>> FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACEY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8 IS JUST DAYS AWAY.

SO WE HAVE A SPECIAL EPISODE FOR YOU THIS WEEK, AS WE BRING YOU SIT-DOWN INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANDIDATES AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND DEMOCRAT YOLANDA FLOWERS IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN KATIE BEFORE IT AND DEMOCRAT WILL BOYD IN THE RACE FOR U.S. SENATE.

WE WANTED THESE TO BE LONGER MORE INFORMATIVE INTERVIEWS SO WE ARE FORE GOING THE NEWS PACKAGES THIS WEEK TO DEVOTE MORE TIME TO THE CANDIDATES.

WE SHOULD ALSO IMAGES THAT BOTH RACES INCLUDE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES, JAMES JIMMY BLAKE IS THEIR NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR AND JOHN SOPHOCLEUS IS THEIR NOMINEE FOR SENATE.

ALSO LATER ANYTIME SHOW I WILL SPEAK WITH JOHN ROGERS, A POLLSTER AND STRATEGIST WITH CYGNAL ABOUT THEIR RECENT POLL OF ALABAMA VOTERS.

1ST LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT.

LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH HAS NO DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT BUT HE BEING CHALLENGED BY LIBERTARIAN RUTH PAGE NELSON.

ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL IS BEING CHALLENGED BY DEMOCRAT WENDELL MAJOR.

FOR THE OPEN SECRETARY OF STATE POSITION REPUBLICAN WES ALLEN FACES DEMOCRAT PAMELA LAFITTE AND LIBERTARIAN JASON MATT SHELBY.

STATE TREASURER YOUNG BOOZER HAS NO DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT BUT LIBERTARIAN SCOTT HAMMOND IS CHALLENGING HIM ON THE BALLOT.

FOR.

[INAUDIBLE] TORE, REPUBLICAN ANDREW SORRELL FACES LIBERTARIAN LEIGH LACHINE NO DEMOCRAT IN THAT RACE.

AND FINALLY STATE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER RAKE PATE IS BEING CHALLENGED BY THE LIB TEAR JASON CLARK.

NO DEMOCRAT IN THAT RACE.

ALSO ON THE BALLOT ARE 10 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PLUS VOTERS WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE YES OR NO ON AN ADOPTED A RECOMPILED REORGANIZED CONSTITUTION THAT NO LONGER CONTAINS RACIST LANGUAGE.

WE DISCUSSED THESE REVEREND DA AT LENGTH IN OUR LAST EPISODE WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE AT APT.ORG .

IF YOU ZERO WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABILITY THESE AMENDMENTS GOING TO ALABAMAVOTES.GOV WHERE YOU CAN SEE EXPLAIN ISSUE AND A FAIR SAMPLE BALLOT FROM YOUR COUNTY.

AND DON'T FORGET THE VOTE.

POLLS ARE OPEN 7:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

IT'S MY 1ST VISIT WITH YOU AND I'M PROUD TO BE HERE.

>> THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON WAS DON'S LAST SHOW SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

HERE WE ARE.

IT'S ELECTION SEASON.

THE ELECTION IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY.

YOU'RE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

WHAT ARE YOU TELLING VOTERS?

WHY SHOULD THEY ELECT YOU TO ANOTHER TERM.

>> LET'S START WITH REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE AMERICANS AND AMERICA IS BUILT ON A TREMENDOUS OF DEMOCRACY WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE INFORMED AND VOTE AND CAST THEIR DECISIONS.

WE'RE IN A REPUBLIC AS WELL, AND THAT MEANS OUR PEOPLE ELECT OTHERS TO REPRESENT THEM AT THE STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ALL CITIZENS RECOGNIZE OUR RIGHT AND OUR DUTY TO PROTECTOR AMERICA AND VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8, POLLS OPEN AT 7:00 AND CLOSE AT 7:00 AND IT GIVES PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO VOTE AND CAST THEIR INFORMED DECISIONS.

SO I'M EAGER TO SERVANT AGAIN.

WE HAVE LAID SOME STRONG FOUNDATIONS IN MY 1ST TERM.

WE STARTED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, REBUILD ALABAMA, AND IMPROVED THE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND OUR APART.

WE MADE STRONG FOUNDATIONS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE MADE STRONG FOUNDATIONS IN BUILDING THE BEST BUSINESS CLIMATE IN ALL 50 STATES.

BUSINESSES KNOW IF THEY COME HERE THEY CAN THRIVE AND NEW BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING PORE TO COMING AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

SO WE HAVE LAID SOME PRETTY STRONG FOUNDATIONS.

BUT THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE, OUR NATION, AND OUR WORLD, DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE MY NUMBER 1 PRIORITY FOR THE FOUR YEARS GOING FORWARD.

AND DURING MY 1ST TERM, WE STARTED LAYING THOSE FOUNDATIONS WITH A STRONG START, STRONG FINISH.

AND WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON RECENTLY READING AND NUMERACY AND MATH IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE LEGISLATURE, WE PASSED THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT AND THE NUMERACY ACT, AND THOSE TWO BILLS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO OUR PEOPLE.

AND WE'VE AT THE BOTTOM TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON THAT SO WE CAN TEACH OUR STUDENTS LEARN WELL OR READ WELL BY THE END OF THE 3RD GRADE.

AND THEN START READING TO LEARN.

SO WE'VE GOT A MISSION AHEAD.

AND WE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE WILL BE GOING SOME PLACES IN EDUCATION LIKE WE HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE, FROM BIRTH TO WORKFORCE.

WE'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH A VERY STRONG PACKAGE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY EDUCATION THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING.

AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO GUIDE OUR STUDENTS INTO GETTING THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE.

OUR GRADUATES OF STUDENTS TODAY ARE GOING TO BE FILLING THE JOBS AT LOCKHEED-MARTIN AND HUDSON ALPAR AND MAZDA-TOYOTA AND MANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT NEED GOOD WORKERS.

AND REMEMBER THE SCHOOL OF CYBERTECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING, WE WILL BE PUTTING STUDENTS IN JOBS ALL ACROSS THE STATE SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION IN A BIG WAY.

THAT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE I WAS HEARING THINGS ABOUT MAYBE SOME POLICY PROPOSALS Y'ALL ARE COOKING UP, LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

WE HAD PROMISING RESULTS FROM THE NAPE SCORES WHERE WE DIDN'T SEE THE LEARNING LOSS.

WE SAW GAINS IN FACT.

BUT WE STILL HAVE QUITE LOW PROFICIENCY IN MATH AND READING.

SO I HEAR YOU SAY YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION.

WHAT -- HOW SPECIFIC CAN YOU BE IN TERMS OF TELLING US WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO IMPROVE THOSE PROFICIENCY NUMBERS AND IMPROVE THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS LEARNING AT HIGH STANDARDS.

DURING MY 1ST TERM, WE SET STRONG STANDARDS AND ALIGNED OUR ASSESSMENT SYSTEM TO THOSE STANDARDS, AND IT PAID OFF BECAUSE IT SHOWED THAT WE WERE FOCUSING ON READING AND MATH AND, LIKE YOU SAY, ALABAMA DID NOT LOSE GROUND.

WE HELD OUR OWN WHILE OTHER STATES DROPPED.

