MOBILE — Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl defeated former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) on Tuesday night to clinch the Republican nomination in Alabama’s First Congressional District.
The district, which occupies all of Alabama’s coastal southwest corner, was decided by Carl’s large margin in Mobile County, where he bested Hightower by around 5,000 votes. The two men virtually tied in all other counties in the district, including vote-rich Baldwin County,
Carl received a string of endorsements late, most notably from outgoing U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope), that helped him get over the finish line in what turned out to be Alabama’s closest runoff election.
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In the waning days of the campaign, Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl has added the endorsements of four prominent elected officials in the southwest Alabama congressional district he seeks to represent.
State Reps. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island) and Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle) threw their support behind Carl last week, followed by Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood and Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack in the last few days.
Carl faces former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) at the ballot box on Tuesday to determine who will be the Republican nominee in Alabama’s First Congressional District that is anchored by Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
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The latest fundraising reports have been filed in the respective Republican primary runoffs for the U.S. House of Representatives in Alabama’s First Congressional District and Second Congressional District.
Covering April 1 to June 24, the pre-runoff reports were due by Thursday, July 2 — 12 days ahead of the July 14 election.
Reports filed with the FEC show that Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl, running in AL-01, raised $215,740, spent $183,035 and finished the period with $238,925 cash-on-hand.
Meanwhile, his opponent former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) reported raising $174,057, spending $192,156 and ending the period with $194,924 on hand. (more…)
A potential flashpoint emerged on Wednesday in the Republican primary runoff in Alabama’s First Congressional District.
Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl is facing former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) in the highly competitive race.
Hightower has been endorsed by the Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth’s political arm in the contest. As of last week, Club had already spent more than $1 million this cycle in support of Hightower’s bid; additionally, Club’s donor network has directly given hundreds of thousands more to Hightower’s campaign, per FEC filings.
On Wednesday, Carl posted on his personal Facebook page sharing his experience speaking with Club for Growth officials. (more…)
Club for Growth Action, the super PAC associated with Club for Growth, reported spending $851,070 on three federal races in Alabama this week, the majority of which will go towards running ads on television.
Most notably, in the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate, the group reported spending $196,409 in support of former Auburn University head football coach Tommy Tuberville.
Members of the Republican Party are often divided over Club for Growth. Many cite it as a bastion of fiscal conservatism and limited government principles; others say that the group’s opposition to President Donald Trump during the 2016 primaries and continuous objections to the Farm Bill prove that it is out of touch with key conservative constituencies.
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The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Thursday announced that its board of directors has endorsed Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl in the Republican primary runoff in Alabama’s First Congressional District.
BCA chairman John Mazyck lauded Carl in a statement as “a job creator with a commitment to supporting economic growth and pro-jobs policies.”
“From his career as a small business owner and entrepreneur to serving as a Mobile County Commissioner, he has exemplified his focus on creating economic opportunities and made room for businesses to grow right here in Alabama,” Mazyck added. “BCA is proud to endorse him in the upcoming primary runoff election.” (more…)
Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl on Tuesday released a new video ad in his Republican bid to represent Alabama’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The ad takes aim at former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile), Carl’s opponent in the GOP primary runoff.
Lasting 30 seconds, the ad hits Hightower over past business dealings in China. (more…)
Bill Hightower’s campaign for Congress has launched a new ad that features U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) making a direct case to voters about why they should vote for the former state senator from Mobile.
Hightower is currently in a runoff election against Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl to be the Republican nominee for Alabama’s First Congressional District that encompasses most of southwest Alabama. The current seat holder, Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope), ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking reelection.
Cruz first endorsed Hightower on May 14 and appears to have gone even further in his support with recording testimonial footage in Monday’s ad.
The Hightower campaign says the minute-long spot will run on digital platforms as part of their current six-figure multimedia advertising push.
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Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01) on Thursday endorsed Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl to succeed him in representing Southwest Alabama in the United States House of Representatives.
Carl is currently in a tight Republican primary runoff battle with former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile), with Election Day 33 days away.
Byrne announced the coveted endorsement at an event in Daphne.
In a statement, Byrne said, “In these tough times, we need strong leadership in Congress. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Jerry Carl. Like President Trump, Jerry’s got a backbone – he’s tough, he’s strong, and he is the only one who will stand with Trump and fight for our values. President Trump and south Alabama need Jerry Carl in Congress, and I am proud to be voting for Jerry on July 14th.” (more…)
Bill Hightower’s campaign for Congress released a new television ad on Tuesday highlighting the candidate’s opposition to a toll bridge over Mobile Bay and his loyalty to President Donald Trump.
Hightower, a former state senator from Mobile, is in a runoff election against Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl for the Republican nomination in Alabama’s First Congressional District.
Sitting Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) ran for U.S. Senate instead of seeking reelection.
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The Alabama Forestry Association’s political arm on Monday announced its endorsement of former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) for Congress.
Hightower is currently running against Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl in Alabama’s First Congressional District Republican primary runoff.
In a statement, Alabama Forestry Association executive vice president Chris Isaacson said, “Bill Hightower is the right man for the job. He has a proven, conservative track record as state senator, where he was a proponent for private property rights and fiscally responsible limited government. We know he will take that same approach in Washington.” (more…)
Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl on Thursday announced that he has been endorsed for Congress by Coastal 150, a group of community leaders who work to further the mission of the Coastal Alabama Partnership to advance the interests of coastal Alabama.
