Jones rebuts Tuberville's "insulting" remarks on Alabama newcomers
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones. Photo: Derek Lacey/Axios
Doug Jones took to the Madison County Courthouse steps Monday to tell local transplants they don't need to be "reeducated," in response to recent comments from Republican rival Tommy Tuberville.
Why it matters: The closer Nov. 3 gets, the more North Alabama's changing political landscape is becoming a flash point in the governor's race.
The latest: Jones was responding to Tuberville's comments on a radio show that North Alabama's shifting electorate is driven by newcomers who went to "government-educated schools" that taught them "socialism and communism."
- Jones called the comments insulting, and pointed to the national defense, space and economic contributions of "doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, scientists, computer programmers" who have moved to the region over the years.
- "You cannot welcome businesses to Alabama while demanding that those who come with them be educated in ways that conform with his beliefs," Jones said.
What they're saying: "To everyone who has moved here, made Alabama your home — some for generations — you don't need to be reeducated, you need to be thanked," Jones said.
- "How insulting," Jones said. "Tommy Tuberville clearly does not understand the people or the history of North Alabama."
- Tuberville's comments also got pushback from Republican state Rep. James Lomax, who wrote on Facebook that the comments were incorrect, and that transplants are "making our state stronger."
Context: Tuberville and other Republicans have been reacting to shifting political trends in North Alabama, highlighted by this year's primary elections.
- In Madison County, for example, primary votes were up about 7%, while the number of Republican ballots dropped about 37% and Democratic ballots almost tripled, per an Alabama Political Reporter analysis.
Zoom in: "What I take away is that people want change," Jones said, on those changing numbers. "This is not about where you've grown up, where you've come from or what school you've been educated in."
- "He has said before he's going to bring a DOGE-like approach to state government, in part because he believes that so many state employees are not loyal enough to Donald Trump," Jones said. "That is not leadership."
Zoom out: Jones also addressed other issues that are rising to the top of the gubernatorial campaign in its home stretch, like data centers following the controversial decision in Lowndes County, and Tuberville's pledge to bring the National Guard to certain Alabama cities.
- He said the Lowndes County decision to provide a $1.1 billion tax break "with no comment about what it's going to put back in the community … gets people very concerned."
- He was critical of Tuberville's pledge, stating, "You don't bring in the National Guard except in extreme emergencies because they're not law enforcement officers."