America is at a crossroads, and Alabama is under the gun.

Since Joe Biden was sworn into office in January, we’ve seen Washington, D.C. kick common sense to the curb and return to putting America last. Across our country, Democrats and much of the media look down on states like ours and openly attack our values and way of life.

This coming election cycle will be pivotal to our nation’s future, with Republican control of the House and the Senate needed to help get America back on track.

However, Alabamians need not look outside our state to grasp the importance of the 2022 election. Right here at home, we have a U.S. Senate contest on the ballot that carries generational significance.

Unfortunately, that race has not started out well for the GOP. The two Republican candidates currently in this race have already started viciously attacking each other in public. Not only does this ignore President Reagan’s 11th Commandment, but by tearing each other down, they’re playing right into Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer’s hands.

We deserve a senator that will put Alabama first, delivering results for our great state and fighting tirelessly for Alabama’s hardworking families. And we deserve candidates that are talking about how they’re going to do just that. However, our U.S. Senate race is currently lacking that candidate – and that avid champion for Alabama.

Fortunately, hope is not lost.

While she has not yet announced her intentions regarding the U.S. Senate race, my longtime friend Katie Britt is just the Alabama first fighter we need in this contest, and as our next senator.

I’ve been blessed to know Katie and her family for a long time, since she was Katie Boyd. They’re from the Wiregrass, as am I, and I know firsthand of the strong Christian values, like her devotion to the pro-life cause, with which Katie was raised – and with which she faithfully lives her life to this day.

Her Christian conservative values, work ethic, experience and proven record of accomplishments are just what Alabama needs in Washington. Most recently, Katie has returned to her Enterprise roots, fighting for small and rural businesses as head of the state’s business council. As the daughter of two small business owners, she truly understands what it takes to help small businesses succeed. She has previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, where she worked tirelessly to better the lives of people across Alabama.

Today, I’m praying that Katie enters the upcoming Senate race, and I hope you all will join me. Because we deserve – and need – a senator who will fight for Alabama above all. This election is too important to accept anything less.

Melanie Hill is a lifelong resident of Houston County