Phillip Ensler
Phillip Ensler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 74th district | |
| Assumed office November 9, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Charlotte Meadows |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | George Washington University (BA) Yeshiva University (JD) |
Phillip Ensler is an American politician and attorney who has been a member of the Alabama House of Representatives since 2022, representing the 74th House district. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]
Education
Ensler earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yeshiva University in 2017.[1] He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University in 2012 and worked in the Obama administration while living in Washington, D.C.[2]
Career
Ensler was a public school educator in Montgomery through the Teach For America program.[3] Since 2012, Ensler has worked a mentorship program that supports public school students in Alabama in achieving their college and career goals.[4][5]
Ensler defeated incumbent Charlotte Meadows in the November 8, 2022, general election, receiving approximately 60 percent of the vote.[6] His victory was the first time the Alabama Democratic Party flipped a seat in the state legislature since 2010.[6]
In the legislature, he supported legislation that made glock switches a state crime. The bill was sponsored by Republican state senator Will Barfoot, and passed with bipartisan support.[7]
In July 2025, he announced that he would not run for re-election, and would move to New York, his home state.[8] Despite this, he announced in December 2025 that he would not move to New York, and instead announced his candidacy in the 2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election.[9] He was encouraged by Doug Jones to enter the race.[10]
Personal life
Ensler is originally from New York, and moved to Alabama in 2012. He is Jewish, and as of 2022, he was the executive director of the Jewish federation of Central Alabama.[11]
References
- 1 2 "Phillip Ensler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Alabama State Rep. Phillip Ensler – Biography". LegiStorm. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ↑ "The Dream Initiative". The Dream Initiative. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ Talbert, Brady (December 23, 2023). "Lawmaker helping Alabama students travel to NYC, Washington". WSFA. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ↑ Knox, Jessica (November 30, 2025). "Alabama lawmaker giving Montgomery students a chance to fly to NYC, Washington". WSFA. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- 1 2 Lyman, Brian (November 8, 2022). "Phillip Ensler wins House District 74 in first Democratic state house flip since 2010". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ Rocha, Alander (March 19, 2025). "Gov. Kay Ivey signs 'Glock switch' ban into law". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
- ↑ Barrett, Anna (July 15, 2025). "Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery not seeking re-election". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ Cason, Mike (December 18, 2025). "Outgoing Democrat who beat GOP lawmaker running for one of Alabama's top offices". AL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ Stacy, Todd (December 18, 2025). "Ensler to announce run for lieutenant governor". Alabama Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ "Phillip Ensler wins Alabama state House seat, first Jewish representative in Montgomery in nearly 50 years". AL.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.