Democratic candidates for offices across the state rallied Monday night to gain support and volunteers as the Nov. 6 election draws near. Candidates addressed issues that their Republican opponents have raised against them while encouraging attendees to spread the word about their campaigns.
Among those candidates were Mallory Hagan, Democratic nominee for Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives, and Walt Maddox, Democratic nominee for governor.
This was one of the first of many stops for Maddox’s state-wide bus tour. He was greeted with a standing ovation and cheers of excitement as he took to the center of the room to address the crowd circled around him.
“Too many of our politicians, whether they are in Montgomery or Washington D.C., have forgotten about the kitchen-table issues that we’re talking about on the campaign trail,” Maddox said.
“I believe on Nov. 6, the voters are going to hold them accountable,” Maddox said.
Maddox addressed his concerns with his opponent, Gov. Kay Ivey, and her unwillingness to debate him. She doesn’t owe him a debate, but she owes the people of Alabama one, Maddox said.
He said he would be willing to debate Ivey in any place at any time.
“I do not believe you should hide from the people who pay your salary,” Maddox said. “I do not believe that in this moment in our state’s history we should run away from the challenges in front of us.”
Maddox gave several of his ideas for the state during his crowd address. He said he wants to expand Medicaid throughout the state to help bring back rural hospitals.
Alabama has not expanded its state Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, but Maddox said it should.
“That’s why you see rural hospital after rural hospital close,” Maddox said. “If we don’t expand Medicaid, we’re not going to have a hospital care system in this state.”
He would also like to establish a lottery that would benefit the education system in Alabama.
“By passing the Alabama education lottery, we want to help make college affordable,” Maddox said. “This election is about the future. Which candidate for governor is going to represent our best hope in making this century the Alabama century? I believe I am that leader.”
The back and forth rise in tariffs between the U.S. and China have affected several Alabama industries. Maddox said the U.S. is going down a dangerous path.
“I hope that the governor will use her bully pulpit to help persuade the president that although his intent may be good, tens of thousands of Alabamian jobs are at risk,” Maddox said. “I know as governor I would make sure that the workers of the state would be represented through the bully pulpit of the governor’s office.”
Hagan, a 29-year-old Opelika native, also addressed a crowd that filled over half of the large warehouse-like building in downtown Opelika that continuously provided her with cheers and applause. She discussed her family and their history with the Auburn-Opelika area.
“It’s because of the Auburn-Opelika area,” Hagan said. “It’s because of our family. It’s because of Alabama and the village that is here and the communities that we have that not only did we survive as a young family, but we were able to thrive.”
After attending Auburn University for a year, Hagan moved to New York City because she wanted to continue to expose herself to the different cultures and beliefs she had gotten a taste of during her travels for her dance competitions as a child, she said.
She wants to give children in Alabama the opportunity to be exposed to that same diversity and not have to leave like she did to find it, Hagan said.
Hagan competed in pageants and was named Miss America 2013. Being Miss America is about being a role model for young citizens and showing them how to interact with others, and those that hold political offices should do that as well, Hagan said.
“My time as Miss America gave me the opportunity and the skill set to interact with anyone and to love everyone,” Hagan said. “I have experienced so much of this country, and that is how I know Alabama can be better than that.”
Hagan spent most of her time addressing the crowd discussing her Republican opponent, Rep. Mike Rodgers. Alabama deserves a representative that is willing to show up and help provide for the people, Hagan said.
Career politicians, such as Rogers, dominate most of the political field, and it is discouraging, Hagan said.
That’s why Hagan said she will not support Rep. Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, for speaker of the House if the Democrats win the majority of the House seats in the general election in November.
In an interview after her speech, Hagan said Pelosi is a career politician that has been effective, but it is time for her to move on. She is unsure who she would support, she is waiting to see who is elected in November to make that decision.
Throughout the rally, attendees munched on burgers and chips while children played cornhole. The crowd was highly receptive to the statements each of the Democratic candidates made.
The attendees were also treated to musical performers before and after the candidates spoke. One attendee came just for the music but got surprised by the candidates.
“I had not heard that candidate for governor (Maddox),” attendee Charlotte Cope said. “I was very impressed by him and his honesty and the way he portrayed how he felt about Alabama. And I’m a Republican voter, so that says something.”
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Elizabeth, senior in journalism and political science, is the community editor for The Plainsman
