U.S. House · Alabama's 3rd Congressional District
Lee McInnis
CandidateD
- Race
- U.S. House · Alabama's 3rd Congressional District
- Result
- Mike Rogers, projected winner
- Opponent
- Mike Rogers (R)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did3 statements · 0 votes
Make sure the ultra-rich and corporations pay their fair share.
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 3
2026-11-03
| Mike Rogers R | incumbent |
| Lee McInnis D | challenger |
Advanced from the Democratic primary unopposed.
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Make sure the ultra-rich and corporations pay their fair share.
Says the ultra-rich and large corporations should pay a fair share of taxes, and that working and middle-class Americans have carried too much of the tax burden.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Already tariffs are causing rising prices and job loses.
Says tariffs are causing rising prices and job losses and hurting farmers in his district.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
illegal, unconstitutional and inhumane
At a November 2025 town hall, described current immigration enforcement as illegal, unconstitutional and inhumane, per The Auburn Plainsman.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Lee McInnis, a Democrat and retired U.S. Army veteran and Defense Intelligence Community officer, lost the November 3, 2026 election for Alabama's 3rd Congressional District to Mike Rogers. An Alabama native and Auburn University graduate, he served in the Army as an Arabic linguist, worked 28 years in defense intelligence, and later taught at the college level. He had not previously held elected office; his campaign emphasized health care access in rural Alabama, education, affordability, fair taxes and veterans' care.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
McInnis was born in Birmingham and raised in Homewood, Alabama, and graduated from Homewood High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Auburn University in 1983 and served in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1989, where he trained as an Arabic linguist.[1][2] Using the GI Bill, he returned to Auburn and earned a master's degree in 1987, studying communications and international relations.[1]
McInnis then spent a 28-year career in the Defense Intelligence Community, including extended time overseas in Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq and Afghanistan. He describes his work as including service as an intelligence officer and lead instructor, and he reports receiving the Joint Staff Civilian Commendation Medal and the Defense Intelligence Agency's Director Intelligence Medal.[1][2] He retired when his wife's job moved the family to Augusta, Georgia, and took a job teaching at a local college. After she retired, the couple settled in Lee County, where he lives in Opelika, and he returned to Auburn University to earn a master's degree in history in 2024.[1][2]
McInnis announced his candidacy at the Opelika Public Library in late 2025. Ballotpedia lists no prior campaigns or offices for him, and the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for the seat was canceled.[2][1] He is affiliated with Indivisible Auburn/Opelika, the NAACP (Branch 5038), Auburn United Methodist Church, the National Eagle Scout Association, and the American Legion.[1] He received 36% of the vote to Mike Rogers's 64%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]
In their own words
Priorities
- Health care: says Republican budget cuts to Medicaid and health spending threaten rural hospitals, citing an estimate that Alabama could lose 20 rural hospitals and 200,000 to 500,000 residents' health coverage.[5]
- Education: says he opposes what he calls a "two tier" education system and supports revitalizing technical education and making college more affordable.[5]
- Economy and tariffs: says tariffs are raising prices and hurting farmers in the district, and that the country must build an economy that "lifts all people."[5]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Expand public health coverage
“We talk about how everybody in this district should have an equal shot at having a healthy life, and that includes healthcare, that includes clean water, that includes universal lunches for school children”[7]
In an Alabama Reflector interview, October 2026
Campaign money$61K raised · 100% from individuals · FEC through 2026-09-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $61K
Largest committee contributions
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee PAC$5,000
- Elizabeth Anderson for Congress Candidate committee$2,000
- Committee to Elect Shomari Figures for Congress Candidate committee$2,000
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/lee-mcinnis
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Lee McInnis · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 2.McInnis announces run to represent Alabama's 3rd Congressional District · Auburn Villager News report
- 3.Democratic congressional nominee holds town hall in Opelika · WTVM News report
- 4.Alabama's 3rd Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 5.Lee McInnis · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 6.U.S. congressional candidate Lee McInnis holds open town hall · The Auburn Plainsman · 2025-11-20 News report
- 7.In Alabama's 3rd Congressional District, a longtime GOP incumbent faces a newcomer · Alabama Reflector · 2026-10-19 News report