The Baldwin County Democrats announced six races with more than one candidate to choose from in the November midterm election. Democrats will be challenging GOP candidates for U.S. Congress, three contests for Alabama Legislature and two for Baldwin County Commission.
The candidates are:
- Clyde Jones, Daphne, for U.S. Congress, District 1
- Ashley Sharpe, Loxley, for Alabama State Senate, District 22
- Janet Appleby, Gulf Shores, for Alabama State Senate, District 32
- Terri Osborne, Daphne, for Alabama State House of Representatives, District 96
- Roy Browning, Robertsdale, for County Commission District 3
- Drew Arredondo, Foley, for County Commission District 4
“Giving voters a choice is more important than ever in these troubling times when we see Alabama families trying to decide whether to pay their rent, take their child to the doctor or buy groceries,” Baldwin County Democrats executive chair Robyn Monaghan said.
“The GOP lawmakers who have dominated state politics for decades fall in lockstep with the Trump administration’s repressive schemes and make them a reality in our lives right here in Baldwin County,” Monaghan said.
Monaghan referred to HB13, now working its way through the legislature. The bill allows state and local agencies to enter into agreements with ICE to enforce immigration laws. It empowers officers to arrest people based on probable cause of being an “illegal alien” and allows officers to take people to detention centers.
“I cannot sit back with a bucket of popcorn and do nothing while Alabama is going to Hell in a hand cart,” Appleby said. “I can’t prevent people from falling through the cracks, but I can cushion the landing.”
Monaghan said state lawmakers continue to oppose bills that could make everyday families’ lives better, like expanding Medicaid, supporting public education and providing affordable childcare. “They promote measures restricting women from reproductive healthcare, making it harder for people to vote and cutting the time limit to receive unemployment,” she said.
On the county level, Democrats are supporting two young candidates of diverse backgrounds. They are running on a platform of honoring the environment over developers and making sure infrastructure like schools, sewers, police and roads keep pace with rapid growth in Baldwin County. They pledge to support free-reading public library policies.
“I represent a new generation of leadership, committed to protecting and working with the people of Baldwin County,” Arredondo said. “That means standing against reckless and unvetted growth that benefits developers at the expense of our environment and current residents.”
“That means ensuring school safety, support to local businesses and farmers, respect and care for seniors and vulnerable community members, and assuring that every citizen feels heard, valued, and confident that their county government works for them beyond the election,” Arredondo said.