In a statement, Coastal 150 executive director Wiley Blankenship said, “Our members believe that Jerry Carl is the right person to serve our region in Congress. He understands our unique needs and supports our shared vision for coastal Alabama.”
“We expect that Mr. Carl will represent coastal Alabama well and we look forward to working with him in Washington,” Blankenship continued. “The experience, character and leadership that he brings to the office is what we believe is necessary to solve the challenges facing our region and our nation.” (more…)
Former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) received the endorsement this month of the National Right to Life Committee, one of America’s oldest anti-abortion groups.
Hightower is currently in a runoff against Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl to be the Republican nominee in Alabama’s First Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) vacated the seat for an unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign.
The NRLC cited Hightower being “a leader in Alabama’s state senate on life issues” as a key reason for their endorsement.
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U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsed former State Senator Bill Hightower’s (R-Mobile) campaign for Congress on Thursday.
Cruz announced the endorsement via tweet, saying, “I’m proud to support and endorse [Bill Hightower] for Congress in #AL01”
Widely thought of as one of the most conservative members of Congress, Cruz placed second in the 2016 Republican presidential primary and is beloved by conservative activists across the United States.
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Former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) released a new ad for his congressional campaign on Monday that features footage of him campaigning for then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016.
“I was proud to stand in support of President Trump in 2016 and I’m proud to stand with him today. Four years ago I said ‘we need this man,’ and the past few weeks have only proven that statement right,” said Hightower in remarks accompanying the release of the ad.
Hightower and Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl are currently in a runoff for the Republican nomination for Alabama’s First Congressional District which encompasses much of southwest Alabama, including Mobile and Baldwin counties. U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) currently holds the seat but unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking reelection.
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While coronavirus is wreaking havoc around in the United States and around the world, it is also having a profound impact on domestic politics.
In Alabama, with a March 31 primary runoff looming, questions have been raised as to whether or not that election should proceed as planned.
In a statement sent out to the media, Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl, a candidate in a runoff election with former State Sen. Bill Hightower for the Republican nod in November election for the First Congressional District election, announced he was suspending his political advertising and urged his opponent to do the same.
MOBILE — With 15 days to go until Republicans in Alabama’s First Congressional District head to the polls to select their preference for the GOP nod in November’s U.S. congressional general election, former State Sen. Bill Hightower is in a neck-and-neck race with Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl.
Each candidate has sought to present themselves as the best candidate to ally with President Donald Trump, who remains very popular among Alabama Republicans.
During an interview that aired on Huntsville radio’s WVNN, Hightower stressed his intentions to support the current commander-in-chief if he is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
State Representative Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) announced Monday he is endorsing Jerry Carl’s campaign for Congress.
Carl and former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) are currently in a runoff for the Republican nomination for Alabama’s First Congressional District.
Pringle, a former competitor in the AL-01 congressional race, placed third in the March 3 primary, garnering 19.23% of the total vote.
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Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl is out with the first video ad of his Republican primary runoff campaign against former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) in Alabama’s First Congressional District.
The spot, lasting 30 seconds, hits Hightower on four issues and comes after the Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth’s political arm on Thursday released an ad attacking Carl. Club for Growth Action has endorsed Hightower.
Carl’s new ad begins with a narrator saying, “Who’ll stand with Trump? Not Bill Hightower.”
“Hightower supported raising taxes on hard-working, middle-class families,” the narrator continues. (more…)
Club for Growth Action, the federal super PAC associated with the Washington, D.C.- based Club for Growth, is going up with a 30-second spot critical of Mobile County Commission Jerry Carl, a Republican candidate for Congress in Alabama’s first congressional district.
Carl finished ahead of former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) by 1,226 votes out of 99,094 votes cast. Neither was able to earn a majority, coming in at 39% and 38% respectively, forcing a March 31 runoff between the two.
Club for Growth Action endorsed Hightower in the early going of the contest.
Republican Jerry Carl’s campaign for Congress received an endorsement from former competitor Wes Lambert on Wednesday.
Lambert, a restauranteur who lives in Spanish Fort, finished fourth place on Tuesday night in the Republican primary for Alabama’s First Congressional District.
Carl, a Mobile County commissioner, placed first in the primary by a slim margin over former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile). The two men are headed to a runoff on March 31.
Lambert earned 3,084 votes in the southwest Alabama district, which was good for about 3% of the vote in the primary election, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
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MOBILE — Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl and former State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) will face each other in a runoff election on March 31 to decide who will be the Republican nominee in Alabama’s First Congressional District.
Both campaigns significantly outpaced State Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile), who finished over 18 percentage points behind the two leaders. Restauranteur Wes Lambert finished a distant fourth.
According to unofficial results on the Secretary of State’s website, Hightower captured 37.47% of the electorate by winning the support of 37,133 voters. Carl got 38.71% of the vote from 38,359 voters.
More simply, Carl edged out Hightower by 1,226 votes.
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On Tuesday, Club for Growth Action, the federal super PAC associated with the Washington, D.C.- based Club for Growth, unveiled its latest television spot touting the congressional candidacy of former State Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile).
Hightower is running for Congress in Alabama’s First Congressional District, which is currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope), who will be vacating his seat at the end of this term given he is a candidate for U.S. Senate.
The 30-second spot touts Hightower and his support for President Trump, term limits and lower taxes.
Bill Hightower’s campaign for Congress released two new ads on Monday that play up the candidate’s conservative values.
One is a 30-second television spot and the other is a one-minute radio spot.
Both ads begin by asserting Hightower’s strong commitment to the sanctity of life, which the candidate believes begins at birth.
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