The race for Alabama’s First Congressional District has a new candidate ahead of the 2026 election, with three Republicans announcing campaigns for the open seat.

The district, which encompasses Baldwin and Mobile counties, as well as parts of the Wiregrass, has been one of the state’s most reliably Republican areas. Incumbent U.S. Representative Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, is seeking a U.S. Senate seat; the race to replace him is expected to draw considerable attention in the coming months.

This week, Austin Sidwell, a former Air Force major and small-business executive from Fairhope, entered the race. Sidwell served twelve years in the Air Force, including time as an instructor pilot at Fort Rucker. He now works as vice president of Sidwell Protection Services, a family-owned business f

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