Phillip Ensler

Phillip Ensler
Ensler in 2025
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 74th district
Assumed office
November 9, 2022
Preceded byCharlotte Meadows
Personal details
PartyDemocratic
EducationGeorge Washington University
Yeshiva University

Phillip Ensler is an American politician and attorney who has served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives since 2022, representing the 74th House district.[1] 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 served in the Obama administration while living in Washington, D.C.[2]

Career

Ensler defeated incumbent Charlotte Meadows in the November 8, 2022 general election, receiving approximately 60 percent of the vote.[3] His victory was the first time the Alabama Democratic Party flipped a seat in the state legislature since 2010.[3]

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.[4]

Ensler served as a public school educator in Montgomery through the Teach For America program.[5]

In July 2025, he announced that he would not run for re-election, and would move to New York, his home state.[6] 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.[7] He was encouraged by Doug Jones to enter the race.[8]

Personal life

Ensler is Jewish.[9] He serves as the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Phillip Ensler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Alabama State Rep. Phillip Ensler – Biography". LegiStorm. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ Rocha, Alander (March 19, 2025). "Gov. Kay Ivey signs 'Glock switch' ban into law". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  5. ^ "The Dream Initiative". The Dream Initiative. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Barrett, Anna (July 15, 2025). "Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery not seeking re-election". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  7. ^ Cason, Mike (December 18, 2025). "Outgoing Democrat who beat GOP lawmaker running for one of Alabama's top offices". AL.com. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  8. ^ Stacy, Todd (December 18, 2025). "Ensler to announce run for lieutenant governor". Alabama Daily News. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Biography – Phillip Ensler for Alabama House District 74". Phillip Ensler for Alabama House District 74. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "Phillip Ensler wins Alabama state House seat, first Jewish representative in Montgomery in nearly 50 years". AL.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.