BUT WE MADE SOME PROGRESS, BUT THE NAPE RESULTS CLEARLY SHOW THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE HERE IN ALABAMA AND WE'RE GOING TO GET ON THAT IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY SO STAY TUNED FOR OUR PACKAGE THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A PACKAGE LIKE I SAY WHERE WE'VE NEVER GONE BEFORE IN EDUCATION, AND WE WILL EQUIP OUR TEACHERS TO BE SURE THEY CAN GUIDE OUR STUDENTS TO THE JOBS THAT ARE IN DEMAND IN THE FUTURE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE LITERACY ACT, AND THAT WAS A BIG LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND I THINK YOU CAN TELL FROM THE SCORES THAT IT SEEMS TO HAVE PAID OFF.

HOWEVER, THE LEGISLATURE HAS TWICE NOW TRIED TO DELAY THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUCCEEDED LAST TIME IN DELAYING THE LITERACY ACT AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISION, THE HOLD BACK PROVISION.

I GUESS IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER PROPOSAL LIKE THAT.

WOULD YOU ALLOW OR VETO AGAIN A DELAY -- >> LET'S BE CLEAR ON THAT.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A GOOD STRONG LITERACY BILL WITH THE HOLD BACK PROVISION IN IT.

AND SHOULD THAT BILL FOR SOME REASON BE OPENED AND THEY REMIT THAT BILL AND ROLL BACK TO THE RETENTION, THAT'S A BILL I WILL VETO.

I WILL VETO IT STRONGLY.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FOCUS STRONG ON BEING GOOD PROFICIENT READERS BY THE END OF THE 3RD GRADE.

>> TURNING TO BUDGETS WE'RE SEEING RECORD BUDGET PLUS NUMBERS HERE, A LOT IS REALLY THE ECONOMY JUST BEING A GROWTH COMET.

A LOT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE TAX DOLLARS KIND OF TRICKLING DOWN.

THAT HAS -- THE SURPLUSES HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS TALKING ABOUT TAX CUTS OR REBATES AT LEAST.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF TAX CUTS OR REBATES?

AFTER ALL THE IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR BUDGET THEY START FROM?

>> VERY DEFINITELY.

I'M VERY ETCH AWARE OF THE STRUGGLE THAT ALABAMIANS ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW IN OUR POCKETBOOKS WHEN THEY GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR BUY GAS.

TIMES ARE TUFT ON THEM RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY PRUDENT AND I 85 GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A LOT OF CREDIT, EVEN GOING BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I WAS LT.

GOVERNOR, THEY MANAGED THE MONEY WISELY AND PRUDENTLY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE STATE IS IN SUCH GOOD SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING TODAY.

BUT GOING FORWARD WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP OUR PEOPLE FIND SOME RELIEF IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS, WITH ALSO AT THE SAME TIME BE MINDFUL OF OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS AND OUR DUTY TO BE PRUDENT WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE WORKING HARD TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO BOTH HELP OUR PEOPLE AND TO PROTECT OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> LET'S TALK ABILITY PRISONS.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED SUBJECT.

OUR PRISONERS ARE DANGEROUS.

THEY'RE VIOLENT.

THEY'RE UNDERSTAFFED CHRONICALLY.

YOU NOW HAVE THE STRONG OF PROBLEMS WITH EXECUTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

WHAT COULD BE DONE IN YOUR NEXT TERM IF YOU'RE RE-ELECTED TO TURN AROUND OUR PRISONER SYSTEM AND TRULY MAKE IT -- IMPROVE AND IT MAKE IT BETTER.

>> NO DOUBT THE PRISONS ARE A HUGE MAJOR ISSUE, AND THAT'S ANOTHER FOUNDATION THAT WE STARTED.

AND WE HAVE GOT ONE PRISON BEING BUILT UNDERWAY IN ELMORE, AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026, AND THEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PRISON WILL BE BUILT SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

WHEN WE GET THOSE TWO PRISONS BUILT, WE CAN PROVIDE REHABILITATION TO OUR PRISONERS IN A BETTER FASHION AND GIVE THEM VOCATIONAL TRAINING SO THEY CAN GET A GOOD JOB WHEN THEY GET OUT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE CRIME GOING ON IN THE PRISONS TODAY.

AND COMMISSIONER HAMM IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT AOC BUT THEY DON'T TOLERATE ANY MISBEHAVIOR, SO IT'S A HARD NUT TO CRACK BUT WE WILL KEEP WORKING AND FIND ALABAMA SOLUTIONS ON HOW TO DO THAT.

BUT BUILDING THE NEW PRISONS IS DEFINITELY A HAVE A-TO DO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO REHABILITATE AND TRAIN.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE NEW PRISONS.

WE WON'T SEE THOSE FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS; RIGHT?

AND YET THE PROBLEMS ARE KIND OF ACUTE RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE OPENINGS OF THE NEW PRISONS IS TOO FAR AWAY AND THAT SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS MIGHT LEAD TO A FEDERAL TAKEOVER BEFORE WE HAVE THOSE NEW PRISONS COME ONLINE?

>> WE TRY TO KEEP THE FEDERAL COURTS APPRIZED OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE'RE PROUD TO WORK WITH THEM.

WE RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEMS AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO SOLVE THEM SO I THINK THEY WILL BE PATIENT.

>> LET'S RETURN TO THE TOP OF EDUCATION FOR A MINUTE.

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN COVERING A LOT.

WE JUST HAD A "SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION" EPISODE THE OTHER DAY.

WE FOCUS OF THE ON THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL CHOICE SOME, ESPECIALLY THE IDEA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE AS ALMOST LIKE A BUZZ WORD.

BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO SPECIFICS, THE POLICY REALLY MATTERS.

WE LOOKED AT -- HERE IN MONTGOMERY SOME OF THESE CONVERSION CHARTERS SCHOOLS THAT ARE OFFERING MORE FLEXIBILITY AND STARTING TO SEE SOME RESULTS, TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHARTER SCHOOLS BEING MORE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

MIGHT WE SEE CHARTER SCHOOLS BEING A PART OF YOUR EDUCATION PACKAGE NEXT YEAR?

>> EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

GOSH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMPLETE FOCUS ON IMPROVING EDUCATION, WHATEVER THAT MEANS, BIRTH TO WORKFORCE.

AND WE WILL BE SCRUTINIZING WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT OUR STUDENTS LEARN AND HOW WELL, THEY LEARN IT.

THESE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE.

THE WHOLE FUTURE OF OUR STATE AND OUR WORLD WILL DEPEND ON TECHNOLOGY, THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OUR STUDENTS GET.

AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS; RIGHT.

AND EDUCATION TEETH TO BE ADDRESSED AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN MY SECOND TERMINATE.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND I REALTY APPRECIATE YOU TELL COMING ON THE SHOW.

AND GOOD LUCK ON TUESDAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TODD.

GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY YOLANDA FLOWERS, DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, MR. TODD, FOR HAVING ME.

I DO APPRECIATE IT.

HAD YOU'RE SO WELCOME. '

SER TO HAVE YOU ON.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> WELL, I AM -- I WAS BORN IN BIRMINGHAM, BOSCH AND RAISED THERE.

I LEFT HERE IN '78 TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION ONCE I GRADUATED TO TENNESSEE.

I TRAVELED THERE.

THAT'S WHERE I OBTAINED MY VARIOUS DEGREES.

1ST WAS SPEECH AT THE PALASIPPI STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND MY BACHELOR'S AND MASTER WERE OBTAINED AT THE YOU ARE NOT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE.

AND I AM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE I JUST SEE HOW OUT OF ORDER OUR STATE IS.

IT'S OUT OF ORDER.

THERE'S JUST DISCORD, DISSIMILARITIES AND DISPARITIES.

IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT RIGHT FOR ALL OF US.

SO MY HEART IS JUST PIVOTED TOWARDS OUR STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE IS HEALED.

THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON THAT IS NOT RIGHT AND IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR OVER 200 YEARS, YOU KNOW.

AND BEING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, AND SEEING HOW CROSS BURNINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, A LOT OF THE DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM, IT'S JUST TIME THAT ALABAMA STOPPED THAT AND ENDS IT YOU KNOW, AND WE ALL CONSIDER EACH OTHER AS FAMILY BECAUSE WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, JUST THINK ABOUT ALABAMA -- YOU KNOW HER NAME THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER BY THE NATIVE AMERICANS, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHICH MEANS TRIBAL TOWN.

TO ME THAT SPELLS UNITY, TOGETHERNESS.

AND SO FAR WE SENT BEEN THAT WAY, THAT PROPHETIC NAME THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY OUR NATIVE AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE COMMISSIONS THAT I AM COMPELLED TO BRING ABOUT FOR ALL OF US, BOTH SIDES, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, TO COME TOGETHER AND TO BE ONE YOU NOT SO THAT WE CAN HEAL OUR STATE.

YEAH, PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, BUT THOSE OF US WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, WE'RE HER CHILDREN, YOU KNOW?

>> YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT ALABAMA HAS TRENDED PRETTY HEAVILY REPUBLICAN IN IN RECENT YEARS.

SO HOW ARE YOU HOPING TO OVERCOME THAT AND GET PEOPLE TO NOT JUST VOTE THAT STRAIGHT TICKET?

>> TALKING ABOUT THE STRAIGHT TICKET THIS TIME OR IN THE FUTURE?

>> JUST IN GENERAL, GIVEN THE ADVANTAGE THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS HOW DO YOU WANT TO OVERCOME THAT AND TELL THEM THEY CAN CROSSOVER AND VOTE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, IT IS SIMPLE.

IF YOU HAVE THE SAME IDEAS, THE SAME DESIRE FOR ALABAMA TO BE HEALED, FOR ALABAMA TO BE -- -- TO NOT BE DISCOURAGE -- THE SCOURGE OF THE WHOLE NATION AND NATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FAR AND WIDE, NOT JUST IN OUR OWN COUNTRY BUT COUNTRIES.

AND THE WORDS ARE GOING OUT THAT WE'RE BEHIND, WE ARE DELAYED, WE JUST DON'T HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM FOR THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS LULLED, THE EDUCATION, THE HEALTH CARE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM -- EVERYTHING IS JUST TERRIBLE ACCORDING TO THE STANDARDS.

SO I WANT TO ERASE THAT SCOURGE.

AND I BELIEVE IF THE REPUBLICANS, LIBERTARIANS, WHO WORRY, IF THEY FEEL AS I FEEL, AND FEEL THAT WE DESERVE A BETTER ALABAMA FOR EVERYBODY, THE MARGINALIZED, THE POOR, EVERYONE, THEN THEY SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM TO COME ON OVER.

>> YOU MENTIONED EDUCATION AS AN ISSUE.

THEY HAD THE NATIONAL REPORT CARD COME OUT LAST WEEK.

IT SHOWED SOME PROGRESS, ESPECIALLY IN THE ELEMENTARY LEVELS.

MAYBE PEOPLE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO SEE THAT.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR IDEAS TO BUILD UPON AND REALLY EXPAND THAT PROGRESS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION AS YOU SAID?

>> BEING AN EDUCATOR I HAVE WORKED WITH STUDENTS WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES; OKAY?

AND SOME JUST -- IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS HAVING ADD.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL AND TAILOR OUTLINE CURRICULUM BASED ON OR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, ON WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO, THEIR STRENGTHS AND THEIR WEAKNESSES, AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO -- IF WE HAD THAT PLAN IN PLACE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE SUCCESS IN OUR SCORES.

BUT WE HAVE TO START THERE AND START WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOSTER OUR CHILDREN.

THAT'S NORMALLY GIVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY DEEMED FOR SPECIAL ED, OKAY, AND IEP.

BUT IF WE INCORPORATE THE IEP THROUGHOUT FOR EVERY CHILD AT THE BEGINNING OF AGE FIVE WHEN THEY GO INTO KINDERGARTEN THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP REFERENCE AND CITE IF THERE ARE ANY DISABILITIES OR NOT AS WELL AS THEIR STRENGTHS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER TAILOR THIS FOR THEM FOR SUCCESS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> ONE ISSUE ON CHILDREN EDUCATION THAT HAS BEEN DEBATED AMONG BOTH PARTIES IS SCHOOL CHOICE.

WHAT IS YOUR BASIC POSITION ON SCHOOL CHOICE, WHETHER IT SHOULD PROLIFERATE OR GO BACKS.

>> I'M AGAINST IT.

I AM.

I'M AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE.

EVERY PARENT WANTS THEIR CHILD TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT IS, YOU KNOW, PROMINENT, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, CLEAN WATER AND ALL.

BUT IF WE DO THE SAME AS ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN, BECAUSE I'M IN BIRMINGHAM, WE KNOW IN BIRMINGHAM THERE ARE CERTAIN SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT AS WELL KEPT AS OTHERS LIKE IN MOUNTAIN BROOK AND VESTAVIA.

SO IF WE CAN BRING THAT ALONG THE URBAN SIDE, AVONDALE, WOODLAWN, NORTH BIRMINGHAM, AND MAKE THOSE SCHOOLS AS GOOD AS THOSE ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN THEN OUR PARENTS WOULDN'T HAVE TO DECIDE OR HAVE ARE A FEAR THEIR CHILDREN ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE PROPER EDUCATION AS THOSE OVER THE MOUNTAIN CONTINUE.

SO WE WANT TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR PARENTS THE DECENCY TO GIVE THEM COMPARABLE, GOOD EDUCATION, ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE DON'T WANT ARE PARENTS TO FEEL AS IF I WANT MY CHILD TO GO OVER THERE AND PAY A TUITION AND LEAVE THESE SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE BEHIND.

AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE MONIES ARE ALLOCATED TO THOSE SCHOOLS, WHEN IT SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO ALL SCHOOLS.

>> WHILE I HAVE YOU, THIS LAST QUESTION -- MEDICAID.

IT SEEMS IT'S AN ANNUAL, PERENNIAL ISSUE, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO EXPAND THE LEGISLATURE, THE CURRENT GOVERNOR INCUMBENT THAT YOUR OPPONENT HAS BEEN HESITANT TO GO THERE AND SAY THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO EXPAND MEDICAID: WHAT IS YOUR ARGUMENT AND PITCH TO VOTERS TO SAY WHAT YOU WOULD DO WITH THE MEDICAID EXPANSION ISSUE?

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD DO WITH THE MEDICAID EXPANSION, OF COURSE I WOULD EXPAND IT.

TRAVELING THE STATE, WHEN WE ENTER A COUNTY -- I ASK BECAUSE I'M MOSTLY IN THE BACK.

DID YOU ALL SEE A HOSPITAL?

DID YOU SEE -- WELL, NO.

SO WHEN YOUR TRAVELING THESE COUNTIES AND YOU SEE NO HOSPITAL AND YOU KNOW THAT'S A RED FLAG TO ME.

BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE RURAL COUNTIES ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL 50 TO 60 MILES JUST TO SEE A DOCTOR, JUST TO BE ADMITTED, WITH JUST IN CASE THERE'S AN EMERGENCY -- EVEN IN THE RURAL AREAS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EMERGENCY, NO EMT, NO AMBULANCE SERVICE TO GET THEM FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

SO MY THING IS PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE RURAL COUNTIES.

