Candidates for the Republican nomination in the Alabama congressional district 1 and 2 races gathered Monday at a Marriott Hotel for a candidates forum.

The highlight included a clash between incumbent U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl and Barry Moore, who are going up against each other in a contest unseen in Alabama in 61 years.

Related content: Alabama Congressional incumbents clash in Mobile: Carl, Moore battle for GOP support

Also on the stage were seven Republicans who are running in the newly-redrawn Congressional District 2, where a Democratic candidate could have the leg up during the November General Election.

There were a few other highlights in more local races to Mobile County.

Here are some takeaways:

District 2 candidates state their cases

The seven Republicans running for the GOP nomination on March 5, include Alabama State Senator Greg Albritton of Atmore, former State Senator Dick Brewbaker of Montgomery, attorney Caroleen Dobson of Montgomery, attorney and real estate business owner Hampton Harris of Montgomery, business owner Karla DuPriest of Mobile, educator Stacy Sheppherson of Saraland, and Newton City Councilwoman Belinda Thomas.

Albritton – fiscal conservatism. Albritton, chairman of the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee in the Alabama State Senate, called the federal government on a “death spiral economically, at least fiscally.” He touted the Alabama state budget for showing budget surpluses in recent years, including $2.5 billion in Educational Trust Fund. He called on more oversight for federal spending. He advocated for limited earmarks that are done “judiciously.”

Brewbaker — liberty, security, limited government. Brewbaker, who served in the State Senate from 2011-2019, advocated for limited federal intrusion in people’s daily lives. He said the U.S.-Mexican border was a top concern, pointing to a rise in fentanyl deaths and the number of people entering the country illegally that is on par with the size of the city of Pittsburgh each month. He said more needs to be done to curb inflation.

Dobson – Christian conservative, fighting for families. Dobson, fresh off endorsements from the Alabama Farmers Federation’s political action committees, cited security as a top concern. She blasted President Joe Biden for what she said was “weak leadership” against foreign adversaries, and pushed for increasing military readiness. “We got to stop treating our fighting men and women as guinea pigs for woke social experiments,” she said. Dobson also pointed to Mobile’s role in production of military equipment, saying she will “fight for the defense industry” that is part of the city’s economic base.

Harris -Prioritize federal spending in U.S. Harris said he has a problem with the billions spend on Ukraine aid without prioritizing infrastructure spending in the U.S. He said that the amount spent overseas for Ukraine would be enough to build “nearly 30 Interstate 10 bridges.” Instead, he said, “Mobilians will have to pay a toll.” The $2.7 billion I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project remains among the top priorities for state transportation officials.

Shepparson – Education choice. Shepparson, a math teacher, said she was concerned over Democratic comments on education adding that Alabama lawmakers should think twice about doing so because of the state’s routinely low rankings in math and reading scores. “I believe in pro-choice for parents in determining what their children’s education should be,” she said.

Thomas – jarring personal story. Thomas, a longtime member of the city council in Newton, recalled the time her husband was murdered in front of her 28 years ago in 1996. She has since advocated for the death penalty for her husband’s killers. She said a life sentence for a convicted killer on taxpayers. She was the lone candidate to criticize the U.S. Supreme Court for backing the challenges to Alabama’s congressional map first drawn by the GOP supermajority in the Alabama Legislature.

DuPriest – bring business to district. DuPriest, who is an owner of a barbecue catering business in Mobile, said she would like to see more agri-business and aerospace industries brought into District 2. She said she was a supporter of gun rights, low taxes and was anti-abortion.

Chief Justice showdown

Bryan Taylor, a Shelby County attorney and former advisor to Ivey, blasted Sarah Stewart, an associate justice to the Alabama State Supreme Court, calling her the “most liberal justice” of the state’s high court and for granting what he said were excessive punitive damages in past cases she adjudicated while on the bench in Mobile County.

Taylor repeatedly called on Stewart to debate him, which she declined. Stewart, an associate justice on the Alabama Supreme Court since 2018, has multiple endorsements from officials in Mobile County and from the Alabama Farmers Federation’s PACs. She declined to comment about Taylor’s criticism of her during a forum in her hometown.

Stewart, during her remarks, said she believes a key for Alabama’s future is honoring its heritage. “Not just our legal heritage, but also our Southern heritage,” she said.

Democratic allegations

Chris Callaghan, an attorney in Mobile County, is attempting to unseat Vicki Davis in the Mobile County Circuit Court’s judicial contest and he is raising questions about her allegiance to the Republican Party.

According to Callaghan, Davis is a Democrat running as a Republican and accused her of voting in recent Democratic primaries and for giving money to Democratic candidates. Davis, as a Democrat in 2000, lost a district court’s race against Republican Charlie McKnight. Davis was appointed as a Mobile County district court judge by then-Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman.

She was appointed by Ivey to serve as a circuit court judge in June, filling a vacated seat after the unexpected death of Judge James Patterson in January 2023.

“We don’t have to be told who our judges will be,” said Callaghan. “We get to decide as Republicans, as voters.”

Davis defended herself, saying that Ivey didn’t just “pluck me out of thin air.” She said she was vetted by the governor’s administration and that “they made sure I had Republican values.”

Davis’ appointment came at a time of growing scrutiny among a group of Democratic state lawmakers over the lack of Black judges in Mobile County. Before Davis’ appointment, no Black judge had served in either circuit or district courts within the county since 2008. Before her appointment, the combined 15 circuit court and district judges were white.

Mobile County’s demographics are 58.5% white, 36.6% Black. The city of Mobile is overwhelming majority-minority at 52.5% Black, 41.5% white.

County Commission challenge

Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson has been on the three-member commission since 2010. Prior to that, she was a member of the Mobile City Council during the 2000s.

Mobile County School Board member Doug Harwell is trying to upset the longtime incumbent, and cited public safety and growth were the No. 1 issue in the race.

“As a county commissioner, I’ll do everything to make sure Mobile County is safe,” he said.

Hudson said she has “a lot of work left to do.” She said she is the best qualified to do the job, and noted she has developed relationships during her years in office.

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said he is backing Hudson, even though he felt Harwell “is a great person.” He said Hudon’s previous service “is proven” and that she has been helpful to public safety throughout her tenure.

Black candidates

Five of the 28 candidates, or 18%, who participated in the Mobile County GOP forum were Black women.

This represented a boost in the number of Black GOP candidates running in Mobile County, and was a notable figure to chairwoman Tricia Strange.

“I’m so excited we have this diversity in the Republican Party,” she said. “It’s great representation and people are encouraged enough to put their name on the Republican ballot without being shunned by the community.”