HUNTSVILLE — A day prior to Alabama’s 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary election, Gov. Kay Ivey took her reelection campaign to the Rocket City before a crowd of supporters at Huntsville International Airport.
Being the race’s frontrunner has placed Ivey in the crosshairs of her opponents, particularly businessman Tim James and former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia Lindy Blanchard, who are battling for second place in hopes of making a potential runoff with the incumbent governor.
During her opening remarks, Alabama’s chief executive addressed the attacks against her candidacy and contended that her opponents had been “spreading lies” regarding her record.
“Folks, if y’all get everyone out to vote tomorrow, we’re going to win big — we’re looking forward to a great night,” Ivey said. “Y’all have seen it for months — my opponents have been out there spreading lies trying to tear me down. It’s plum sad.
“The good folks of Alabama know better. That dog just won’t hunt.”
The governor touted the economic achievements Alabama had made during her administration.
“Here are the facts: We’ve created over 65,000 new jobs. We’ve created over $32 billion in new business investment,” she said. “We have delivered the lowest unemployment rate in 202 years of trying. And just last week, I announced that for the past 18 consecutive months, we’ve had the lowest unemployment rate in the entire Southeast.
“We have the most people working in the history of our state and we have record-high wages. Record-high wages, folks. That’s something we should all be proud of.”
The governor then turned her focus to social issues her administration had addressed.
“I signed the strongest pro-life law in the nation, and after Roe v. Wade is finally overturned, my abortion ban will be the law of the land in Alabama,” she said. “I sent troops to defend the southern border to keep out deadly drugs and stop illegal immigration. And I am the only candidate in this race endorsed by the NRA. I’ve banned transgender sports, banned transgender surgery on children, and banned critical race theory from being taught in our schools.
“Simply put – we’ve done what others only talk about doing.”
The governor’s Huntsville campaign stop Monday preceded a rally in Birmingham.
Ivey and her eight Republican challengers will appear on the GOP primary election ballot Tuesday. Should no candidate garner more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will take place June 21.
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