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.”
Carl stated, “Congressman Byrne is a great friend and has been a well-respected leader in our community for years. Throughout his time in public service, he has served south Alabama in many capacities, and we have worked closely together on numerous projects to bring economic growth and opportunity to our area. During his time in Congress, Bradley Byrne has been a tireless advocate for our 2nd Amendment rights, the rights of the unborn, and has consistently fought against government overreach. I am proud to have the support of Congressman Byrne, and I look forward to representing south Alabama in Congress and fighting for our conservative values.”
You can view a video of Thursday’s endorsement event here.
Byrne chose to run for the U.S. Senate this cycle instead of seeking reelection. While he finished third in the March GOP Senate primary, Byrne carried Alabama’s First Congressional District. This included Byrne garnering 52.68% in Mobile County and 56.31% in Baldwin County.
Hightower this week was endorsed by the Alabama Forestry Association; he is also supported by the Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth.
Carl has been endorsed in the runoff by State Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) and businessman Wes Lambert, the third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively, in the AL-01 March primary. Carl also has the support of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Coastal 150.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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