Alex Braswell and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones pose for a photo after the House District 11 Democratic nominee received Jones' endorsement. Jones will be in Cullman County to campaign for Braswell on July 29. (Courtesy Alex Braswell)
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones has endorsed and plans to campaign for a Democratic Alabama House candidate running in a district taking in Cullman and Blount counties.
Jones said in an interview Tuesday that he endorsed Alex Braswell, a 30-year-old American Sign language interpreter, in the House District 11 contest because she impressed him with her knowledge of issues affecting Alabamians.
“I don’t know how many candidates that I’ve ever talked to that had done their homework about what’s going on in the state, what’s going on in the district. She has,” he said. “She’s the first woman nominee in that district. I think that’s important too.”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
House District 11 has been solidly Republican in the past, but Jones said that endorsing candidates in special elections is important.
“Those that don’t particularly care for me or Democrats, they’re either going to ignore it, or it’s going to drive them to the polls to vote for her opponent,” he said.
Braswell said she hopes the endorsement will bring more attention to Democrats in Alabama.
“If people should feel inclined to donate because I have Doug Jones’ endorsement, it’s more than welcome. But that was not the goal,” she said. “It’s always been to bring more attention to the Cullman County Democratic Party.”
Braswell has raised over $7,000, according to campaign finance records. Her opponent, Heath Allbright, has raised over $105,000, according to campaign finance records.
Jones plans to hold a town hall on July 29 for Braswell in the district prior to the general election on Aug. 26, which he hopes will attract people from all parties. Braswell said the venue is not reserved yet, but the event will begin at 6 p.m. Jones said the campaign event will also be an opportunity for his wife, Louise, who is from Cullman County, to go home.
“I’m hoping that whatever people ultimately decide, that the endorsement of a former United States senator will at least get people looking at her platform, what she stands for, and listen to her,” he said. “I think that’s the most important piece of this, is just to bring this election to the attention of voters, regardless of how they end up voting.”
Braswell announced the endorsement on her Facebook page Monday morning and said in an interview Tuesday that Jones has been a role model for her.
“I think it will help us complete our overall goal to win this election,” Braswell said.
Jones, who served in the U.S. Senate from 2018 to 2021, said he had not made a concrete decision on his political future, including running for Alabama’s governor in 2026.
“This is about the candidates that are running in this special election. I’ve told people right now, my wife and I are staying in this fight,” he said. “I think that the direction the state’s headed, I’m concerned about it. I’m concerned about where the country is headed, and so we’re going to still stay active and vocal. What that means going forward, we haven’t fully developed yet.”
While Braswell is the only candidate endorsed by Jones right now, he said he would listen to any candidate that called him. There are currently three House special elections in Alabama: District 11, 12 and 63. There will soon be one in District 13 following former Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, being elected to the state Senate in District 5. There is one Democratic candidate in each of the special elections.
A message seeking comment from Allbright was left Tuesday afternoon.
From Alabama Reflector Post Url: Visit
Author: Anna Barrett