Alabama Young Dems Focus: Re-Elect Doug Jones
The Young Democrats of America wrapped up their national conference in Birmingham Sunday. More than 200 Democrats participated in training sessions to help organize in red states like Alabama. The conference left young Democrats across the state hopeful about the 2020 election.
Alabama Young Democrats were easy to spot at this weekend’s conference, which took place at the Sheraton Birmingham, many wearing U.S. Senator Doug Jones campaign buttons.
In case y’all haven’t heard, the @youngdems are in town! Welcome to the Magic City from Doug and all of us at HQ (hot tip, try white sauce while you’re here)! We’re thrilled to have you in Birmingham. #YDABH pic.twitter.com/jyLwz6VRIr
— Doug Jones for Senate (@DougJonesHQ) December 6, 2019
Robert Mardis III, president of Birmingham Young Democrats, says Jones can win the U.S. Senate seat again if he can connect with all Alabamians.
“And actually stay true to a message that resonates between not just black folks, not just Democrats, but with Alabama as a whole,” he says. “Because even though we’re Democrats and Republicans, we do have some similarities that will spark our interest to get us engaged.”
Mardis says their priorities include the elimination of student loan debt and climate change. That’s why, he says, he supports Bernie Sanders for president.
“Southern states are going to be the states that are more affected by climate change at a more rapid rate,” he says. “So that’s why I support Bernie overall.”
Adarris May of Birmingham planned to vote for Kamala Harris next year. She ended her campaign last week. He hasn’t decided which presidential candidate he’ll support next, but for now, May says his priority is to re-elect Senator Doug Jones.
“We’ve been on defense, our party in the state for a long time,” he says. “I think now finally with our senator and our representatives working for us, I think that we’re going to actually be able to accomplish a lot of things here.”
Josh Coleman, president of the Alabama Young Democrats, says this weekend’s conference taught Democrats how to better organize — not just in blue cities like Birmingham, but in rural areas, too. He says that will be key to re-electing Democratic lawmakers like Jones.
“We need to knock on doors, we need to make phone calls. We need to make people aware of what the senator is doing, what he’s done for folks in Alabama,” he says.
Coleman says the party has a lot of work to do in Alabama, but turning the state purple isn’t impossible.
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.
Opinion: The enduring dignity of Jesse Jackson
Rev. Jesse Jackson died this week at age 84. NPR's Scott Simon remembers covering Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign in Mississippi.
A huge study finds a link between cannabis use in teens and psychosis later
Researchers followed more than 400,000 teens until they were adults. It found that those who used marijuana were more likely to develop serious mental illness, as well as depression and anxiety.
‘Given a gun and sent to die’: Kenyans lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine
Kenya's intelligence service warns that over 1,000 citizens may have been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine, many under false pretenses.
With U.S. forces in position, Trump mulls his options for Iran
President Trump says he hasn't decided whether to attack Iran. While he weighs his options, a military buildup over the past month means the U.S. now has an expansive presence in the region.
