Doug Jones Kicks Off Democrat Gubernatorial Campaign In Birmingham
Former Alabama Democrat U.S. Senator Doug Jones made it official last night. He is a candidate for his party's gubernatorial nomination next year. The last Democrat to be elected to a statewide office conducted his kickoff rally in Birmingham eight years to the day after his surprise defeat of Republican Roy Moore in a special election for the open U.S. Senate seat.
The rally was kicked off with performances by Grammy winning country stars Jason Isbell and DJ Slim Robb before Jones took to the stage to tell a cheering crowd he wants to build his campaign off his two years in the senate.
"We gave people hope. Hope for less chaos. Hope for more unity. Hope for a stronger democracy. And today, eight years later, we're rekindling that hope. That optimism...let's face it, there is a greater urgency for hope today than there was in 2017," Jones told a crowd of supporters from across the state.
Jones lost his senate re-election bid to the man who is the prohibitive favorite to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Sen. Tommy Tuberville. And it wasn't close; the former Auburn football coach beat the incumbent Jones by more than a half-million votes. They are expected to win their respective party nominations on May 19th and face each other in the November 3rd General Election.
Jones will face four other democrats in the Democratic Party Primary: Pastor Will Boyd, Online Pastor Ja'mel Brown, businessman Chad "Chig" Martin and educator Yolanda Flowers.
Alabama has not had a Democrat elected governor in more than two decades when Don Siegelman won a single term in 1999.
Jones laid out his agenda to a packed house in "The Theadore", an event venue in Downtown Birmingham.
- Push for early voting in the state to make it easier for people to vote,
- Allow Alabama voters to decide on a lottery,
- Prioritize maternal health care,
- Protect Invitro Fertilization, and
- Expand Medicaid.
The former U.S. Attorney posted a video online in November, announcing his intention to run for governor, "This office is so important to the folks of Alabama. They deserve a governor that is going to fight for them."
Jones had been long recruited by Democrats to run, believing he is the candidate who has the best opportunity to defeat Tuberville, who is closely aligned with President Trump.
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