DAPHNE — State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) answered questions from the Eastern Shore Republican Women (ESRW) during a town hall in Daphne on Monday.
Elliott’s opponent, Mike Van, was scheduled to take part in a candidate forum but had to cancel after a friend suffered an illness out of state.
Elliott was asked about his qualifications, and he emphasized his experience and knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes in Montgomery.
“You have got to know what you are doing, or it will eat you alive, and those special interests – those special interests are nothing to be trifled with,” Elliott said. “They know what they’re doing, and so you have got to make sure that you’ve got your principles in order before you go to Montgomery because there aren’t any there to be had when you get there. So, know what you are and who you are on the front end. Make sure that you have those conservative values that you’ve had for your whole life in place before you go to Montgomery and then apply them. Apply them regardless of what the special interests say and apply them to what your constituents say."
Public education, infrastructure and public safety are the three priorities Elliott said the state government should be paying for.
When asked about infrastructure in growing Baldwin County, Elliott said he fought to get the county more transportation funding than any other county in the state.
Elliott said he supports school choice and law enforcement, including stricter guidelines to keep offenders behind bars. Elliott asked voters to keep him in Montgomery because he has the experience to solve problems.
“Guys, I would love to go back to my family construction business,” Elliott said. “I’m not quite done yet. I’ve got this figured out. I know how this thing works. It is working for you. I’m working for you. Please let me continue to do it for four more years.”
The ESRW also welcomed Congressional District 1 candidates Jimmy Dees and Austin Sidwell.
Dees, a moderate Republican, is a white-collar crime detective in Mobile. He said he looks closely at numbers and things in Washington are not adding up.
“The math does not work; it is mathematically impossible to balance the budget and if you ever hear a Congressman or a Senator saying they're going to balance the budget, they can't do it,” Dees said. “The only way you can do it is to completely cut out discretionary spending and go after the non-discretionary spending and no one wants to talk about it. We're talking about other issues. And by the way, look, I support the platform of the Republican Party has today. I'm all for it. Okay? But listen, we are standing at the edge of an abyss, and if we don't have Congress and Senators talking about that and dealing with it and coming up with a plan, this country's going to be going in a world of hurt.”
Sidwell, an Air Force veteran and recent law school graduate, said he has what it takes to take on Washington for the district.
“I spent six years living in Dothan and flying at Fort Rucker,” Sidwell said. “I understand the Wiregrass and I love it. I'll say no other candidate in this race understands that part of the district. I grew up here in Baldwin County and moved back here as soon as I was done with my military service. I understand Baldwin County. My mom's side of the family is from Mobile. I understand Mobile. I grew up here.”
Sidwell said that although he is a young candidate with less funding, he is following God’s plan to go to Washington and fight the establishment.
The primary is May 19. The General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The ESRW plans to host candidates throughout the election season.
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