{ "id": "epq3j0rv1x", "slug": "david-sessions", "title": "David Sessions", "updated": "2026-10-21", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "label": "Surnames Ru to T", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t" } ] } ], "excerpt": "David Sessions is an American Republican politician elected in 2018 to the Alabama Senate from District 35, where he chairs the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee.", "snippet": "David Sessions is an American Republican politician elected in 2018 to the Alabama Senate from District 35, where he chairs the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "markdown": "# David Sessions\n\nDavid Sessions is an American politician. A Republican, he is a member of the Alabama Senate, representing District 35.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) He was elected to the Senate on November 6, 2018.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) He is a farmer and co-owner of Sessions Farms, which he describes as a diversified family farming operation in South Mobile County.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Republican[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) |\n| Current office | Member, Alabama Senate, District 35[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) |\n| Education | Mobile County High School, graduated 1978[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nSessions is a Republican.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nSessions graduated from Mobile County High School in 1978.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) On his campaign website, he writes, \"I was born here and have lived in Grand Bay my entire life.\"[2](https://www.votesessions.com/about) He writes that after serving in World War II, his father began farming in Grand Bay and that he followed in his footsteps, and that the Sessions family farm has been in operation for more than 50 years.[2](https://www.votesessions.com/about) He is married to Lisa Driskell Sessions, and they have three children. He and his family attend First Baptist Church in Grand Bay.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/)\n\n## Career\n\nSessions was elected to the Alabama Senate from District 35 on November 6, 2018.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) In the Senate he serves as chairman of the [Agriculture](https://www.edgepedia.org/agriculture), Conservation, and Forestry Committee, and he serves on the Joint Transportation Committee and the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/)\n\nOutside the legislature, Sessions is a farmer and co-owner of Sessions Farms, which he describes as a diversified family farming operation in South Mobile County.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) On his campaign website he writes that, working with his brother, he operates \"a diverse farming business that includes cotton, peanuts, pecans, cattle, and produce.\"[2](https://www.votesessions.com/about) He serves as president of Grand Bay Water Works and of Producers Gin Co. LLC, and as a supervisor on the board of the Mobile County Soil and Water Conservation District. He is a past president of the Alabama Pecan Growers Association.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nSessions was elected to the Alabama Senate from District 35 on November 6, 2018.[1](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/) The Republican primary scheduled for May 19, 2026, was canceled, and Sessions advanced to the November 3, 2026 general election.[3](https://votes.decisiondeskhq.com/races/2026-05-19/alabama-state-senate-35-republican-primary)\n\n## Issues specific to Sessions\n\nOn his campaign website, Sessions writes about why he first sought office: \"I originally ran for office because I was tired of seeing elected officials across the state and the nation who have 'their' agenda.\" He adds, \"I've had enough of politics as usual. I hope to represent our community with a focus on what's best for our families.\"[2](https://www.votesessions.com/about) He also writes that it will be his goal \"to see us work together in protecting our resources, families, schools and our roads and jobs -- today and for the next generation.\"[2](https://www.votesessions.com/about)\n\nHis campaign site lists news items on his work, including a law making possession of a stolen firearm a felony in Alabama, which Governor Kay Ivey signed, and his questioning of the amount of gambling revenue allotted for rural broadband and information technology.[4](https://www.votesessions.com/) • [5](https://www.votesessions.com/news) The site also lists an item in which Sessions wrote that \"The medical marijuana bill looks more like a Trojan Horse.\"[5](https://www.votesessions.com/news)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Medical cannabis\n\nAlabama legislators passed a medical marijuana legalization bill in 2021, and the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded licenses three times, in June, August, and December 2023, but lawsuits by unsuccessful applicants stalled implementation of the law.[6](https://1819news.com/news/item/state-sen-sessions-files-bill-increasing-states-limit-on-medical-cannabis-licenses) Sessions filed legislation, Senate Bill 276, that would increase the number of some types of medical cannabis business licenses available in Alabama, raising the licenses the commission issues to six processor licenses, seven dispensary licenses, and 15 integrated facility licenses, making the issuance of that number mandatory rather than discretionary, and voiding the rescission of licenses and the denial of applications for certain applicants previously acted on by the commission.[6](https://1819news.com/news/item/state-sen-sessions-files-bill-increasing-states-limit-on-medical-cannabis-licenses)\n\nSessions told 1819 News, \"The main two goals for me, from my perspective, is trying to get it out of court and get it started and get it into the hands of people that need it.\"[6](https://1819news.com/news/item/state-sen-sessions-files-bill-increasing-states-limit-on-medical-cannabis-licenses) He said, \"I do not support marijuana whatsoever, but I do support medicine. This is about trying to get medicine to people that need it.\" He described his own family's experience: \"I have a 27-year-old that's paralyzed from the waist down. The only thing that will stop his tremors and his muscle spasms in his legs and body is medical cannabis.\"[6](https://1819news.com/news/item/state-sen-sessions-files-bill-increasing-states-limit-on-medical-cannabis-licenses) He said the bill would receive a public hearing in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, which he chairs.[6](https://1819news.com/news/item/state-sen-sessions-files-bill-increasing-states-limit-on-medical-cannabis-licenses)\n\n### Firearms\n\nA law making possession of a stolen firearm a felony in Alabama was signed by Governor Kay Ivey, according to a Fox 10 News report listed on Sessions's campaign site.[5](https://www.votesessions.com/news)\n\n### Natural resources and the Gulf oil spill\n\nOn his campaign website, Sessions writes, \"Whether you are harvesting cotton or oysters, I will fight to protect your property rights and will demand that BP stand on their commitment to make everyone whole and return our resources to pre-spill condition.\"[2](https://www.votesessions.com/about)\n\n## References\n\n1. [David Sessions – Alabama Senate Republican Caucus](https://alsenaterepublicans.org/representatives/0035-david-sessions/)\n2. [About – David Sessions campaign website](https://www.votesessions.com/about)\n3. [2026 Alabama State Senate 35 Live Election Results – DDHQ](https://votes.decisiondeskhq.com/races/2026-05-19/alabama-state-senate-35-republican-primary)\n4. [David Sessions campaign website](https://www.votesessions.com/)\n5. [News – David Sessions campaign website](https://www.votesessions.com/news)\n6. [State Sen. Sessions files bill increasing state's limit on medical cannabis licenses – 1819 News](https://1819news.com/news/item/state-sen-sessions-files-bill-increasing-states-limit-on-medical-cannabis-licenses)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Southern state legislators › Surnames Ru to T*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"David Sessions\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[David Sessions](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"David Sessions\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/david-sessions. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "David Sessions is an American Republican politician elected in 2018 to the Alabama Senate from District 35, where he chairs the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee." }