Jason Tollefson
SDEC District 96
A Working-Class Democratic Party for Alabama
About Me
I am a democratic socialist, working professional, and advocate for working-class Alabamians. I hold a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University in Security and Risk Analysis, with a concentration in Cybersecurity and a minor in Information Technology. My background in systems analysis and governance informs my belief that institutions --including political parties-- should be transparent, accountable, and built to serve people, not entrenched interests.I live in Daphne, Alabama with my wife and our two children, both of whom have special needs. My commitment to equality of opportunity is rooted in lived experience. I am a strong advocate for workers’ rights and believe firmly that there is no capital without labor. While I believe every person deserves a voice in our democracy, I also recognize that our political system too often limits participation to those who can afford access and I am committed to changing that.
My commitment
If elected as your representative for District 96, my commitment is to help reshape our party around the economic realities facing working families -- not the preferences of donors or political consultants.Alabama is in the middle of an affordability crisis. Housing costs are rising. Healthcare remains out of reach for too many. Wages have not kept pace with the cost of living. Childcare is financially suffocating young families. These are not abstract policy debates-- they are daily struggles. Our platform must reflect that reality clearly and unapologetically. I will push to ensure that economic justice -- from housing and healthcare to labor rights and wage growth -- becomes the foundation of our party’s strategy, not an afterthought.Our moral compass must guide our governance. That means protecting civil rights, defending equality of opportunity, strengthening worker protections, and ensuring that no community in Alabama is treated as politically expendable. It also means recruiting and supporting candidates who reflect the racial, geographic, and economic diversity of our state-- leaders who understand firsthand what working families are up against.If we want to energize voters and rebuild trust, we must show that our party stands firmly with labor over concentrated capital and people over corporate influence. I believe deeply that there is no capital without labor -- and our party must never forget which side it was created to defend.I will work to ensure that Alabama Democrats fight for every family, in every county, without compromise and without leaving anyone behind.
My Platform
Center the Working Class in Candidate Recruitment
If we want to rebuild trust in Alabama, we must recruit and support candidates who understand economic hardship not as a talking point, but as lived reality. Too often, working families feel that politics happens around them, not for them.As an SDEC member, I will advocate for recruitment and support of candidates from labor, public service, healthcare, education, and small business backgrounds-- leaders who reflect the racial, geographic, and economic diversity of our state. Our party must elevate voices that speak authentically about wages, housing, healthcare, and worker protections. Representation is not symbolic -- it shapes priorities and policy.
Use Data to Identify and Address Real Pain Points
Campaign strategy should not be guesswork. It should be grounded in measurable economic realities.I will push for the use of data-driven toolsets to identify the most pressing cost-of-living challenges across Alabama’s counties -- from housing affordability and healthcare access to wage stagnation and childcare costs. By grounding messaging and policy in real numbers, we can demonstrate that we understand what families are facing and offer solutions that are specific, credible, and accountable.If we want voters to trust us, we must show that we’ve done the work to understand their reality.
Reform the Alabama Democratic Party into a Working-Class Party
The Democratic Party was founded as a vehicle for working people. In recent decades, too many voters have come to see politics as a contest between elites rather than a movement for everyday families.I believe the Alabama Democratic Party must recommit itself clearly and unapologetically to working-class leadership. That means resisting donor-driven dilution of our platform, prioritizing labor rights and economic justice, and ensuring that party governance reflects our stated values. When party decisions are made, they should be made with working families in mind -- not political insiders.A party that fights clearly for workers will inspire participation. A party that hedges its commitments will not.
Protect Democratic Values and Fair Processes
The SDEC has authority over bylaws, internal disputes, and primary election oversight. These responsibilities matter. Internal transparency and procedural fairness build long-term credibility.I will support clear governance standards, fair primary processes, and inclusive representation within the party structure. Diversity caucuses, county representation, and internal accountability mechanisms must be respected and strengthened. Our party must model the democratic principles we advocate publicly.If we demand fairness in government, we must practice it internally.
Build Infrastructure in Every County - Not Just Election Years
Durable political power is built through year-round organizing, not last-minute campaign cycles. Alabama Democrats cannot afford to concede entire regions of the state.As both an SDEC and CDEC voting member, I will work to strengthen coordination between state and county committees, improve communication, and support long-term infrastructure growth. Investing in volunteer development, candidate training, and grassroots organizing in red and rural counties is not optional -- it is essential.We must build for the next decade, not just the next election.
Labor Over Concentrated Capital
At the heart of my platform is a simple belief: there is no capital without labor. Workers create value. Families create communities. Our economy does not function without the people who power it.I will advocate for a party that stands clearly with labor over concentrated capital, with working families over corporate influence, and with everyday Alabamians over political gatekeepers. If we want higher turnout and renewed enthusiasm, we must give people a reason to believe that their party fights for them -- not for the donor class.The future of the Alabama Democratic Party depends on whether we are willing to lead with conviction.