Democratic nominee for Alabama's 3rd Congressional District Mallory Hagan traveled Lee County Saturday to speak with voters and learn about what is important to them.
“Campaigning is going great,” Hagan said. “We’ve been going strong since Feb. 6 when I announced my run. We’ve been all over the district.”
Hagan visited Aniston, Alabama, Friday afternoon and spent Saturday in several cities throughout Lee County.
These are just a few of Hagan’s many campaign stops she has made in the last few months. Hagan said she plans to continue campaigning until the election in November.
“I’ve been working tremendously hard, and I hope the people of Alabama’s third district will see that,” Hagan said.
Hagan wants to get to know the people of Alabama’s third congressional district on a personal level, which is why most of her campaign stops involve intimate conversations with voters.
“It’s important for me to see people face to face in the community because that’s what a representative does,” Hagan said. “Someone who represents the district should be out and about listening to the people that live in that district. Learning about the things that are plaguing them and doing what they can to make their lives better.”
Hagan joins voters in round table discussions each week and hosts coffee chats and other events where she can have small group discussions with voters, she said.
During her coffee chat Saturday morning in Opelika, Hagan discussed a plethora of issues with small group of Lee County voters.
Child abuse and sexual assault are some of the issues important to Hagan that she discussed in detail with voters as she told them her life story.
Hagan explained that she and many women in her family have been sexually assaulted, which is why it has been such an important issue to her throughout her life.
“It became very important to me through my journey through Miss America, and as an adult, I raise awareness for a topic I felt was truly needed,” Hagan said.
The voters present Saturday morning led most of the discussion after Hagan told voters about her life’s journey and why she decided to run for Congress.
“The voters at this coffee chat were really concerned about voter education and getting out the vote,” Hagan said. “I think a lot of times we’re swayed by things like Facebook and sensational headlines. They’re really concerned about making sure the voters up and down Alabama’s third district really understand the issues that they are voting on.”
Many of the attendees heard about Hagan’s appearance through Facebook, either from Hagan’s page or friends' pages.
“I came out to speak with Ms. Hagan because I wanted to hear about her platform, her interests, her vision and how she thinks she can help move Alabama, and specifically our House district, forward,” said Stephanie Ramones, an attendee at Hagan’s coffee chat.
For several attendees this was their first campaign event for Hagan that they attended. Sarah Zumbiel was among those attendees.
She spent her morning off work with her family at Hagan’s campaign event to learn more about Hagan.
“I just thought that she breathes new life into it,” Zumbiel said. “She’s a woman, and she’s for the woman’s issues. She’s for LGBTQ issues and a lot of things that I’m for.”
Rep. Mike Rogers, Hagan’s Republican opponent in the November election, has not announced campaign events recently and does not have any listed on his website.
Hagan and attendees at her coffee chat noted the lack of his presence in the district and his minimal campaign efforts.
She also told attendees that she has invited Rogers to a town hall candidate forum on Aug. 16, at the Southside Center for the Arts in Opelika, Alabama, at 6 p.m. Hagan said Rogers has not stated if he will attend the town hall, but she will be present.
“I don’t know how you can do that [help constituents] without hearing what it is they have to say,” Hagan said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
