The Mobile County Republican Executive Committee is preparing for a debate ahead of the Alabama Congressional District 2 runoff between former State Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery) and Montgomery attorney Caroleene Dobson.
The two are vying to be the Republican nominee for the newly-drawn District 2, which includes the cities of Mobile and Montgomery.
In the primary race, Brewbaker received 39.6% of the votes, while Dobson had 26.5%.
Brewbaker has campaigned on the promise of telling the truth. He reminded voters that he kept his promise of only serving two terms as an Alabama Senator and has pledged to only serve five terms if elected to Congress.
Dobson has campaigned heavily on immigration policy, pledging to work with President Donald Trump to secure the borders.
Both say they are conservative and have pledged not to raise taxes.
While Brewbaker said he was trying to keep his campaign positive, he told 1819 News that he believed his opponent was doing the opposite.
"She [Dobson] has run nothing but negative ads for the last month," Brewbaker said. "I'm not doing that. I mean, look, I'm a Christian. The Bible says that I'm not supposed to return evil for evil. As a matter of fact, Peter says that you're supposed to return slanders with blessings. But she seems to be using Christianity more like a punchline."
Brewbaker said those negative ads have been filled with misinformation about his political record.
"I mean, her last negative ad makes two claims that one, I am some sort of Trump hater, and the second thing is that I am some big tax and spend Republican," said Brewbaker. "You know, both of those are obviously not true."
Dobson said her campaign has only shared Tweets that Brewbaker made and informed the public on policy decisions that she feels were not conservative. She believes these are things constituents deserve to know.
"I would never attack someone based on their character or their personality, but when you're an elected official, your voting record is part of the public knowledge," Dobson told 1819 News. "And if you're Tweeting about our president or about anyone, you know, your Tweets are part of the record that you've put out there yourself."
"So, I think it's important that the public know about votes that my opponent has made that are not conservative and about negative comments that my opponent has made about Trump personally and Trump's policies," Dobson continued.
Brewbaker said his record proves he is a true conservative.
"I have had to cast votes that protect families and help working people. And one of the nice things, I guess, For her is that she doesn't have a record."
As for Dobson, she said she isn't a career politician, and she believes voters can appreciate that.
"I am a wife, a mother, a proud District 2 resident who's raising my children here and I want a better future for them," Dobson said. "I'm running to fight for Alabama families. I'm not running for a title. I running to work. I am the true conservative in this race."
Dobson was born and raised in Alabama but moved to Texas for college, where she met her husband. They lived in Texas for some time, then moved to Alabama five years ago. While Brewbaker claims her stint in Texas is a problem, Dobson said her experience there helped her realize just how important secure borders are.
"I mean, she's lived her whole adult life in Texas, not in Alabama," Brewbaker said. "And so nobody really knows anything about her so she can present herself any way she wants to."
"Living in Texas, even when Trump was president, the border was closed and we thought there was crisis then because of the degree to which the cartel had totally taken control of Mexico," Dobson remembered. "We have got to close the border, build the wall, and enforce the 'Stay in Mexico' policy and send everyone who's here illegally home."
"… I know better than my opponent the true crisis state of the border," Dobson continued.
Still, Brewbaker said his experience is what voters can count on.
"The biggest difference between my opponent and myself is that I know how," Brewbaker said. "I've been in legislative bodies. I know how. I know how to move legislation. I know how to build coalitions. I've proven I can put together enough votes to actually pass legislation that matters and that actually helps families. Also, I live in Alabama. She just moved here."
"And I've run a business and employed 100 people for 35 years right here in District 2," Brewbaker continued. "I've raised five boys here. I understand what families face here because I've lived here with them. She hasn't."
Dobson said she is looking forward to the debate and views it as an opportunity to share her passions with constituents.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to share with the people of District 2 my concerns for where our country is headed, my plans for bringing opportunity and restoring faith in our country and an opportunity to again let more folks know who I am; let folks that I'm the true conservative in this race who's going to work with President Trump to turn our country around," she said.
"I encourage everybody to watch it [the debate]," Brewbaker added. "I think they'll see the differences between someone who actually has a record and has stood up for Alabama families through terms in the legislature and someone who is just presenting a series of catchwords and really doesn't have any real sense of what the district is like."
The debate, sponsored by the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, will follow the Mobile County Republican Executive Committee regular meeting April 1, featuring ALGOP Chairman John Wahl. The meeting will be in the Ceremonial Room of Government Plaza at 6 p.m., and the debate will be in the City Council auditorium at 7 p.m.
The Democrat party will also have a Congressional District 2 runoff between Shomari Figures and House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (R-Huntsville). Figures received 43.5% of the vote in the primary, and Daniels received 22.4%.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
