Just down the street from where he grew up, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) announced Wednesday evening his candidacy for the United States Senate while surrounded by family, friends and supporters gathered at Wintzell’s Oyster House in beautiful downtown Mobile.
Byrne became the first candidate to officially announce a run against the incumbent from Mountain Brook, Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL). In doing so, Byrne made clear his campaign will focus on his record as a fighter for Alabama’s values, drawing a clear and direct contrast between his traditional Yellowhammer State roots and the “radical policies” being pushed by Jones’ Democratic Party.
In his announcement speech, Byrne emphasized, “The fight for America’s future is too important to sit on the sidelines. I am running for the United States Senate to defend the values important to Alabama.”
The congressman spoke about the “disconnect” between hardworking, everyday Alabamians and people stuck in the bubble of Washington, D.C.
Byrne urged attendees, “Look in Washington and tell me you don’t see people that have a vision that’s fundamentally at odds with what America is.”
“We need a Senator who will fight with President Trump to defend the Constitution, build the wall, stand up for the unborn, push for lower taxes, make health care more affordable and protect the Second Amendment,” he outlined. “I will fight every day to bring Alabama’s conservative values to Washington.”
I’m committed to fighting for Alabama and I’m taking the fight to the U.S. Senate! #ALSen pic.twitter.com/8xtYdaHnGR
— Bradley Byrne (@BradleyByrne) February 20, 2019
Answering questions from reporters following the announcement, Byrne decried the Democratic Party’s embrace of socialism and “[killing] babies as they’re delivered.”
He also warned voters that Democrats should be expected to try and interfere in the Republican primary through “fake news” and manipulative social media efforts. This comes in the wake of revelations that “Project Birmingham” was orchestrated to aid Jones’ general election candidacy in 2017.
If we hang together, if we have faith in one another, faith in God and faith in our state and country, we’ll be just fine. #ALSen pic.twitter.com/5sKRysTvLQ
— Bradley Byrne (@BradleyByrne) February 20, 2019
Byrne, a labor-employment attorney by trade, is the former chancellor of the state’s community college system and one-term member of the state senate. He has served southwest Alabama in Congress since January 2014.
The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in Alabama will be held March 3, 2020, with the general election to follow in November.
You can watch Byrne’s announcement speech and hear him answer questions from reporters afterwards here.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
