Many GOP Voters Still Undecided on Senate Candidates
The forum Sunday was at a firearms training facility in Trussville, so it wasn’t surprising as the candidates took questions from the audience that shots rang out in the background. Four candidates attended at the GOP Senate forum: incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, Bryan Peeples, Randy Brinson and Congressman Mo Brooks. They wanted to win votes. But as they hashed out issues from abortion to concealed carry laws, many voters left undecided.
Doug Atkins, a retired 9-1-1- operator from Hueytown, realizes the clock is ticking; the special Senate primary election is a week away on August 15th. But for him, it’s still between two candidates: former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore or Congressman Mo Brooks.
Moore wasn’t at Sunday’s forum. A campaign representative said he instead attended a religious rally in Mobile put on by several churches in his honor. Atkins said if Strange makes a run-off, he’s voting for the other candidate—whomever it is. “Senator Strange, I just, there’s just something about him that I would trust somebody else,” Atkins says.
Judy Pate, who owns a cleaning business in St. Clair County, walked into the debate almost sure she was going to vote for Strange in the primary. And she still might. “But after hearing all the candidates, I’m hearing new things that I didn’t know about them, so I’m not locked in,” she says.
Now that she’s heard from more candidates, Pate is keeping her options open. She was especially enamored of Randy Brinson, a gastroenterologist and former head of the Alabama Christian Coalition. Brinson was a virtual unknown to her prio to Sunday. She says over the next week, she has a lot more research and praying to do.
She isn’t the only one with plans to devour information on the candidates over the coming week. Michele Boyd, of Alabaster, says she was impressed with all four candidates present, and one who wasn’t: Alabama Senator Trip Pittman. She’d heard him in an interview last week. “I was disappointed he wasn’t able to be here today, so there are some things I still want to research,” Boyd says.
Looking to get to know the candidates better yourself? Here’s a link to the candidate profiles produced by BirminghamWatch.
Trump to raise global tariffs to 15%
President Trump previously said he would implement 10% global tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his tariff policies.
Pin trading has taken over the Olympics. Here’s what it’s like in Milan
Pin trading has become a hallmark of the Olympics in recent decades — and not just for athletes. An official trading center in Milan was a hotspot for longtime collectors and curious newcomers alike.
US military airlifts small reactor as Trump pushes to quickly deploy nuclear power
The Pentagon and the Energy Department have airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, demonstrating what they say is potential for the U.S. to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use.
How Nazgul the wolfdog made his run for Winter Olympic glory in Italy
Nazgul isn't talking, but his owners come clean about how he got loose, got famous, and how they feel now
Court clears way for Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms to take effect
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has cleared the way for a Louisiana law requiring displays of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms to take effect.
From cubicles to kitchens: How empty offices are becoming homes
Many U.S. cities have too many office buildings and not enough homes. Developers are now converting some old offices into apartments and condos, but it's going slowly.
