A professional woman with dark wavy hair, wearing a blue blazer, pearl necklace, pearl earrings, and a pearl bracelet, smiling and posing with her hands clasped in front of her against a plain gray background.

Rooted in Service. Driven by Purpose

Shalela Dowdy is a lifelong Mobile native, U.S. Army Major, community organizer, and law student running for Alabama State Representative to deliver principled, accountable leadership that puts people first.

A graduate of Murphy High School, Shalela attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in American Legal Studies with a concentration in systems engineering. While at West Point, she competed as a Division I student-athlete, earning four varsity letters in cross country and track and field, and developed the discipline, resilience, and leadership that continue to guide her public service.

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Alabama, and our nation

I’m running for the Alabama House of Representatives because our communities deserve leadership that understands service, sacrifice, and the urgency of now. I am a community organizer who has spent years working alongside residents across the state of Alabama, listening to their concerns and organizing around the issues that impact their daily lives. From voting rights and fair representation to environmental justice, education, and economic opportunity, I have seen how decisions made in Montgomery directly affect whether our communities thrive or struggle.

As an Army veteran who served on active duty and now a reservist, I understand the importance of putting service before self. I swore an oath to this country, and that commitment did not end when I took off the uniform. Service is a lifelong responsibility, and today, that responsibility calls me to step forward and fight for the people of Alabama. Too often, the Alabama State House is disconnected from the realities facing working families, veterans, seniors, and young people.

I am running to change that. I believe state government should be accessible, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves, not special interests or political insiders. As a veteran, I bring discipline, leadership, and a deep respect for democratic institutions. I understand how laws can either protect people or harm them, and I am committed to crafting and supporting legislation that expands opportunity, protects fundamental rights, and strengthens our communities. I’m running to ensure that Alabamians who are working-class, rural, and underserved communities are not treated as an afterthought in state policy. I’m running to be a voice for those who sometimes feel as if they have been ignored. And I’m running because Alabama deserves leaders who are willing to show up, do the work, and fight for a future that works for all of us. This campaign is about service, justice, and building a stronger Alabama together.

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  • A woman in a blue pantsuit holding a sign that says 'Protect Our Vote!' with a picture of a man pointing a finger.

    Organize for Impact

    Her commitment to public service extends well beyond the classroom and the military. Shalela has worked as a community organizer with Mobile Baykeeper, helping residents address environmental justice concerns and hold institutions accountable. She previously served as an Alabama Regional Organizer with Black Voters Matter, where she partnered with faith leaders, grassroots organizations, and community members to expand voter registration, education, and mobilization efforts across the state. She has also served as a field organizer with the Alabama Democratic Party, mobilizing voters and strengthening grassroots engagement, and as a community redistricting fellow with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, where she advocated for fair and equitable legislative maps across Alabama.

  • A person with dreadlocks, wearing a face mask and gloves, standing next to a chain-link fence with large red and blue letters spelling 'VOTE' attached to it.

    Empower the Community

    Shalela is the Founding President of Stand Up Mobile, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to voter education, civic engagement, and community empowerment in Mobile County’s Black communities. Through this work, she has organized voter registration drives, redistricting education efforts, and public forums focused on increasing participation and access to democracy.

  • Woman in a shiny, patterned dress standing in front of a NAACP backdrop at an event

    Lead Through Service & Institutions

    She currently serves as Second Vice President of the Mobile Branch of the NAACP and is a Silver Life Member, serving on committees including Political Action, Environmental Justice, and Redistricting. Shalela is also a Legacy Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Urban League Young Professionals, and Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority.

  • A woman dressed in a red suit standing in front of the United States Capitol building on a clear, sunny day.

    A Voice for the People

    Shalela Dowdy is running for Alabama State Representative because she believes the State House should reflect the lived experiences of the people it serves. She is committed to advancing policies that strengthen public education, protect voting rights, expand economic opportunity, safeguard the environment, and ensure government is transparent, fair, and accountable. Guided by her faith, military service, and deep roots in Mobile, Shalela is ready to serve with integrity and fight for a stronger, more equitable Alabama.

  • A Black woman in a United States Army dress uniform standing against a dark background.

    Serve with Honor

    After West Point, Shalela served six years on active duty in the United States Army as an Air Defense Artillery Officer and Human Resources Officer, leading soldiers in complex, high-responsibility roles across the country. She managed multimillion-dollar equipment, coordinated multinational operations, and oversaw personnel, safety, and operational readiness for large units. She continues her service today in the U.S. Army Reserves with the rank of Major, serving as a Military Academy Liaison Officer, where she mentors and recruits future leaders for West Point.

  • A woman in U.S. Army camouflage uniform standing on steps outdoors during sunset, with trees and a monument in the background.

    Strategize with Vision

    During her transition from active duty to the Army Reserves, Shalela also worked as a consultant with Deloitte in 2019. In this role, she supported organizational strategy and operational effectiveness initiatives, gaining firsthand experience navigating large systems, data-driven decision-making, and public-private sector collaboration, skills that continue to inform her approach to policy, governance, and accountability.

  • A young woman standing on the steps of a large government-style building with tall columns, holding a phone and wearing a blazer and a UCLA shirt.

    Lead with Law & Accountability

    Shalela holds a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso and is currently a Juris Doctor candidate at Southern University Law Center, where she is active in the Black Law Students Association and Veterans Law Organization. Her legal training has strengthened her focus on constitutional rights, legislative accountability, and the real-world impact of state policy on everyday Alabamians.

  • Stand for Justice & Representation

    Stand for Justice & Representation

    Shalela is also a plaintiff in the historic U.S. Supreme Court voting rights case Allen v. Milligan, which challenged Alabama’s racially discriminatory congressional maps under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Her participation in this landmark case reflects her deep personal commitment to fair representation and equal access to the ballot, ensuring that Black Alabamians have a meaningful voice in the democratic process.