Dakarai Larriett Opens Senate Bid Endorsements With Birmingham Support
Written by Brent Wilson on
April 16, 2026
Dakarai Larriett, a Democratic candidate for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, announced Thursday that former state Rep. Patricia Todd, Birmingham Board of Education member Antwon Womack and Birmingham civic advocate Josh Coleman are backing his campaign.
The endorsements are among the first publicly announced for Larriett as Democrats compete in the 2026 Alabama U.S. Senate race. Alabama’s primary is set for May 19, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 3.
Todd, a Democrat from Birmingham, served in the Alabama House after first winning election in 2006 to represent a Birmingham district. She later served as vice chair of the Alabama Democratic Party, giving her a continuing role in party politics even after leaving the Legislature.
In announcing her support, Todd said Democrats need a candidate who will represent all parts of the party and all of the state’s communities. Her endorsement gives Larriett support from a figure with a long record in Birmingham Democratic politics and in LGBTQ advocacy.
Coleman, who has worked in Birmingham city government and in Democratic politics, said he sees Larriett as a candidate who would speak for communities that often receive less attention in statewide campaigns. Larriett’s campaign identified Coleman as a civic leader and advocate within Birmingham’s Democratic and LGBTQ circles.
Womack, a Democrat from Birmingham who serves on the Birmingham Board of Education, said he was backing Larriett because of what he described as the candidate’s transparency and public service focus. Womack also tied his endorsement to Alabama’s changing demographics and said he wants the state to elect a senator who reflects that shift.
Larriett’s campaign has put education at the center of his message. He has called for better teacher pay, broader technical and job-training options, and a larger role for parents in their children’s education. Those issues align with Womack’s role on the school board and give the endorsement added relevance as Larriett tries to introduce himself to voters.
Larriett has also highlighted his business background and earlier corporate work. His campaign said his interest in public service took shape while he was an exchange student at Howard University and during an internship with US Airways, where he worked in cargo e-commerce and supply chain management involving the United States Postal Service.
The Senate race opened after Sen. Tommy Tuberville began a run for governor rather than seeking another Senate term. That decision set up competitive Republican and Democratic primaries for one of Alabama’s statewide offices.
Larriett is one of several Democrats seeking the nomination. Early endorsements can help candidates build credibility with party activists, donors and volunteers, particularly in a primary where voters may still be learning the field.
For now, Larriett’s first round of support is centered in Birmingham, one of the state’s largest Democratic voting bases. With the primary a little over a month away, candidates in both parties are continuing to assemble support networks and make their case to voters before the nominee is decided.
