Dr. Angelo “Doc” Mancuso, a dermatological surgeon and former state lawmaker, said he plans to continue his campaign for House District 7 as an independent after being removed from the Republican primary ballot by the Alabama Republican Executive Committee, arguing the decision denies voters a choice and undermines the democratic process.
Mancuso, who previously served one term in the Alabama House from 1998 to 2003, said the move by the party’s executive committee to disqualify him from the ballot was predetermined and violated what he sees as both party rules and broader constitutional principles.
“This is not about me,” Mancuso said in an interview. “This is about denying voters their due process of having a choice. That’s what this country is about. Choices.”
Mancuso had been challenging incumbent state Representative Ernie Yarbrough, a Republican from Trinity who was first elected to the Alabama House in 2022. The decision left Yarbrough without a primary opponent, something Mancuso said effectively eliminates meaningful voter participation in the race.
“A primary is supposed to be where the voters decide,” said Mancuso. “You could have 10 people running and the public looks at them and decides who represents them best. That’s the point.”
Mancuso said he is now pursuing his independent campaign to give voters an alternative in the general election. Although independent candidates face significant hurdles in Alabama elections, Mancuso said history shows it can be done.
“People say it can’t be done, but it has been done,” said Mancuso. “If people believe someone is standing up for them, they will rally behind that.”
Mancuso said his campaign is rooted in the same approach he took during his earlier time in the legislature, focusing on constituent input rather than party directives. During his previous term, he said he often distributed copies of proposed legislation to residents in his district and asked for feedback before voting.
“I’d stand outside places like Walmart and hand out the bill and give people my number and say, ‘Read it and tell me what you think.’ That’s the way it should work. You represent the people who elected you,” said Mancuso.
Mancuso said his decision to run again was motivated partly by rapid economic growth across North Alabama, particularly the expansion that has spread outward from Huntsville into surrounding counties.
“Huntsville has created this incredible engine of growth,” said Mancuso. “It moved into Madison and Limestone counties, into Athens and Decatur. My district is next, and we need to be ready for that.”
If elected, Mancuso said he hopes to focus on infrastructure, education and planning for the region’s continued growth. He said he has already begun organizing advisory groups to help develop proposals in those areas. Mancuso emphasized that his independent campaign is less about winning office than about defending what he sees as a basic democratic principle.
“This isn’t about whether I win or lose,” said Mancuso. “I have a job. It’s about the idea that you shouldn’t take away people’s right to choose who represents them.”
He said that regardless of the outcome, he intends to continue advocating for open elections and greater voter participation.
“If I win, I win, but if I lose, I’ll go down on my principles. I want my family and my community to know I stood up when it mattered,” said Mancuso.
