Madison, Alabama, USA: Democratic nominee Hanu Karlapalem has accused incumbent Republican Parker Moore of placing the interests of political donors ahead of local residents while failing to address the growing housing affordability challenges in Alabama's State House District.
Speaking during a Madison City Council meeting, Karlapalem criticized Moore for remaining silent throughout the housing discussion despite being present. He alleged that Moore's campaign has received substantial financial support from builder and real estate Political Action Committees (PACs), suggesting that such contributions have influenced his position on housing-related issues.
Karlapalem claimed that Moore accepted nearly $79,500 in contributions from 48 special-interest donors, including builder and real estate PACs. He argued that the incumbent has not taken meaningful steps to tackle housing affordability, despite rising concerns among local families.
According to Karlapalem, increasing purchases of residential properties by large corporate investors and absentee landlords have contributed to higher home prices and reduced opportunities for homeownership across the district.
He also urged local officials to prioritize policies that support individual homeowners, including veterans, retirees, and senior citizens, while opposing measures that primarily benefit corporate real estate investors. Referring to feedback from residents, Karlapalem said many community members are concerned about the growing number of short-term rental properties in single-family neighborhoods.
The Democratic candidate further alleged that Moore has repeatedly declined to engage in policy discussions, claiming that several emails seeking responses on key issues went unanswered. He also criticized Moore for refusing to participate in public campaign debates.
Karlapalem additionally criticized former President Donald Trump's decision to withhold support for the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act unless Congress first approves the SAVE America Act. He argued that the proposed housing legislation could help limit large-scale corporate home purchases, expand housing availability, and encourage local housing development.
He questioned Moore's continued silence on the matter, alleging that campaign contributions from construction and real estate-related PACs may have influenced the incumbent's position.
Highlighting his own campaign funding, Karlapalem stated that he has not accepted contributions from PACs or special-interest groups. Instead, he said his campaign is funded entirely through donations from individual supporters, including family members, friends, neighbors, and local residents.
Karlapalem secured the Democratic nomination without opposition and is scheduled to face incumbent Parker Moore in the November 3 election. Moore, who has represented the district since 2018, is seeking another term in the Republican-leaning constituency.