AND THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SEE A DOCTOR THAT IS REPUTABLE TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO A HOSPITAL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY WITHOUT TRAVELING.

NOT EVERYTHING THAT LIVES IN RURAL COUNTIES HAS MONEY.

WE HAVE A PEOPLE MOSTLY IN RURAL COUNTIES THAT ARE POOR.

SO WE NEED TO HAVE HEALTH CARE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY NOT JUST TO THE RICH AND NOT JUST TO THE MIDDLE CLASS BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER OUR POOR CITIZENS.

WE HAVE MORE POOR, MORE MARGINALIZED THAN WE HAVE THOSE WHO ARE WEALTHY OR WELL -- YOU KNOW, HAVE A GOOD STATUS OF ECONOMICS.

SO WE CANNOT DISCRIMINATE THAT WAY.

I MEAN THAT'S NOT FAIR.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME TO COME ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND GOOD LUCK ON TUESDAY.

>> THANK YOU, MR. TODD.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY KATIE BEFORE IT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

>> WELL, THE ELECTION IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY.

YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

I HAVE SEEN IT FROM INSTANT GAME AND WHAT NOT.

WHAT IS THE YOUR PITCH TO VOTERS.

WHY SHOULD THEY SEND YOU TO THE U.S. SENATE.

>> WELL, WE HAVE BEEN CHRIS CROSSING THE STATE GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE AND LISTENING TO THEM BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE OUR COUNTRY IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

THEN SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

I'M GOING TO GO FIGHT FOR ALABAMA VALUES AND FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO HAVING THAT VOICE THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE, THAT'S WHAT I HOPE ALL VOTERS KNOW THAT I PLAN TO DO AND GIVE THEM.

>> WELL, ASSUMING YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO GET ELECTED YOU WILL BE SERVING IN THE U.S. SENATE.

A BIG DECISION THERE OR A BIG PART OF WHAT IS WHAT COMMITTEES YOU END UP SERVING ON.

AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN UP THERE.

ARE THERE ANY COMMITTEES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN EYEING THAT YOU WANT TO LOBBY FOR?

I HEAR THERE'S AN OPENINGS ON APPROPRIATIONS.

>> 1 OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE APPROACH IT LIKE A TEACH E SO COACH TUBERVILLE AND MYSELF LOOKING AT PAM'S NEEDS AND HOW DO WE MAKES SURE ALABAMA IS COVERED.

WE NEED SOMEONE ON ARMED SERVICES AND SOMEONE ON APPROPRIATIONS WE NEED SOMEONE ON AGRICULTURE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME WHICH ONE OF US IS ON WHICH ONE OF US BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALABAMA HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE ON EVERY ONE OF THEM.

CURRENTLY, SENATOR TUBERVILLE IS ON AGG AND ARMED SERVICES.

AND ACROSS THE BOARD OF COMMERCE, HAS A WINDOW AND A RESPONSIBILITY FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR SEVERAL THINGS THAT TOUCH OUR STATE, EVERYTHING FROM NASA TO NOAA AND OBVIOUSLY TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, BROADBAND WHICH WE KNOW THE STATE CONTINUES TO NEED DESPERATELY AS WE PIN TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CONNECTIVITY ALL OVER THE STATE, NO MATTER YOUR ZIP CODE.

ALSO BANKING IS A REALLY GOOD ONE.

I LOOKS LIKE BELIEVE INTELLIGENCE WOULD BE -- GIVE ME INCREDIBLE INSIGHT AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH ACROSS THE WORLD RIGHT IN AND OUT.

I BELIEVE OUR LEADERS NEED TO EXHIBIT APPEALS THROUGH STRENGTH.

SO KNOWING THE INS AND OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE'RE FACING, MAKING SURE THAT OUR MILITARY THEREFORE CAN BE THE BEST EQUIPPED AND READY AND PREPARED TO KEEP OUR WAR FIGHTERS SAFE AND OUR COUNTRY STRONG.

SO ALL OF THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN AND I'M SEWER THERE ARE MORE THAT HAVE A NEXUS TO ALABAMA WHERE I CAN BE A VOICE AND CHAMPION FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

>> WELL, LOOKING POST ELECTION, IT LOOK LIKE ALL OF THE FORECAST SAY THAT THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS.

THAT'S MOST LIKELY.

THE SENATE COULD GO EITHER WAY.

WE MAY NOT KNOW ELECTION NIGHT BECAUSE OF SITUATION IN GEORGIA BUT WE'RE LIKELY TO HAVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AGAIN.

IF THAT'S THE CASE DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONGRESS TO WORK WOULD THE ADMINISTRATION OR DO YOU THINK MAYBE THERE'S SOME COMMON GROUND THERE OR DO YOU THINK THE TWO SIDES ARE TOO ENTRENCHED.

>> I'M GOING TO DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT ON THE 1ST PART.

I BELIEVE THAT THE RED WAVE IS NOT ONLY GO TO LAW US TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE BUT DECISIVELY TAKE BACK THE SENATE.

WHEN YOU LOOKS ACROSS THE NATION, INFLATION IS HITTING PEOPLE HARD.

OUR RETIREES OBVIOUSLY SAW IT 1ST BUT HARD-WORKING AMERICANS ARE AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

LOOK AT CRIME SPIKING ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

EVEN IN THIS STATE WE HAVE LOST EIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY THIS YEAR ALONE.

AND LOOK AT THE EDUCATION SPACE WHERE WE HAVE DROPPED ACROSS THE NATION.

AND I KNOW ALABAMA ACTUALLY MADE GAINS.

I THINK THAT THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF US GETTING KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT ACROSS THE NATION WE'RE DOWN '8S IN MATH AND 5234 READING AND THAT MATTERS.

WHY THESE THAT ENERGY AND PEOPLE WANTING US TO PRESERVE THE NATION WE KNOW AND LOVE AND PRESERVE THE DREAM FOR OF THE NEXT GENERATION WILL CARRY US INTO A DECISIVE WIN.

ON THAT NOTE I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE THE HOUSE AND 123459 AND OBVIOUSLY WITH A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, I THINK IMPORTANTLY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO STOP PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RECKLESS AGENDA.

SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN TO OUR COUNTRY'S DETRIMENT, AND I BELIEVE WE WILL BE TABLE 0 STAND IN THE GAP THERE.

ALSO WITH NOT KNEELS.

WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING PLACES TO WORK TOGETHER IT CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

I UNDERSTAND IMMIGRATION, PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ON WHAT OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY FOR THIS NATION SHOULD BE BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO AGREE.

I THINK THAT THE BORDER IS DIFFERENT.

THE BORDER SHOULD BE SEALED AND SECURE.

THAT'S A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURE AND ENDING THE HUMANITARIAN CRISES ON OUTER OWN SOIL.

SO I THINK SEALING AND SECURING THE BORDER, GETTING THAT IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND ALSO FINDING OTHER PLACES THAT WE CAN -- BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CAN COME TOGETHER AND PUT THINGS IN FRONTS OF HIM AND MAKE HIM COME TO THE TABLE AND MOVE THIS COUNTRY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING.

YOU'RE VERY CONFIDENT.

>> I AM.

>> AND YOUR BUY IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES.

AND THERE'S ONE -- ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

BUT THE ONE I'M WATCHING IS WASHINGTON.

I WANT YOU TO WATCH TIFFANY SMILEY.

