District 2 congressional candidates go after undecided voters in FOX 10 debate

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, the candidates for Alabama’s newly filled 2nd Congressional District faced off for their final debate Thursday evening here on FOX 10 News.

As Republican Caroleene Dobson and Democrat Shomari Figures prepared for a final face-off, both candidates are trying to get out of the vote in the final stretch of the race.

“We’re just going to zig-zag and crisscross through this district,” Dobson said.

“Look, it’s just a matter of getting it out there… It’s just a matter of getting it out there and reaching out to as many voters as you can… Shake as many hands as you can,” Figures said.

Figures – a husband and father of three – is a Mobile native and son of the late Michael Figures – who served in the State Senate. After the death of his father – his mother Vivian Figures – she ran for her husband’s seat and won – a position she still holds today. Shomari said his parents inspired him to dedicate his life to public service.

Dobson – a wife and mother of two – was born and raised in Beatrice, Alabama. She is a real estate attorney and describes herself as a lifelong advocate of conversational values.

Help FOX 10 News spark the debate – the Mobile Chamber.

“There aren’t too many close House races in America right now — this is one,” said Bradley Byrne, president of the Mobile Chamber.

The candidates immediately got to work on how to bring more manufacturing jobs to Alabama.

“Since 2001, Alabama has lost 42,000 manufacturing jobs. That’s why we need to make sure we have a level playing field for our manufacturers here in Alabama,” Dobson said.

“This is one of those issues where we can point to the previous government. “The last four years have not cost many businesses, particularly in manufacturing, nearly as much as the Trump tariffs,” Figures said.

Given the recent closure of rural hospitals – including Thomasville Regional Medical Center – candidates were asked how they would address the need for access to health care for all Alabamians.

“This is a serious issue that we have options to address… We can expand Medicaid… And Congress can help by passing the stimulus for the state of Alabama, that Do the right thing and expand Medicaid. “It’s not a permanent solution – we need economic growth too – but if Medicaid had been expanded – I can guarantee you the hospital in Thomasville would still be open,” Figures said.

“Strong healthcare is based on a strong economy – and we need to curb inflation – we need less regulation. And we also need to make sure we have good-paying jobs and private insurance that keep these hospitals afloat. Medicaid expansion is an issue for our state legislature, and I trust and hope they will consider it,” Dobson said.

“We have hospitals closing – I don’t care who you are – if you want economic growth to create higher paying jobs in your communities – even Nick Saban can’t win the hiring competition – we don’t do that.” “We have a hospital Figures said.

And in the debate over healthcare and tax reform — among other things — Dobson attacked Figures throughout the transgender rights debate.

“If my opponent is serious about protecting the young people of this state, then I want him to answer why he and his Justice Department sued the state of Alabama in 2022 to overturn our laws protecting our children from dangerous gender reassignment procedures “and treatments,” Dobson said.

“But it starts with setting local priorities – it starts with keeping our eye on the ball… And focusing on those local issues – like awarding key defense contracts and not spending time talking about gender reassignment. “We’re talking about what’s happening here locally,” Figures said.

Both say one issue will be a priority: securing timely funding for the new I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

“It affects more than just commuter traffic. It impacts our ability and efficiency to move products out of port and into the American economy. That’s why we’re putting a lot of emphasis on that by getting to work – we’re trying and trying to get on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee so we can influence the type of money that goes here,” Figures said.

“The Bridge and Bayway project is critical to families on both sides of the Bay – and I will fight for funding to ensure there is no toll component to the bridge – to ensure that the hard-working families of Baldwin County and Mobile County and families traveling on I-10 are not subject to double taxation from a toll system,” Dobson said.

Of course, that is only a small part of this hour-long debate. You can watch it again in full on fox10tv.com, the FOX 10 News app, the FOX 10 YouTube Channel and the FOX 10 Gulfstream app.

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