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Indian-origin Democrat Hanu Karlapalem accuses rival of pay-to-play politics
Karlapalem noted that he has not accepted any PAC donations unlike his rival.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Fri, 26, Jun 2026
- 03:14 EDT
- 27
Democrat Hanu Karlapalem / Courtesy photo
Hanu Karlapalem, Democratic nominee for Alabama State House District, accused his incumbent Republican rival Parker Moore of being paid by "builder and real estate PAC money" and being silent on housing affordability issues.
He said, "I spoke first at Monday's Madison City Council meeting on housing affordability. Parker Moore was in the room. He sat in the back row against the wall and never said a word. That is not representation. That is not leadership. That is a back-row seat paid for by builder and real estate PAC money."
Karlapalem accused Moore of accepting $79,500 from 48 special-interest donors, including builder and real estate PACs, while failing to address the housing affordability crisis affecting local families.
"The problem is the outside investor—the corporations, the real estate fund, the absentee landlord—buying up family homes as commercial assets. They are never there. They care only about the nightly rental rate," Karlapalem told the council.
He continued, "Seventy-five percent of survey respondents were concerned about short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods. This council should listen to them. Say YES to individual owners—veterans, retirees, seniors. Say NO to corporate investors and special interests."
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The Democrat also spotlighted his long-standing accusation against Moore that he had failed to respond to any of his concerns so far. He noted that he had repeatedly emailed Moore with questions but did not get a response.
He said, "Parker Moore will not answer emails. He will not debate. And when he shows up in person, he hides in the back row. Seven months of silence is not representation. The voters of Morgan, Limestone, and Madison counties deserve a representative who shows up—not one who watches from the wall."
In a statement, Karlapalem also tore into President Donald Trump's decision to hold the '21st Century Road to Housing Act' hostage, stipulating that he would sign the act, which has already been cleared by the Senate and the House, only if the Congress passes the SAVE America Act first.
Once signed, the bipartisan bill would limit large corporate home purchases, increase housing supply, and link federal funding to local housing development.
Talking about the bill, she remarked, "Trump is blocking it. And Parker Moore, who took money from the Associated Builders and Contractors PAC, road builder PACs, and Alabama Realtors PAC, has not said a word—not at the city council, not in Montgomery, not anywhere. Silence is not representation. It is pay to play."
Highlighting that he has not accepted money from PACs, Karlapalem said, "My campaign has not taken a single dollar from PACs or special interests—not one. Every dollar came from individual donors: family, friends, neighbors, supporters. Parker Moore's builders and real estate PACs are not going to write his housing policy. But they already have, by ensuring he stays silent."
Karlapalem, after winning the Democratic Primary unopposed, will go head to head with Moore on November 3.
Moore, who has represented the district since 2018, is seeking another term in a Republican-leaning seat.
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