Representative Terri Sewell, Democratic from Alabama

Terri Sewell

Alabama's 7th congressional district

AL-7 Midterms Intelligence

Terri Sewell sits in one of the Deep South’s safest Democratic seats, a Birmingham-to-Black Belt district where a 52.6% Black population and a D+27 partisan lean make the real politics about coalition maintenance, not general-election survival. After 15 years in office and with a Ways and Means perch, Sewell’s brand is institutional clout tied to civil rights, voting access, and economic equity. But this is not a complacent district: it is heavily Democratic yet showing a modest Republican drift, reflecting cultural conservatism outside Birmingham and persistent economic frustration.

For advocates, the opening is to connect material need to fairness and representation. Poverty at 15.7% and a healthcare/education workforce of 25.8% make health access, hospital stability, workforce funding, and tax-credit messaging especially potent; abstract ideological appeals are less useful than kitchen-table arguments about jobs, clinics, and benefits delivery. Effective campaigns should respect the district’s civil-rights identity while speaking to practical service gaps and the expectation that Sewell deliver federal results.

Representative Terri Sewell represents Alabama's 7th congressional district, serving 720,539 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $52,380 and an unemployment rate of 6.2%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

720,539Population
↓ 6,454
$52,380Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $5,951
6.2%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↓ 1.2%
15.7%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↓ 1.2%
61.3%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$1,028Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $100
0.9%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
24.5 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↑ 0.4 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

Alabama District 7 Demographics

Median Age 36.6 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 61.3% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 26.7% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 15.7% (vs 12.4%) · Income $52,380 (vs $37,585)

Key Issues for This District
Economic inequalityEducation access

Age Distribution

Near the national median age (36.6 vs 38.5 nationally). 29% of residents are in the 20–39 working-age bracket — housing affordability, student debt, and workforce messaging indexes high.

Race & Ethnicity

A majority-minority district. Black residents are the largest group at 52.6%. Also significant: White (39.4%).

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

26.7% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, below the 33.7% national average. 11.1% of residents lack a high school diploma.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $52,380, above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

Homeownership at 61.3% (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $1,028. Median home value is $169,900.

How People Get to Work

Car-dependent: 77.7% drive alone to work. Average commute is 24.5 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.

Alabama District 7 FAQ

Reach Alabama Lawmakers

Representative Sewell focuses on Health, Taxation and Government Operations and Politics. Deliver personalized constituent letters to Alabama's federal, state, and local officials — live in under five minutes.

Grassroots advocacy & legislator intelligence. Used by nonprofits, associations, and GR firms nationwide.

Start a Campaign