Both parties will decide on their candidates for Alabama's newly redistricted 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday. Voters voted in a primary runoff that significantly narrowed the field of candidates. The election is historic for Alabama because it is the result of a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision and subsequent court-enforced redrawing of the congressional district map approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2021.

Last month, businessman and former Alabama state senator Dick Brewbaker and Carolyn Dobson, a Montgomery attorney with lifelong ties to Alabama agriculture, secured spots in Tuesday's runoff election to determine the Republican nominee in a district that is virtually rigged to favor Democrats in the November general election.

Brewbaker led the primary with 37% of the vote, followed by Dobson with 24.8% to narrowly beat incumbent state Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) with 25.3%. About 57,000 Republican voters turned out to vote.

Brewbaker and Dobson spoke with Yellow Hammer News on Monday about their campaign so far and how they hope to fight to keep their Republican seats in November.

“Suddenly, with Congress so closely divided, [AL-02] I think it's going to be an exciting fight because both parties are going to be competing. [Tuesday] And then November,” Brewbaker said.

“First of all, it's expensive. Both parties believe this district is winnable,” he said of the period. “It's going to come down to who can energize voters, get them to the polls and appeal to independent voters.”

Carolyn Dobson, who entered the race as virtually unknown to voters, closed the gap dramatically heading into the runoff election. According to several pollsShe is currently leading and could beat her Democratic challenger in November.

Asked what's at stake in 2024, Dobson replied, “The very future of America.”

“Biden and the Democratic Party are shaking the very fabric of our country in so many ways, it's imperative that we not only maintain control of this seat and the House, but send true conservatives to Washington who will fight for Alabama families and fight to save our country,” she said.

Related: New poll predicts outcome of Alabama 2nd District runoff and general election

Both candidates touted close ties to their newly created constituencies, despite the region's new political climate. Dobson said he was familiar with the area's geography from his childhood growing up on his family's farm in Monroe County.

“It includes the Coastal Plain, parts of the Black Belt, parts of the Wiregrass and even areas that could be considered Appalachian, like the enchanting Ridgeville area of ​​Butler County. Regardless of the terrain, this is beautiful country with the most kind, hardworking people,” Dobson said. “Having grown up in a small town myself, I've loved spending time in the many small towns that make up this district.”

Brewbaker is new Since redistricting, “conflicting interests” have been at play.

“I think what's really different about this district is that the old AL-02 made a lot of sense politically and economically. It brought together communities of economic interest. If you were talking about the old AL-02, [AL-02]The military, agriculture, and higher education drove the region's economy. [AL-02] “Instead of moving along the path of economic growth, it's kind of cutting across it,” Brewbaker said.

“Whether it's building a new lock on the river in Barbour County or doing a major upgrade to the Port of Mobile, everybody's doing something. Twelve of our 13 counties are losing population, so infrastructure projects that bring economic growth and add to the activity we have are absolutely essential.”

Both Brewbaker and Dobson noted that inflation and illegal immigration were central issues on the minds of Republican voters they met on the campaign trail.

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“Everybody's talking about food inflation. Food inflation in south Alabama is about 30 percent, which is three times the inflation rate in the general economy. And eggs are literally twice as expensive as they were a year ago,” Brewbaker said.

Dobson said: “The infiltration of our nation by illegal immigrants at our southern border is top of mind for Alabamians,” he said, noting that inflation was a second concern, with all families taking hits at the grocery store, at the gas station and with monthly household bills.

“In addition to inflation and the border crisis, voters are concerned about rising crime in their communities, a situation exacerbated by the number of illegal immigrants roaming the country, a lack of respect for law enforcement, a lack of effective treatment options and facilities for the mentally ill in their communities, and the Biden Administration's overt attacks on Christianity and Judaism,” Dobson said.

Brewbaker agreed that illegal immigration, the southern border and rising violent crime and co-morbidities such as fentanyl overdoses are top priorities.

“Almost everyone has a fentanyl story. They have a friend or a family member of a friend of a friend who has died or nearly died. Since 2015, 750 Americans a year have died from fentanyl. Now it's about 200 a day. That's what's frustrating people. People know this is a problem we can do something about. The FBI has repeatedly said that the chemicals that make fentanyl are coming from China into Mexico,” Brewbaker said.

“The drug cartels use them to make fentanyl, which comes across the border with all the illegal immigrants. If our government was willing to police the border, the fentanyl problem would solve itself,” he added. “But we can police the border. We can.”

“I don't mind mobilizing the entire National Guard in the country.”

RELATED: Anthony Daniels, Shomali Figures compete for Democratic-backed seat

The Republican winner on Tuesday will face off against either state Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville), a longtime Alabama House Minority Leader who claims the district as his home, or Shomali Figures, a Mobile native with generational ties to south Alabama who has spent most of his time since 2008 working in various departments in the Obama administration.

Both Brewbaker and Dobson agreed that Alabama's 2nd Congressional District will be a high-profile issue in the race for House majority control in 2024 and beyond.

Dobson said her approach will be both grassroots and national fundraising. She said: National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

“I will work with them, and other Republicans across the country, to ensure we have the resources and support we need to defeat Democrats in November and fight for conservative values ​​in Washington,” Dobson said.

Brewbaker said he could win over independents using a technique he used during his time as an Alabama senator. “My reputation in the state senate was that I was great at working with anyone to solve problems,” he said.

He cited his involvement in pro-life issues beyond abortion, including autism insurance, school choice and judicial override. He said his ability to connect with moderates and independents could be key. His “Trump-affiliated supporters” in the primary include the veterans for Trump group, Lee Greenwood, General Mike Flynn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

“I want him [Donald Trump] “Because being at the top of our list of candidates gives Republicans the best chance of getting enough voter turnout to hold the district,” Brewbaker said.

Grayson Everett is the state and politics editor for Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. Grayson