Congressional colleagues-turned-political rivals Reps. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) were together on Monday to address the Mobile County Republican Party.

The incumbent congressmen are are running against each other in a bid to represent Alabama’s First Congressional District.

Carl is serving in his second term in Congress as the incumbent representative for District One. Moore is the Second District congressman, but his constituency was changed during redistricting.

“I can’t tell you what an honor it has been to serve District One,” said Carl, a former Mobile County Commission chairman.

“It has truly been an honor, and I hope you get a chance to vote me in on District One for a third time. That is my goal here. There are so many people in this room I have grown up with. So many people in this room I have buried loved ones with. I have been to your weddings. I have been to your funerals. I have been with you for the birth of children. I was a part of the Mobile County Executive Committee before I was a candidate and I know how it works and why it works.”

Huge turnout in Mobile for our candidate forum. SRO as GOP voters heard from 28 candidates including CD1 @RepJerryCarl and @RepBarryMoore candidates. #alpolitics @ALGOP pic.twitter.com/i2hRx4pZ3a

— Mobile GOP (@MobileGOP) January 16, 2024

Moore served two terms in the Alabama House of Representatives before running for Congress in 2020.

“I appreciate you being here and engaging in the process,” Moore said. “It is unfortunate, the situation we are in. We all have some tough decisions to make. I had to make some tough choices in Washington, D.C., in the last three years. I went in, in 2020 as well. Prior to that, I was a small business owner. I am in the garbage business. I felt like the transition from garbage to politics was a pretty easy one to make.”

Carl emphasized his conservative political philosophy.

“I am a conservative Republican,” Carl stated. “I don’t back down from that. I don’t apologize for that. We have some things we have to continue doing in Washington.”

Moore insisted no one was more conservative than he is.

“I am the only member on the House Freedom Caucus,” Moore said. “I was rated the most conservative member for the entire Alabama delegation in 2022.”

Both candidates stressed the importance of working to secure the border.

“The border is without a doubt the number one issue on our plate in Washington D.C.,” said Carl.

Moore said resources being used to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression should be reallocated to the border with Mexico.

“I opposed the supplemental,” Moore said. “We need to keep your money here and secure the United States southern border. Why are we securing the border of Eastern European countries and losing money by the minute?”

RELATED: Carl, Moore trade bombs over defense spending – both claim ‘work horse’ not ‘show horse’

Carl emphasized his work bringing back funds for the district.

“We have worked very hard to get those contracts to come to Austal,” Carl said. “We have gone from 2,000 employees to 4,000 employees, and it is still growing. Look at Airbus. We are working extremely hard with Airbus on getting the tanker contract. We still have not lost our focus on that. We should have gotten it 12 years ago, 13 years ago. Wal-Mart distribution center — look at the success in Irvington, Ala. That was 900 jobs that did not require a college education. They brought me a piece of paper and said we don’t have a place for this to go, As soon as I saw it, I said ‘yes we do’ and we fought to get that out at Irvington. I want to continue doing those things.”

Moore warned that the growing threat of the national debt is going to mean some sacrifices.

“It is great to say, hey, I want to do this and bring home the bacon, but we can not save the nation and bring home the bacon,” Moore said.

Both emphasized their support for Donald Trump.

“I endorsed a guy named Donald Trump (In 2015),” Moore said. “I was the first legislator in the nation to do that. They said at the time that he had less than a one percent chance of getting the nomination, and he wasn’t going to be elected. We saw how that turned out. It turned out great for the nation. We elected that man, and he has endorsed me for Congress.”

RELATED: Jerry Carl and Barry Moore to hold debate in January

Carl said, “We have got to do what we can do to get this President (Biden) out of office. We have got to elect Donald Trump, period. The entire Alabama Congressional delegation supports Trump, and I am very proud of that.”

Carl voiced his support for more drilling for oil and natural gas.

“Somebody, earlier tonight, asked me what we can do about the economy,” Carl said. “The answer is simple: Let us drill in the Gulf.”

Moore emphasized his work on behalf of constituents.

“$11 million in thirty-six months I got back for folks that the IRS owes money or the VA owes money, so I am in the fight, and one thing is true — you can be conservative and can be effective,” Moore said. “Our nation needs that.”

The Republican primary will be March 5, 2024.

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