SHE'S SPECIAL.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SPENDING.

I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY IN DISPUTE THAT THE REALLY UNHEARD OF, UNPRECEDENTED SPENDING FROM WASHINGTON COVID RELATED, COVID ADJACENT REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO INFLATION, THE INFLATION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW.

BUT IT'S MRS.

TRUE THAT TURNINGS OFF THAT SPIGOT CAN BE PAINFUL.

IT CAN BE UNPOPULAR.

IT CAN ALSO HAVE RECESSIONARY EFFECTS.

SO HOW DOES CONGRATULATIONS FIND THE RIGHT FORMULA, IF YOU WILL, TO 81 SELL THE BUDGET ON A PATH TO PAL.

>> IT'S A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH.

I BELIEVE IN A BALANCED BUDGET AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT AT HOME AND OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE DOING THAT EACH DAY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE 5-PENNY PLAN, TAKING FIVE PENNIES FROM EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND OVER FIVE YEARS TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

SOME VERSION OF THAT, I THINK, WHERE YOU ARE MAKING INCREMENTAL STEPS TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL THAT YOU SHED IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT.

ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS AND OVERBURDENSOME REGULATIONS AT ADMINISTRATIVE STATE THAT IS COSTING TAX PAIRS ADDITIONAL MONEY AND HURTING THEM AND THEIR OWN POCKETBOOK THAT WE COULD REIGN BACK LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT WE COULD GET RID OF.

YES, I DO HAVE YOU BUREAUCRATS THERE MAKING ABOUT $150,000 ON AVERAGE A YEAR AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT OUR TEACHERS ARE MAKING HERE.

SO REPRIORITIZING THAT AND DRIVING THAT BACK DOWN TO THE STATE LEVEL AND ALSO AS WE CONTINUE TO CREATED REGULATION THAT CREATES MORE GOVERNMENT SO THE LESS REGULATION THE LESS GOVERNMENT THE BETTER OFF OUR TAXPAYERS WILL BE.

>> IF YOU ARE ELECTED YOU WILL BE THE YOUNGEST REPUBLICAN WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO THE SENATE.

YOU WILL BE THE ONLY REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO IS A MOM TO SCHOOL AGE KIDS.

IT'S A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

SO HOW DO YOU THINK THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU WOULD BRING TO THE JOB MIGHT IMPACT THE SENATE BOAT AND THAT REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

>> YEAH.

SO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE PARENT.

SO I HAVE TALKING ACT THIS ALL OVER THE STATE.

YOU SEE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WAKING UP, YOU KNOW, AFTER COVID AND CHILDREN BEANS LOCKED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND WANTING OUR CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED AND NOT INDOCTRINATED, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING JUST ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IF AND IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES HOW THE CRISES SAT THE BORDER IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE FENTANYL THAT IS COMING ACROSS AND THAT REACHING OUR CHILDREN.

SO I THINK I BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

I THINK BEING A 40-YEAR-OLD MOM OF TWO WHO RUNS CARPOOL AND DOES CONCESSION STAND DUTY AND LISTENS TO WHAT CHILDREN ARE TALKING ABOUT KNOWS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AS PARENTS.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT I CAN PROVIDE AND BE A LOUD AND A FORCEFUL VOICE FOR PARENTS ACROSS NOT ONLY ALABAMA BUT OUR COUNTRY.

I THINK FOR THE 1ST GENERATION THAT IS LOOKING AT POSSIBLY LEAVING OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDKIDS WITH LESS FREEDOM AND LESS OPPORTUNITY THAN WE HAD, SO STANDING UP AND FIGHTING TO PRESERVE THAT AMERICAN DREAM AND BEING A VOICE FOR THAT FOR OUR KIDS, I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

>> WELL, YOU'VE BEEN A PRESS SECRETARY.

I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.

YOU HAVE BEEN A CHIEF OF STAFF.

DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE DAYS?

SO YOU HAVE BEEN ON STAFF IN THE SENATE.

YOU UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL THAT STAFF IS TO THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF A SENATOR.

SO WHAT WOULD YOUR PHILOSOPHY BE FOR BUILDING A STAFF IN D.C. AND HERE IN THE STATE?

>> Y, I'M GOING TO ADD TO THE LAST QUESTION REAL QUICK, TODD.

AT 40 YEARS OLD I BELIEVE IF OUR GENERATION DOESN'T STEP UP AND WAKE AND YOU WANT START TO REALLY CONTRIBUTE I'M NOT SURE WHERE OUR NATION GOES.

SO I'M ALSO HOPEFUL THAT ME PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE WILL ALLOW OTHERS TO DO THE SAME THING AND THAT WE CAN REALLY START TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WITH REGARDS TO THE STAFF, SO I'M A BIG BELIEVE IN TEAMWORK.

I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WORK HARD.

WE DON'T NEED -- WHY THESE THIS ABOUT THE SENATE TOO YOU DON'T NEED A HUNDRED SENATORS THAT ARE ALL TRYING TO WIN THE HEISMAN.

YOU NEED A HUNDRED SENATORS WORKING TOGETHER TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IF THAT MAKES SENSE, OR 50 AND 50 OR WHATEVER THE SPLIT MAY BE AND THE SAME THING WITH A STAFF.

I BELIEVE IN CREATING A TEAM ENVIRONMENT, ONE WHERE WE SERVE THE NATION, THE STATE, AND THEN ALLOW PEOPLE TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY.

IT WILL TAKE -- WE WILL IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF ALABAMA AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE COVERED ARE EXPERT TEASE.

WITH REGARDS TO ME BEING BASICALLY NUMBER 100 OUT OF 100 IF WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN ON TUESDAY, I WON'T HAVE A COMMITTEE STAFF OF ANY SORT MOST LIKELY SO WHATEVER COMMITTEES I AM ASSIGNED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN ADEQUATELY AND EFFICIENTLY COVER THOSE FOR ALABAMA WOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LONG-TERM PLANNING VERSUS SHELTER PLANNING.

I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SOME OF SHELBY'S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAPPENED.

YEARS INTO HIS TENURE BUT MAYBE THE SEEDS WERE PLANTED YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

SO HOW WOULD YOU AS A SENATOR KEEP THAT LONG-TERM FOCUS WHILE ALSO DON SIEGELMAN WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY AND THE WEEK TO WEEK AND THE THINGS THAT COME UP AND KEEP YOU BUSY?

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

HE REALLY WAS A VISIONARY IN SO MANY WAYS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE PORT OR WITH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OR HAD EVEN THE WORK THERE AT OUR MILITARY BASES, REDSTONE BEANS CHIEF AMONGST THAT.

SO I THINK ONE THING I WILL HAVE TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE I AM SLOTTED ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

AND OBVIOUSLY SERVE THE NATION.

AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT HOW ALABAMA CAN BENEFIT AS A RESULT OF MY SERVICE ON THOSE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, WHAT THINGS WE'RE TOUCHING WHERE WE CAN REALLY MAKE CHANGE HERE AND WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS WORKING TOGETHER, COMMUNICATING TO SAY HERE ARE OUR CHALLENGES, HERE ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES, HOW DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS FOR MORE ALABAMIANS AND THESE CHALLENGES, THESE IT PEDIMENTS, THINGS THAT ARE KEEPING THAT NEXT GENERATION FROM ACHIEVING OR BEING, HOW DO WE HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND TACKLE THOSE HEAD ON?

