Meet Dakarai Larriett: A Leading Voice in Alabama's Senate

Alabama is ready for a new kind of leadership, one rooted in community, service, and bold action. Enter Dakarai Larriett, a proud native, devoted family man, successful entrepreneur, and passionate advocate who is now running for the U.S. Senate. In this post, we explore his upbringing, education, family life, achievements, and vision for Alabama’s future.

Early Life & Strong Roots

Born in Alabama to parents shaped by service and education, Dakarai’s upbringing was rich with values. His father, a U.S. Army veteran, took the family across the country and abroad to military bases in Washington, California, Oklahoma, and Germany.

Wherever they lived, Dakarai’s mother and educator taught both him and his sister at home. Even in Germany, she continued teaching at their base school.

Eventually, the Larriett family returned to Alabama during Dakarai’s elementary years. He enrolled in Birmingham’s W.J. Christian magnet school for gifted students and later attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where he stood out academically.

True to his family's emphasis on education, Dakarai's formative years instilled deep appreciation for learning, service, and roots in his home state.

Academic Excellence

Dakarai took his academic promise to the next level by earning a full scholarship from the University of Alabama. There, he studied business and economics, graduating Magna Cum Laude a testament to his work ethic and intellectual strength.

During college, he spent a transformative junior year at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where a passion for public service ignited. An internship at US Airways, focused on cargo e-commerce and supply chain management, also helped shape his understanding of complex organizational systems and fueled a desire to lead with impact.

After undergraduate success, Dakarai pursued his professional education at New York University, entering the prestigious MBA program in 2006. He completed the program in just three years, a remarkable achievement that helped prepare him for business ownership.

Professional Journey & Business Leadership

Dakarai’s career took him to major business hubs New York, Texas, and Michigan—where he thrived in corporate roles. As a Forecasting Manager for L’Oréal, he managed national consumer-product operations focused on forecasting and supply chain. Later, he joined Whirlpool, building a track record of leadership and results.

While working demanding corporate jobs, Dakarai nurtured a vision: to build something of his own. In 2012, he launched a pet-care company from his garage on the weekends, selling products directly to local retailers alongside his dog.

That growth continued steadily, until the pandemic’s demand for pet care surged. In 2023, Dakarai had grown his business to a point where he left Whirlpool to pursue entrepreneurship full-time.

Community Impact & Volunteer Work

Dakarai’s business success is matched by his deep commitment to community building and public service. He actively volunteers his time and energy to organizations that support vulnerable populations, showing his dedication to making a real difference.

He has contributed to community welfare through:

• United Way Meals on Wheels – Preparing and Delivering meals and companionship to homebound seniors and individuals in need.

• The Humane Society – Assisting in animal welfare efforts and supporting shelters in improving care for pets and animals.

In addition to these roles, Dakarai serves as the board leader at Birmingham’s downtown Mercantile on Morris, representing over 60 families and businesses.

This position reflects his dedication to local development, inclusive growth, and neighborhood success.

Outside of volunteering and mentoring, Dakarai stays deeply engaged in community life:

• He practices responsible recreational firearm use at local gun ranges.

• He is a committed member of First United Methodist Church, attending regularly and grounding his public service in faith.

This blend of civic-mindedness and personal integrity shows how Dakarai Larriett leads by example in both public and private life.

The Larriett Family: Faith & Foundation

Dakarai Larriett was raised in a family grounded in faith, service, and education. His father, a U.S. Army veteran, and his mother, an educator, instilled in him the values of discipline, compassion, and lifelong learning. Even while living abroad on military bases, his mother taught at local schools—showing the importance of service wherever you are.

Guiding Principles & Campaign Vision

Dakarai Larriett’s Senate campaign is built on the promise of service over self, a commitment deeply embedded in his upbringing. Here's a breakdown of his platform pillars:

1. Healthcare Advocates for affordable, high-quality healthcare, reducing prescription costs, protecting rural hospitals, and shielding families from financial hardship tied to medical emergencies. 

2. Education Believes every Alabamian deserves strong educational opportunities for supporting teachers, expanding vocational and technical training, and increasing parental input. These are values from his background that he carries forward.

3. Safe Communities Supports law enforcement and criminal justice reforms that protect families while ensuring accountability in policing. His personal experience fosters a measured approach rather than opposition. 

4. Jobs & Opportunity Champions investment in small businesses, infrastructure improvment, and job growth and creating upward mobility in every part of Alabama. 

5. Second Amendment Rights Upholds responsible gun ownership and supports sensible safeguards to keep firearms away from criminals and at-risk individuals. 

6. National Security & Veterans Support Drawing on his father’s military service, Dakarai values strong defense and quality care for returning veterans. 

7. Faith & Community Spirit Faith is a guiding principle in Dakarai’s life. He believes in compassion, honesty, and service or values he brings to his campaign and public life.

Conclusion

From his gifted-school days to an MBA at NYU, and from launching a business in his garage to serving his community daily Dakarai Larriett brings a blend of achievement, heart, and purpose.

His campaign is not just about politics, but about uniting families and neighborhoods under real solutions.

Dakarai is calling on fellow Alabamians to get involved. Whether donating, volunteering, or sharing their stories, citizens can help shape a hopeful, forward-thinking vision for the state.