of my home, this district, and fix it.
Rep. Dale Strong: I have spent my life serving my community as a volunteer firefighter, emergency medic, small business owner, on the Madison County Commission and now representing my community in Congress. I am seeking re-election because I want to continue my efforts to strengthen our national defense, support Redstone Arsenal and reduce the tax burden on Alabama families so we can keep more of the money we make.
What is the top issue facing 5th Congressional District, and what specific legislation would you support or introduce to address it?
Jeremy Devito: It’s clear to anyone living in Alabama right now- the top issue facing House District 5—and working families across the country—is affordability. Whether it’s healthcare, housing, education, or food, people are being squeezed by rising costs, unfair policies, and cuts to our healthcare - all while corporations record record profits and generous tax breaks.
My campaign focuses on addressing this directly by supporting universal healthcare or Medicare for All. Removing insurance premiums through a single-payer system would lower costs, improve quality of life, and give working people the freedom to build businesses and stronger communities.
Candice Duvieilh: Infrastructure. Whether that is our education, health care, transportation, or utility infrastructure, we are seeing ongoing issues and a consistent lack of funding that gets worse year-over-year. Families are being priced out of this area both in terms of affordability and access to needed infrastructure. Our representatives have to do a better job of providing for this area in a meaningful way.
Andrew Sneed: The whole district is struggling with affordability, but our rural communities are getting left behind while our representative stays focused on Madison County. Tariffs are hitting our farmers hard, and there aren’t enough opportunities outside of Huntsville to make up the difference. I’d push for New Markets Tax Credit expansion, Rural Economic Development Act funding, and USDA ReConnect grants to bring real jobs and infrastructure to every corner of this district — because no business moves somewhere it can’t operate. And when it comes to cutting the red tape that slows all of it down, I’d take Senator Katie Britt’s Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act to the House floor, because streamlining bureaucracies isn’t a Republican idea or a Democratic idea, it’s just a good idea. This district deserves a representative who shows up for all of it, works with colleagues willing to get something done, and doesn’t leave half the district behind.
Rep. Dale Strong: The top issue facing our community is our economy. We have had some big wins like securing the Space Command Headquarters, continued funding for NASA’s Space Launch System and millions of new dollars for Golden Dome and the missile and aviation programs at Redstone Arsenal. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for our aerospace and defense jobs and ensure that Redstone Arsenal and the Marshall Space Flight Center remain strong.
How would you describe your approach to working with people who disagree with you, both within your party and across the aisle?
Jeremy Devito: In Congress, I will work with anyone in good faith on issues like infrastructure, budgets, and economic development—but I have to draw a firm line: human and civil rights are not bargaining chips. Strong leadership means knowing when to compromise and when to stand firm, and the rights and dignity of our neighbors will never be up for negotiation.
Candice Duvieilh: We do not have to agree on the problem to work together to find a solution that will work for everybody. There are so many issues where I am seeing representatives debate the problem rather than discuss solutions that will work for the entire community. If our legislators are wasting time complaining about the issue rather than working up solutions, they are failing us- the people they represent.
Andrew Sneed: Like we say in this campaign, I will Hear Every Voice, and that’s not just something on a yard sign. Empathy is a two-way street, and if I’m asking someone to hear me out, they deserve the same opportunity, without judgment or condemnation. In a crawl space, you don’t ask a man his party before you work beside him. Meeting people where they are, not where we hope they may someday be, is how trust actually gets built. If this district sends me to DC to be their representative, I will actually represent the people of North Alabama and work with those who are serious about getting things done to support this district, regardless of party lines. The people of District 5 deserve a representative who goes there to get results, not to dig in on party lines while the rest of the district gets left
behind.
Rep. Dale Strong: In my time on the Madison County Commission and now in Congress, I have been both in the majority party and in the minority. In both instances, I was able to be effective and get things done because I worked with both Republicans and Democrats to make real progress. In Congress, I have passed several bills with bipartisan support – such as a bill to stop China from owning land in America, which received over 300 votes from both sides of the aisle. On issues such as funding for our national defense and space program, I have always worked to build coalitions of both Republicans and Democrats.