Thursday, two candidates announced they would be seeking the Republican nomination for the open House District Two congressional seat. CD2 is currently represented by Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) who announced last Friday that she would not seek a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
State Representative Will Dismukes, R-Prattville, age 29, announced that he will run for the seat. Dismukes was just elected to the state legislature last year.
Dothan area businessman Jeff Coleman also announced that he is a candidate. Coleman is the owner of Coleman Worldwide Moving, which provides moving and storage services.
“Our country is fighting a radicalized movement on the left that is threatening our freedoms, liberties and way of life,” said Rep. Dismukes. “Republicans need a bold new conservative in Congress who isn’t afraid to stand up to the socialists on the left and the big-government politicians in our own party. I am someone who has proven, in my very short time in Montgomery, that I will do what is right for the taxpayers, regardless of party.”
Dismukes opposed the controversial gas tax increase during his first session in the Alabama House. He also supported HB314 which banned most abortions in the state.
“When some in my party threatened me to vote for the gas tax increase, I stood firm and opposed the largest tax increase in Alabama history,” Dismukes added. “When the left ridiculed me for protecting life, I stood firm and defended the unborn. When the special interests in Washington come to me with their pet projects, I’ll stand firm for Alabama families.”
Dismukes and his wife, Amber, have one son.
Dismukes studied political science at Faulkner University.
Jeff Coleman announced his candidacy in an exclusive interview with the Alabama Daily News.
“Our family has prayed a lot about it over the last week, and when you try to live a God-led life, you can’t ignore this call to serve,” Coleman told AND’s, Todd Stacy. “Our country is at a real turning point right now. President Trump has us going in the right direction, but he’s being attacked at every turn by a Democrat Congress determined to bring him down. I want to go to Congress to fight back and put in the hard work required to restore this country’s greatness.”
There are still a number of persons considering running for this seat. Former Attorney General Troy King (R). Former State Representative Perry O. Hooper Jr., R-Montgomery, and State Representative Wes Allen, R-Troy, are reportedly still in the process of considering whether or not they want to enter the race for CD2.
No Democratic candidate has announced yet.
The Republican primary will be on March 3.
(Original reporting by the Alabama Media Group, Montgomery Advertiser, and Inside Alabama Politics contributed to this report.)