SO IN ADDITION TO KEEPING UP WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY I WILL BE WORKING WITH PEOPLE, LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL TO SAY WHERE ARE WE AND WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO AND FIGURING OUT HOW I CAN CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUT PAM IN THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THOSE AREAS.

>> WELL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT I HAVE NOT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW, AND GOOD LUCK ON TUESDAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I HOPE TO ALL OF YOUR VIEWERS I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO EARN THEIR VOTE.

>> OKAY.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY DR. WILL BOYD, DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

DOCTOR,, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" >> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE WERE HONORING EAST OTHER' CUFF LINKS.

YOU'RE ONE OF MY 1ST GUEST TO HAVE THESE.

I LIKE YOURS, STATE OF THE ALABAMA.

>> I LIKE YEARS.

VERY NICE.

>> YOU'RE RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE, ON THE STATE CAMPAIGNING.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH VIEWERS MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHY YOU'RE ASKING VOTERS TO SEND YOU TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE?

>> SURE.

BY DEGREE I'M AN ENGINEER.

I HAVE AN MBA SO THERE'S A BIG BACKGROUND THERE.

I ALSO HAVE DEGREES THAT RELATE TO CHRISTIAN CLINICAL THERE, RELIGION, LEADERSHIP.

I HAVE BEEN A PROFESSOR, A DEAN, I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL, MECHANICAL ENGINEER.

80S RELATES TO WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW BEING A BISHOP AND PASTOR I'M ADJUST SERVANT TO PEOPLE.

I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I WANT EVERY ALABAMA TO HAVE A SHOT THE A THE AMERICAN DREAM.

WE HAVE TRAVEL THE STATE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, PARTICULARLY SINCE 2016 AND SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HURTING, SO MANY WHO JUST WANT A VOICE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING, TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> YOU KNOW A BIG PART OF BEING IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IS THE COMMITTEES THAT YOU SERVE ON.

THAT REALLY KIND OF DETERMINES YOUR PATHWAY TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF FOCUS.

HAVE YOU GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO IF ELECTED WHAT COMMITTEES YOU WOULD WANT TO SERVE ON AND KIND OF WHAT WORK YOU WOULD WANT TO DO?

>> COMMITTEES THAT RELATE TO SERVING ALABAMA BEST OF INTEREST TO ME ARE THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.

OBVIOUSLY BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGIES IMPORTANT TO ALABAMA ESPECIALLY THE NORTH ALABAMA AREA WHERE WE HAVE THE REDSTONE ARSENAL.

AND OF COURSE INDIAN AFFAIRS, THE POARCH CREEK INDIANS ARE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR STATE.

AND I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THEY NEED THAT REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

SO THOSE COMMITTEES WILL BE OF GREATEST BENEFIT I BELIEVE TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> YOU KNOW, SENATOR SHELBY, WHOSE SEAT YOU ARE VYING TO REPLACE OR FILL, HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

REALLY MADE HILLS BONES ON APPROPRIATIONS AND REALLY GEARING MONEY -- FEDERAL MONEY BACK TO ALABAMA BUT IT TOOK HIM A LONG TIME.

>> OH, SURE.

>> BUILDING THAT SENIORITY.

WOULD THAT BE YOUR INTENTION TO KIND OF EBB A SENATOR FOR A LONG TIME TO BUILD THAT SENIORITY TO EVENTUALLY GET THE FEDERAL SPENDING AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS BACK TO THE STATE.

>> WELL, WITH ALL OF THE DEGREES I HAVE, OBVIOUSLY A READ A LOT OF BOOKS RIGHT?

BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT READING A BOOK IS YOU CAN PICK UP A BACK TO AND IN ONE MOMENT PICK UP SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE TOOK A LIFETIME TO GAIN.

IF YOU LOOK AT BALLOTPEDIA, SOMEONE THAT WOULD I LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH IS SENATOR SHELBY AND LEARN TO KNOW HOW TOE BROUGHT HOME THE BACON SO WELL AND THINGS THAT HE EXPERIENCED AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS JOURNEY.

I WANT TO MAKE A CAREER OUT OF THIS.

WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS I WILL WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE AISLE AND I INTEND TO GIVE IT MY BEST SIX YEARS AND IF THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA SAY 12, EVEN BETTER BUT I'M KNOT MAKING A YEAR.

JUST A DIFFERENCE.

>> WE BRING UP THE REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT -- IT'S UNDETERMINED WHAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO BE.

THE HOUSE -- THEY'RE SAYING THE HOUSE IS GOING TO GO REPUBLICAN.

THE SENATE IS A TOSS UP.

KAY BEFORE IT WAS ON HER HERE AND SHE WAS CONFIDENT IT'S GOING TO BE REPUBLICAN.

BUT EITHER WAY IT'S GOING TO BE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT PROBABLY THE NEXT TERM.

SO DO YOU THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN WORK TOGETHER IN IF HE DID OF THIS ADMINISTRATION OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE TOO ENTRENCHED.

>> NO.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER AND WE CAN.

LIKE GUN REFORM LEGISLATION IS.

WHEN WE COME TO THE TABLE AND AGREE THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS BAD AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.

OF COURSE YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME ON THE RIGHT WHO SAY IF YOU BARELY LOOK AT A GUN AND TOUCH IT YOU'RE VIOLATING A SECOND AMENDMENT -- YOU HAVE SOME ON THE LEFT WHO SAY I WANT TO TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING THAT LOOK LIKE AN ASSAULT WEAPON.

YOU CAN'T GO IN WITH THOSE TWO EXTREMES.

YOU HAVE TO GO IN IN THE MIDDLE AND SAY LET'S AGREE 400 PLUS INJURIES IN ALABAMA EVERY YEAR IS BAD AND OVER 1400 PEOPLE DYING IN ALABAMA BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE IS BAD, LET'S AGREE THAT 500 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR IN ALABAMA HURTING THEMSELVES AND EVEN KILLING THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE GUNS IS BAD.

LET'S AGREE THAT BEING SECOND IN THE NATION WITH GUN VIOLENCE IS BAD.

AND WITH THAT WORK YOUR WAY OUT FROM THE AGREEMENT ON THE GUN VIOLENCE ISSUE, MAYBE YOU CAN START WITH IT'S EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS, MAKE SURE THERE'S A WAITING PERIOD THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND YOU STAIR STEP YOUR WAY OUT AND AS YOU DO THE, YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND COMPROMISE ALONG THE WAY, NOT JUST WALK IN WITH THIS IS MY AGENDA AS A DEMOCRAT OR YOURS AS A REPUBLICAN.

WE MIGHT HAVE OUR BACKGROUND, IDEOLOGYIS WHICH ARE GREAT -- THAT GUIDES US AND OUR PRINTS THAT WE WANT TO OPERATE FROM.

BUT FROM THE ART OF POLITICS, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, THERE HAS TO BE COMPROMISE IN WORKING TOGETHER.

>> WELT, LET'S TALK ABOUT FEDERAL SPENDING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

YOU HAVE SEEN REALLY UNPRECEDENTED FEDERAL SPENDING COVID RELATED.

YOU HAD THE CARES ACT.

THEN YOU HAD THE -- THEY QUIT CALLING IT BUILD BACK BETTER OUGHT AARPA, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PAC AND A LOT OF FEDERAL SPENDING AND THERE'S NOT MUCH IN DISPUTE SOME OF THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN AND OUT WITH INFLATION.

SO HOW DOES CONGRATULATIONS MAYBE DIAL BACK THAT EXCESSIVE SPENDING OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHAT SOME CALL EXCESSIVE BUT NOT GO TOO FAR WHERE IT CAUSES A RECESSION.

