Caroleene Dobson and Shomari Figures squared off in the final debate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District last night hosted by FOX 10 News in conjunction with the Mobile Chamber.
Dobson made the case that she is the true defender of manufacturing and highlighted the massive number of industry jobs that have left the state in a little over two decades.
“I’m running to make life better for Alabama families, and there is no doubt that the manufacturing industries in this district have been suffering over the last four years due to energy policy, due to increased inflation, and part of that is also ensuring that we have to have fair trade,” said Dobson. “Since 2001 Alabama has lost 42,000 manufacturing jobs, so we have to ensure that we have an even playing field for our manufacturers here in Alabama. We also have to acknowledge that we have companies here in Mobile within a few miles of where we’re standing right now, Airbus, also Evonic, that rely on components from foreign countries. So we have to ensure that what’s good for this district is good for the families in this district, and fight for fair trade.”
Figures argued that the difficulty in the manufacturing industry has been caused by the Trump administration.
“This is one of those issues where we can specifically point to the previous administration,” he said. “The last four years did not cause nearly as much harm as the Trump tariffs did to many businesses, especially in the manufacturing and industrial industries. Those tariffs hurt manufacturers. Those tariffs led to inflation.”
Dobson disagreed.
“What’s hurting manufacturing has been the policies of the fast past four years that have called skyrocketing inflation due to reckless government spending policies that my opponent helped put in place when he was part of the Biden transition team that crushed American energy.”
Dobson also touted her support from Manufacture Alabama, the state’s top organization solely devoted to the manufacturing industry and advocating for its employees.
“That’s why I’ve been endorsed by Manufacture Alabama because they know that I will get American energy back on track,” Dobson said. “I’ll bring down inflation by cutting reckless government spending and help the manufacturing industry in this district.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
