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About Mark Wheeler
Hello, I’m Mark Wheeler, a proud 32-year-old millennial born and raised in Heflin, Alabama. I’m a husband, a father, and a passionate advocate for personal freedom, choice, and the well-being of our communities. My wife and children are the reason I felt compelled to step up and serve, because I want to leave them, and all of Alabama’s children, a country that’s more just, more free, and full of opportunity.
Educational Background and Work Ethic
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University, where I worked tirelessly to balance my education with real-world responsibilities. Before pursuing my degree, I spent years working 12-hour night shifts in a wire mill, typically over 60 hours a week with mandatory overtime. It was never easy, but it shaped me into the hardworking, determined man I am today.
I put myself through college while providing for my family, and that experience instilled in me a deep understanding of sacrifice, perseverance, and the daily challenges working families face. I know what it’s like to struggle, to juggle work, school, and family, and to strive every day for something better.
Current Career
Today, I work in research and development, where I apply my background in chemistry and emergency management to develop innovative, sustainable solutions. No matter where I go in life, I carry with me the grit and values I earned during those long nights in the wire mill.
Values and Second Amendment
As someone who loves the outdoors, I’m also a proud gun owner, with my Winchester 30-30 lever-action rifle being a personal favorite. I believe in the right of every responsible American to bear arms, and I’m committed to protecting the Second Amendment and the freedoms we hold dear.
Mission and Purpose
My mission is bigger than politics. It’s about making the world better for the people I love, and for every hardworking American who just wants a fair shot. Whether it’s fighting for fair wages, safer communities, better working conditions, or the freedom to succeed, I’m ready to serve you with integrity and purpose.
Policy Platform
Congressional Reform
Democratic Accountability Through Term Limits
One of the greatest threats to a healthy democracy is the concentration of power over extended periods of time. As the old saying goes, “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” and no one is immune to the temptations that come with unchecked authority. This is why we must institute term limits for both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court. Humans, by nature, are fallible, and we simply cannot trust anyone with indefinite power, especially in positions that directly shape the future of our nation.
In Congress, career politicians often lose sight of the everyday struggles of the people they represent. When lawmakers stay in office for decades, they risk becoming detached from the realities of civilian life. Instituting term limits would ensure that members of Congress eventually return to civilian life, where they will be directly impacted by the laws they helped create. This “skin in the game” will encourage them to govern with greater accountability and foresight, knowing they will one day live under the same policies they enact. Term limits will also open the door for fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, preventing the stagnation that can come from long-standing political entrenchment.
Supreme Court Term Limits
The Supreme Court is no exception. Lifetime appointments allow justices to wield immense power for decades, often outlasting the societal norms and values of the time when they were appointed. By enforcing term limits, we can ensure a steady infusion of new voices and perspectives on the bench, better reflecting the evolving views of the American people. No one individual should have the ability to shape the course of justice indefinitely, as it risks turning a vital institution into a tool for entrenched ideology rather than impartial fairness.
Term limits are not about punishing those who serve but about preserving the integrity of our democracy. By ensuring that no one holds power for too long, we protect against corruption, foster accountability, and keep our government grounded in the realities faced by everyday Americans. This reform is not just common sense—it’s essential for a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Economics and Economic Development
Alabama’s Path to Self-Sufficiency
Alabama has long benefited from federal funding, and we are grateful for the support that has helped sustain essential services and programs across our state. But I believe it’s time we take bold steps toward becoming more self-sustaining, not to reject that support, but to reduce our reliance on it. Alabamians don’t want a handout, they want a leg up, an opportunity to work, to provide for their families, and to contribute their fair share without being overtaxed or underpaid.
Our people are capable, driven, and ready to lead in the industries of the future. What we need is a system that empowers businesses, not burdens them, and clears a path for small and local companies to grow alongside larger ones. As your U.S. Senator, I’ll work across state lines and across the aisle to build bipartisan support for laws and incentives that make it not just possible, but profitable, to bring manufacturing and innovation to Alabama.
We have untapped natural resources, underutilized land, and a workforce hungry for purpose. From timber to minerals, sun to soil, we can start making better use of what we already have to ease the burden on our state legislature, generate sustainable revenue, and open the door for long-term investment. I believe economic security is the foundation of every other issue we care about. Without it, there is no affordable housing, no access to quality healthcare, no reliable transportation, no funding for public education, and no stability for working families. These are not partisan concerns, they are real-life struggles that every Alabamian, in every corner of our state, understands all too well. And there is one common denominator we can all agree on, if we want to fix anything else, we have to fix the economy first.
With the state’s increasing focus on data centers, electric vehicles, and other energy-driven initiatives, I’ve taken a personal interest in ensuring that these developments don’t bypass rural communities like mine, which have suffered from decades of disinvestment. As your Senator, I will use the full authority of that office to support economic development initiatives that strengthen our local infrastructure, energize our workforce, and give Alabama the tools to lead, not follow. This isn’t about making Alabama something it’s not, it’s about building a future where every Alabamian, regardless of zip code, has access to opportunity, to dignity, and to the promise of a better life.
Healthcare
Healthcare is a Right, Not a Privilege
I believe healthcare must cover the whole person, not just part of the body. That means medical care, yes, but also vision, dental, and prescription drugs. Your eyes, your teeth, and your access to lifesaving medication are not “extras,” they are essential to your health, your ability to work, and your quality of life.
Healthcare Policy Goals
I will fight to:
- Expand affordable healthcare to include vision, dental, and prescriptions
- Lower drug costs so no Alabamian has to ration medication or skip doses
- Strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, ensuring seniors and working families get the care they have earned
- Support a path toward universal coverage, because every American deserves the dignity of seeing a doctor without fear of bankruptcy Healthcare is about freedom, the freedom to live without fear of sickness driving you into poverty. It is about dignity, the dignity of knowing you and your family will be cared for. And it is about fairness, because working families in Alabama deserve the same standard of care that members of Congress get.
Education
Public Education Foundation
Public education is the foundation of a strong Alabama.
I intend to fight to ensure every child — no matter their zip code has access to a quality education.
Education Policy Agenda
This education agenda includes:
- Raising teacher pay and giving educators the support they need
- Ensuring fair funding for all public schools, especially in rural and underserved areas
- Expanding access to pre-K and early childhood education
- Making community college tuition-free and investing in trade and technical programs
- Increasing mental health services and support staff in schools
- Making higher education affordable and reducing student debt burdens
Worker Rights
Standing with Alabama Workers
It’s time to change that. I am running for U.S. Senate to stand with workers, not corporate interests, and to rebuild strong labor unions that give every employee the power to negotiate for fair wages, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job.
Worker Rights Policy Goals
That means:
- Protecting the right to organize so workers can join together without fear of retaliation
- Raising wages and ensuring fair benefits including healthcare, paid leave, and retirement security
- Strengthening workplace safety and labor protections so no one risks their life or health just to make a living
- Rebuilding unions in Alabama to restore collective bargaining power and give workers a real voice in the economy
When workers thrive, families thrive, communities thrive, and Alabama thrives. I will fight to make sure your voice matters, your work is valued, and your rights are protected, because Alabama’s workers deserve a seat at the table.