THAT'S A TOUGH BALANCE.

>> IT IS.

AND, OF COURSE, BEING A FORMER PES PROFESSOR I HAD TO TEACH ABOUT FISCAL POLICY, MONETARY POLICY.

TODAY IS ONE AT A TIME OF THOSE DAYS WHERE WE ADDED OVER 200,000 JOBS OF COURSE TO THE ECONOMY, AND PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND DOING WELL BUT WE'RE ARGUING THAT THE INFLATION MAY BE THERE RISING, INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO COOL THINGS DOWN AND SLOW THINGS DOWN.

ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT, YES, SPENDING NEEDS TO BE SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT BUT AT A POINT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT AREAS THAT ALABAMA IS STRUGGLING AND FIGURING OUT YOU CAN BEST FUND THOSE AREAS OR GIVE THEM MONEY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

LAST NIGHT I WAS IN GREENE COUNTY N GREENE COUNTY, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THOSE PEOPLE OF COLOR, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WHO ARE IN COMMUNICATION, ONE OUT OF THREE SUFFERED SOME FOOD OR NUTRITION PROBLEM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

70 PERCENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO ARE IN THAT SAME CATEGORY, DEMOGRAPHIC, IN SCHOOL, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EXPERIENCE SOME TYPE OF HOMELESSNESS OR NUTRITIONAL CRISIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, 70 PERCENT.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOKS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

WE LEFT SO MANY PEOPLE BEHIND.

800,000 PEOPLE ARE IN POVERTY, THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT I ROLL THROUGH HAVE OVER 1,250,000 WOMEN WHO ARE WOULD YOU LET HEALTH CARE.

YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AN INTERESTING STATE WHERE WE HAVE DEPENDENTS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE THAN OTHER STATES.

MANY STATES ENJOY 25 PERCENT COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ALABAMA IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 40 IF NOT HIGHER AND THEN WE TURN AROUND AND HAVE REGRESS I HAVE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE MICRO AND MACRO LEVEL AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT TAXATION AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF RAISING REVENUES IN ALABAMA, LET'S LOOK AT IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BRING MONEY IN AND AGAIN, JUDGE AND EVALUATE HOW WE'RE SPENDING IT.

A LOT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE PUT ON THE TABLE NOR ALABAMA.

WE DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION.

SO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION A DIFFERENT WAY, I WANT TO MAKE ALABAMA A MANUFACTURING MAGNET IN THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US LESSEN TAXES, LOOSEN REGULATIONS, ALLOW MANUFACTURERS TO PULL MORE MONEY IN SO THEY CAN EMPLOYEE MORE PEOPLE IN ALABAMA, AS PEOPLE GOING TO WORK THEY'RE INFUSING MORE MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY.

AND I KNOW IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE BUT EVEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT STUDENT LOAN RELIEF IN SOME CAPACITY,, WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEL GRANT OR OTHER GRANTS, 10,000 OR 20,000 YOU'RE LOOK THE AT MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT.

SO THAT BEING SAID ALABAMA IS GOING TO HAVE MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME, WHEN WE LOOK AT STRATEGICALLY HOW WE CAN HELP THE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING THE MOST AND WE NEED TO GO A STEP FURTHER AND WE TALKS ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND CRIME BEING AN ISSUE BUT WITH IMMIGRATION WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BRAIN DRAIN HAPPENING HERE IN ALABAMA.

WE EDUCATE PEOPLE WELL.

WE HAVE GREAT COLLEGES.

I WAS ON AUBURN'S CAMPUS YESTERDAY, UAB, HEADED TO ANOTHER CAMPUS TOMORROW AND MAYBE TUSKEGEE LATER ON IN THE AFTERNOON.

WE EDUCATE PEOPLE BUT BECAUSE THE VISA ISSUES OR WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN RETAIN TALENT THEY'RE GOING OFF AND GOING TO HELP ANDS IN OTHER CONSERVATIVES WHEN WE WANTED THEM HERE.

SO AGAIN, MARK ROW BIG PICKET, PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK IS IMPORTANT BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT SKILL SETS SO THEY CAN FILL MANUFACTURING JOBS SO IN THE PASS-THROUGH BUSINESSES THEY CAN PAY MORE MONEY TO EMPLOYEES, REINVEST IN CAPITAL, KEEP THE BUSINESSES GROWING AND MAKING ALABAMA A MORE COMPETITIVE STATE.

>> IF AFFECTED, YOU WOULD BE -- IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE 1ST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED IN ALABAMA STATEWIDE TO STATEWIDE OFFICE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THING.

TALK ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT THAT COULD BE, THE IMPACT THAT YOU COULD HAVE NOT JUST IN ALABAMA ABOUT YOU THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND MAYBE EVEN FOR OTHERS -- FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS LOOKING TO RUN OR OFFICE.

>> BEFORE I DO THAT, IF I MAY, WE HAVE A HISTORIC TICKET.

WE HAVE NOT ONLY MYSELF, AFRICAN-AMERICAN BEING THE 1ST UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM OUR STATE BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE RUNNING FOR LT.

GOVERNOR, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, AND AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THAT'S HISTORIC BY ITSELF AND THEN WE HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF FROM TIME TO TIMES RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE TICKET.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS THAT I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH LATELY IN THE BLACK BELT AND EVEN OTHER PARTS OF THE ALABAMA, SEAT SOMEONE A PERSON OF COLOR, THINK SAY MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOR ME AND I IF I COULD BE TRANSPARENT AND BLUNT, IN 2022, LOOKING AT SCOTUS ACTION THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT WE VIOLATED SOME TYPE OF PLEA CLEARANCE ISSUES OR MAYBE WE DEALING WITH SHELBY HOLDER OR WITH THE DRAWING OF CONGRESSIONAL LINES PEOPLE FEEL LIKES THE PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE HAS BEEN -- JUST THE DRAWING OF CONGRESSIONAL LINES ALONE.

THAT'S NOT HAD TO MENTION THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING ACT, THE DESIRE FOR THERE TO BE EARLY VOTING AND A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS TO DISCUSS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE POINT OF VIEW.

THOSE ISSUES ALONE AND GOING INTO THE BLACK BELT, WHERE IN LOWNDES COUNTY THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING AND HAVE SEPTIC AND SEWER IN IT'S PROPER SETUP, AND IN PICKENS COUNTY WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A REGIONAL HOSPITAL AND IF YOU'RE HURT IN ALICEVILLE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 51 MINUTES TO GET A TUSCALOOSA, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALABAMA IN MANY WAYS LOOKING LIKE A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY AND YOU WANT BUSINESSES TO COME IN AND INVEST IN ALABAMA THEY HAVE TO SEE THAT WE'RE A STATE OF BRINGING INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND SETS.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A HISTORIC SLATE AND NOT JUST A SLATE BUT YOU HAVE PREFERABLY ON NOVEMBER 8, THE FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED UNITED STATES SENATOR I THINK IT SENDS A MESSAGE NATIONWIDE AND EVEN ACROSS THE WORLD THAT ALABAMA.

IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND E BRACE DIVERSITY, EMBRACE DIFFERENCES OF IDEAS, BACKGROUNDS AND UP BRINGINGS.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE'RE THERE.

