Jim Carns
Alabama State Representative, District 48 since 1990. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 8 elections between 1990 and 2022, winning 8.
- In office
- 36 yrs
- Since 1990
- Bills became law
- 7
- 15 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.7%
- Chamber median 1.5%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +69.9
- Won 2022
- Elections
- 8
- 1990–2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Commerce and Small Business · chair
- Jefferson County Legislation · chair
- Children and Senior Advocacy
- Shelby County Legislation
- Water Policy and Management Legislative
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Jefferson County · Became law Feb 2026
Jefferson County · Became law May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Carns sits in the Alabama House of Representatives
Carns is closer to the center than 1% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Ernie Yarbrough, Arnold Mooney, Ben Harrison
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:44 PM ET
With Carns’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans97%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Carns’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Carns | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 2026 | SB 341: Alabama Work Zone Safety Act; pilot program to establish photographic speed enforcement… | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 76–23 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | SB 57: Public assistance; Department of Human Resources required to request waiver to prohibit the… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 77–22 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | SB 221: Taxation; to exclude credit card transaction fees from sales and use tax calculations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 83–15 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | SB 361: Dogs; tethering and confinement requirements provided; persons and activities exempted;… | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 75–19 |
| Apr 7, 2026 | SB 303: Motor vehicles; off-road vehicles, operation requirements for use on public roads, provided | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 61–37 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Carns was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 | Won | R+69.9 | R+38.6 | +31.3 |
| 2018 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 | Won | R+30.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 46 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 46 | Won | R+68.8 | — | — |
| 1990 | Alabama House of Representatives, District 46 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Carns has held
- Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 · since 2014
- Alabama House of Representatives, District 48 · since 2002
- Alabama House of Representatives, District 46 · since 1990
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Carns has run against
- Bruce Stutts (L) · 2022 election, won
- Alli Summerford (D) · 2018 election, won
- Richard L. Jones (D) · 1994 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Carns
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/0d7f5989-df17-4c90-8267-4914f5598712
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET