Congressional colleagues-turned-political rivals Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Rep. Jerry Kahl (R-Mobile) gathered Monday to speak at the Mobile County Republican Party.

Incumbent members are running against each other to represent Alabama's 1st Congressional District.

Mr. Karl is serving his second term as the incumbent representative for the 1st District. Mr. Moore is a 2nd Ward councilman, but his district was changed during redistricting.

“Words cannot express how honored it has been to serve in District 1,” said Karl, a former Mobile County Commission chairman.

“It was a real honor. I would appreciate it if you would give me the opportunity to vote for me in the First District for the third time. That is my goal here. There are people in this room who I grew up with. There are many people in this room, and I have buried loved ones. I have been to your wedding. I have been to your funeral. I was there for the birth of my child. I was on the Mobile County Executive Committee before I was a candidate, so I know how it works and why it works. ”

The Candidate Forum attracted a large number of mobile participants.As a Republican voter, his SRO heard from her 28 candidates, including CD1 @RepJerryCarl and @RepBarryMoore candidates. #alpolitics @ALGOP pic.twitter.com/i2hRx4pZ3a

— MobileGOP (@MobileGOP) January 16, 2024

Moore ran for Congress in 2020 after serving two terms in the Alabama House of Representatives.

“We appreciate you being here and participating in the process,” Moore said. “Unfortunately, the situation we find ourselves in requires everyone to make difficult decisions. Over the past three years, I have had to make some difficult choices in Washington, DC. 2020 I've been there for 20 years. Before that, I was a small business owner. I work in garbage. I found the transition from garbage to politics very easy.”

Karl emphasized his conservative political philosophy.

“I'm a conservative Republican,” Kahl said. “I'm not going to back down from that. I'm not going to apologize for that. We have some things we need to continue in Washington.”

Mr. Moore claimed that there was no one more conservative than him.

“I'm the only member of the House Freedom Caucus,” Moore said. “I was rated the most conservative member of the entire 2022 Alabama delegation.”

Both candidates emphasized the importance of working to secure borders.

“The border is definitely the biggest issue in Washington, D.C.,” Kahl said.

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

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

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Karl emphasized efforts to bring funding back to the district.

“We have worked very hard to get Austal these contracts,” Karl said. “We have gone from 2,000 to 4,000 employees and are still growing. Look at Airbus. We are working hard to win the tanker contract with Airbus. We still don't focus on that. We should have gotten it 12 or 13 years ago. Look at the success of Walmart's distribution center — Irvington, Alabama. It doesn't require a college education. 900 They brought me a piece of paper and said there's no place to put this. As soon as I saw it, I said, “Yes, that's right,” and we fought to take it out in Irvington. I would like to continue doing things like this. ”

Moore warned that the growing threat of national debt will require some sacrifices.

“It's great to say, 'I want to do this and bring home the bacon,' but you can't save the country and bring home the bacon,” Moore said.

Both emphasized their support for Donald Trump.

“I supported a man named Donald Trump (in 2015),” Moore said. “I was the first congressman in the United States to do something like this. At the time they said he had less than a 1 percent chance of winning the nomination and was not going to win. We've seen what happened. It's been a great outcome for the country. We elected the man and he endorsed me to Congress.”

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

“We have to do what we can to get this president (Biden) out of office. We have to elect Donald Trump. The entire Alabama Congressional delegation supports Mr. Trump,” Kahl said. and I'm very proud of that.”

Mr. Kahl expressed support for more oil and gas drilling.

“Earlier tonight, someone asked me what we could do for the economy,” Karl said. “The answer is simple: Let’s drill in the Gulf.”

Mr. Moore emphasized his work on behalf of his constituents.

“I've recovered $11 million in 36 months for people who say the IRS owes them money, or the VA owes them money. So I'm in the fight, and with one thing true. “One thing is, you can be conservative and still be effective,” Moore said. “Our country needs it.”

The Republican primary election will be March 5, 2024.

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