BUT I THINK JUST SEEING IT, AS YOU POINT OUT, YOUNGER PEOPLE LIKE MY CHILDREN, MY SON, WHO IS IN COLLEGE, MY DAUGHTER, OLDEST DAUGHTER WHO IS IN HIGH SCHOOL, A JUNIOR, AND EVEN MY 9-YEAR-OLD WHO THINKS SHE'S 29 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY CAN LOOK AND SEE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING AND FIGHTING FOR THEM TO SUCCEED ACTUALLY DO IT, THEY CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I CAN DO THE STATE YOUR FULL NAME MYSELF.

>> WELL, DR. BOYD, WE'RE OUT OF ADVERTISEMENT.

>> WOW!

WHERE DID ALL OF THE TIME GO?

>> IT FEELS QUICK.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND GOOD LUCK ON TUESDAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT, SIR?

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY JOHN ROGERS, POLLSTER AND STRATEGIST WITH SIGNAL.

JOHN, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> TODD, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> SO Y'ALL HAVE CONDUCTED A POLL OF ALABAMA GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS.

IT'S INTERESTING.

WE JUST HEARD FROM THE TOP CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT.

SO NOW MAYBE WE CAN TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT NUMBERS THAT COULD BEAR OUT ON ELECTION DAY.

YOU DID THIS ON BEHALF OF ALABAMA DAILY NEWS AND TELEVISION I SHOULD MENTION.

LET ME JUST ASK YOU WHAT WERE YOUR GENERAL TAKE-AWAY WERE LOOKING AT THE TOP LINES.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAKE-AWAYS IS THAT THE ISSUE THAT VOTERS IN ALABAMA ARE GOING TO SHOW DECIDING ON IS INFLATION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY THAT DRIVES THEIR ISSUE SET.

SO THE NATIONAL MEDIA THAT SPENT A LOT OF COVERING ON ABORTION AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE DOBBS DECISION OF THE SUMMER.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALABAMA, 34 PERCENT OF VOTERS IN ALABAMA SAID THEIR TOP PRIORITY IS INFLATION, AND AN ADDITIONAL TENT PERCENT SAID THEIR PRIORITY WAS GROWING JOBS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA SO YOU COMBINE THAT AND 44 PERCENT OF VOTERS ARE SEEING THE ECONOMY AND THAT'S TRUE ALSO FOR INDEPENDENTS, NOT JUST FOR REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENTS IN THEIR TOP PRIORITY IS THE ECONOMY AS WELL.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE SIMILAR 1-866-552-0025ERS NATIONWIDE.

LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUAL RACES I GUESS IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO SEE REPUBLICANS PRETTY MUCH DOMINATING AND QUITE A FEW WILL THEM GETTING TO 60 PERCENT BUST ALSO LOOKED AT -- YOU ASKED VOTERS WOULD YOU CONSIDER VOTING STRAIGHT TICKET BECAUSE IN ALABAMA ALL YOU TELL HAVE TO DO IS AT THE TOP OF THE PAL LOT QUICK JUST REPUBLICANS OR JUST DEMOCRATS AND IT COUNTS FOR EVERY MEANT OF THAT PART ON THE BALLOT: AND MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF VOTERS PLAN TO VOTE TICKET REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S A CRAZY STAT AND MAYBE UNHEARD OF BEFORE.

>> IT'S A PRETTY ASTOUNDING FIGURE.

AND 80 PERCENT OF VOTERS OVER ALL SEA THINK PLAN TO VOTE STRAIGHT PART, WHETHER IT'S REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR LIBERTARIAN.

SO ONLY 20 PERCENT OF VOTERS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THE BALLOT AND CAST INDIVIDUAL VOTES IN THE DIFFERENT RACES BUT REPUBLICANS IN ARE IN A STRONG POSITION.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A HUGE SURPRISE.

THE GENERIC BALLOT SO WHEN WE ASKED TO YOU PLAN TO VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE, REPUBLICANS ARE AHEAD BY 31 POINTS.

THIS IS ARGUABLY THE STRONG EFFORT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN IN ALABAMA IN A GENERATION OR TWO.

>> I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT.

WE COVERED IT HERE A LOT OF A "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WHAT WERE YOUR NUMBERERS ON THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT?

>> RIGHT.

SO AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH IS KNOWN AS ANEA ALES ALLOW, 67 PERCENT OF VOTERS SAY THEY PLAN TO VOTE FOR IT.

AND REALLY IMPORTANTLY, ONLY 12 PERCENT SAY THEY PLAN TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

WHAT IT WANT TO FOUND ON THIS TO AND ALSO AMENDMENT TWO RELATED TO BROADBAND WHERE 56 PERCENT ARE PLANNING TO VOTE YES AND 17 PERCENT NO, THERE'S NOT STRONG OPPOSITION TO AMENDMENTS ONE OR TWO.

THEY'RE BOTH IN A GOOD POSITION TO PASS.

WE ASKED ABOUT THE RECOMPILATION OF THE ALABAMA STATE CONSTITUTION TO DELETE SOME OF THE OUTDATED LANGUAGE, AND THAT AS WELL HAS PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT.

54 PERCENT PLAN TO VOTE YES.

ONLY 16 PERCENT SAY THEY'RE PLANNING TO VOTE NO.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING THAT ARE GOING TO BE RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT.

YOU ALSO POLLED PRESIDENTIAL IN 2024.

I FOUND THIS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT KIND OF -- MAYBE A POTENTIAL MATCH UP WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WORKERS HE DON'T KNOW IF HE IS GOING TO RUN OR NOT BUT ALSO GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IN FLORIDA WHO IS AN UP AND COMER IN THAT RACE.

WHAT WERE THE IMPLICATIONS OF TRUMP VERSUS DESANTIS AND DID HE SAN IT IS WITHOUT TRUMP ON THE BALLOT WHEN IT COMES TO A POTENTIAL ALABAMA PRIMARY.

>> THE VIEWERS MAY BE THINKING WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO MIDTERMS BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2024.

>> WE'RE POLITICAL JUNKIES.

>> RIGHT.

YOU FLIP THE PAGE QUICKLY IN POLITICS.

WE JUST ASKED OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS AND SAID IF ALABAMA.

'S 24 PRIMARY WERE HELD TODAY WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR AND WE LISTED 12 CANDIDATES INCLUDING TRUMP AND DID HE SAN IT IS AND OTHERS.

TRUMPET -- IT'S VERY INTERESTING, DID NOT CLEAR 50 PERCENT.

HE GOT 49 .5 PERCENT.

49 OF THE 6 PERCENT IN THAT.

IN THAT QUESTION.

AT THE SAN IT IS AT 35.7.

SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT TRUMP DOES NOT CLEAR 50 PERCENT.

HIS IMAGE IS STILL ROCK SOLID WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA BECAUSE WE TESTED HIS IMAGE AS WELL.

BUT HALF OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE PERSON TO VOTE FOR AT THIS POINT AS WE LOOK AHEAD IN 2024.

WE THEN ASKED THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION AND SAID IF DONALD TRUMP CHOOSES NOT TO RUN WHO WOULD YOU VOTE TO IN THE 24 PRIMARY AND DESANTIS SHOOTS WAY UP AND GOES TO 71 PERCENT IF TRUMP IS NOT IN AND THE NEXT CLOSEST FIGURE IS FOR VICE PRESIDENT PENCE AT 7 PERCENT.

>> SOMETHING TELLS ME THEY WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE NUMBERS IN TALLAHASSEE.

AND MAR-A-LAGO FOR THAT MATTER.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND SHARING SOME OF THESE INTERESTING POLLING NUMBERS FROM SIGNAL.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

IS.

>> THAT'S HOUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACKS NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:30 P.M.

HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACEY.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.