Taylor Cook

Wages / Job Benefits When workers have a voice, communities thrive. Every major workplace protection we have today was won through collective organizing, and strong unions will help build a fairer economy in Alabama. I’ll fight to for the right to organize, against union busting, and support fair pay and safe workplaces. Growing good, union jobs leads to higher wages, stronger local economies, and more rights for working people. Education I oppose voucher programs and privatization efforts that take funding away from public schools and funnel taxpayer dollars into unaccountable private institutions that ultimately subsidize wealthy families who don't need it. Public dollars belong in public classrooms, strengthening neighborhood schools and ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to a quality education. Education Childcare costs are crushing families and forcing many out of the workforce. I’ll fight to expand access to affordable childcare, fully fund childcare programs, and raise pay for childcare workers. I’ll also support tax relief and assistance for stay-at-home parents. Families that choose to have children deserve options and our support. Government Reform I support creating an independent redistricting commission made up of out-of-state experts with no political or financial ties to Alabama. This will ensure our districts are drawn fairly, transparently, and free from partisan manipulation while giving every Alabamian equal representation. Abortion / Contraception I will fight to restore reproductive freedom, protect pregnancy outcomes from criminalization, and safeguard access to IVF and fertility care. With one in six people experiencing infertility, families deserve access to care without fear, political interference, or legal uncertainty. Drug Policy HB445 was a massive step backward that wastes resources, destroys businesses, and harms everyday people. I’ll work to repeal HB445, legalize marijuana for adult use, expunge past non-violent convictions, and regulate the industry responsibly. Legalization will reduce incarceration, create jobs, and generate revenue for healthcare, education, and other services. Taxes / Budget Food is not a luxury. Alabama is one of the only states that still taxes groceries. This places an additional unfair burden on working families. I’ll fight to permanently eliminate the grocery tax and close corporate loopholes so families aren’t punished for buying a basic necessity. Education Education is far and away one of the strongest investments we can make. I’ll work to direct new revenue into an Education Trust that provides tuition-free community college and technical training. This will reduce student debt, strengthen our workforce, and give Alabamians the opportunity to build stable, prosperous futures. Education A child can't learn if they are hungry. I support ending lunch debt and guaranteeing meals for all students throughout the school year. Meeting the basic needs of students isn’t charity, it’s a moral imperative and a necessary investment in their health, focus, and future success. Taxes / Budget Alabama’s tax system is upside down. Working families pay a higher share of their income in state and local taxes than the wealthiest Alabamians because we rely heavily on sales taxes and a nearly flat income tax. We need to raise revenue by taxing the wealthiest among us fairly, not by draining those who are already struggling. By asking the richest Alabamians to pay their fair share, we can invest in healthcare, education, and public services without increasing the burden on working people. Education Teachers shouldn’t be forced to buy classroom supplies out of pocket or work second jobs just to survive. I’ll fight for real, sustained investment in public education, including higher teacher pay, smaller class sizes, modern technology in every classroom, and safe, well-maintained school facilities that everyone can be proud of. Government Reform Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, ensuring that elections are more fair, more democratic, and less polarized. It encourages candidates to build broad support, focus on actual issues, and appeal to a wide range of voters. Housing Everyone deserves a fair shot at stable housing. I’ll fight to end personal property taxes for homeowners so people truly own their homes once they’re paid off. Large corporations and investors should pay higher property taxes and contribute fairly to our communities. I’ll also expand access to homeownership, support co-ops and land trusts, and strengthen renter protections against corporate abuse, all while ensuring small, local landlords aren’t crushed by unnecessary red tape. Healthcare Alabama’s refusal to expand Medicaid leaves hundreds of thousands uninsured and billions of federal dollars on the table. I will fight to fully expand Medicaid, covering roughly 300,000 more Alabamians, protecting rural hospitals, creating jobs, and cutting the uninsured rate nearly in half. Government Reform I support a full ban on stock trading for all state elected officials and senior government appointees. No lawmaker should profit from the decisions they make in office, period. I would work to require officials to place assets in a blind trust, eliminate conflicts of interest, and restore trust in a system that has been tilted toward the well-connected for far too long. Public service should be about service, not self-enrichment. Healthcare I will introduce legislation to create a Joint Task Force on Healthcare Expansion made up of healthcare professionals, policy experts, and financial specialists to develop a realistic, fully funded roadmap to covering every Alabamian over time. While that work is underway, I’ll fight to immediately expand access where we can, modernize our revenue system, and grow Alabama’s economy so broader coverage is sustainable. Universal healthcare is the destination, but responsible, step-by-step progress is the path. Environment / Energy We as Alabamians face some of the highest electricity bills in the country, all while utility companies operate with little to no accountability. I’ll fight for stronger oversight, expanded renewable energy access, and explore public power models similar to the TVA. Energy should be a public service, not a profit center. We shouldn’t be paying the price for corporate greed. Wages / Job Benefits No one working full-time should be living in poverty. I’ll fight for a real minimum wage in Alabama and tie it to inflation so that workers don’t fall behind. Raising wages will strengthen local economies by putting more money into communities. And with gradual, predictable increases and accountability for large corporations, we can raise pay without hurting small businesses. Government Reform I support establishing term limits for both chambers of the Alabama Legislature to ensure continuous renewal and accountability in government. No one should make a lifelong career out of holding one public office. Serving in the Legislature is just that, public service. Not a career. And I believe in leading by example. That’s why I pledge to serve no more than 3 terms in the Alabama State House of Representatives. Government Reform Straight-ticket voting discourages educated, thoughtful participation and weakens accountability. Every candidate should earn their votes on their own merits and not ride the coattails of a political party. Abolishing straight-ticket voting will encourage voters to engage more deeply with local races and help restore focus on the people we are electing, not the national brand of a party. Education Every child deserves the resources and support they need to succeed. I’ll advocate for increased funding for special education from early childhood through high school, including proper staffing levels, higher pay, and ongoing training for special education teachers and paraprofessionals. Families should also have access to clear information, advocacy support, and essential services so that no child is neglected. Healthcare Mental health care is healthcare. Too many Alabamians, particularly in rural communities, lack access to affordable mental health services. I’ll fight to expand funding for mental health programs, increase school counseling and crisis support, and ensure insurance treats mental health the same as physical health. No one should suffer in silence because help is too hard to find or afford. Healthcare No family should have to travel long distances to safely give birth, especially in Alabama’s wealthiest county. I will fight to bring maternity services to underserved areas of Shelby County by investing in community and rural hospitals. Safe childbirth should be a basic guarantee, not a gamble down 280.