>>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THE HISTORIC 2024 ELECTION IS FINALLY IN THE BOOKS.

MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION ALABAMIANS CAST A VOTE OUT OF THE 3.8 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS.

THAT PUT VOTER TURNOUT AT 58%.

OF COURSE, IT WAS DONALD TRUMP SCORING A DECISIVE WIN OVER KAMALA HARRIS WINNING MOST OF THE SWING STATES AND THE POPULAR VOTE, WHICH A REPUBLICAN HASN'T DONE SINCE 2004.

LET'S SEE HOW ALABAMA VOTED IN THIS ELECTION.

FIRST IN THE PRESIDENTIAL, TRUMP WON 65% OF THE VOTE IN ALABAMA TO HARRIS' 34%.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A BIGGER MARGIN THAN TRUMP GOT VERSUS BIDEN FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND IN THE BIG RACE FOR ALABAMA'S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IT WAS SHOMARI FIGURE SCORING THE BIG WIN WITH 55% OF THE VOTE TO CAROLEENE DOBSON'S 45%.

I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING WITH CONGRESSMAN-ELECT FIGURES LATER IN THE SHOW.

SARAH STEWART WON THE RACE TO BECOME ALABAMA'S NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, BESTING GREG GRIFFIN BY A 66-34 PERCENT MARGIN.

AND IN THE ONE STATE SCHOOL BOARD RACE THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT, INCUMBENT TONYA CHESTNUT DEFEATED DAVID PERRY 65% TO 45% FOR THE DISTRICT 5 SEAT.

BACK TO THAT RACE FOR CONGRESS IN THE 2ND DISTRICT.

IT WAS THE FIRST COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTION CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SINCE 2010.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT FOLLOWED THE CAMPAIGNS RIGHT DOWN TO THE FINAL MOMENTS.

HE REPORTS FROM MOBILE.

>> THERE'S A BUZZ IN THE AIR THIS ELECTION DAY.

>> IT'S NICE TO SEE PEOPLE COME OUT.

WE HAD SUCH A HARD TIME WHEN I WAS A KID -- HOME, SCHOOLS, JOB AND OUR RIGHT TO VOTE AND NOW WE HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO USE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> GLORIA CASEY IS EXCITE TO HAVE HER VOICE HEARD BUT SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

TAKE THIS FIRST-TIME VOTER AND FAMILY MEMBER WHO WITNESSED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

>> I DECIDED TO VOTE.

>> VERY IMPORTANT.

I WAS RAISED AND BORN IN 1950.

SO AIN'T NO GOING BACK.

>> VERY IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR REPUBLIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T VOTE AND THEN THEY WILL COMPLAIN.

>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK BACK TO OUR ANCESTORS WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR RIGHT AND WE CAN'T TAKE THIS RIGHT FOR GRANTED.

WE OWE IT TO OUR ANCESTORS, TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS COMING BEHIND US TO VOTE BECAUSE WHAT WE DO NOW WILL AFFECT MY GRANDKIDS.

>> DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATE SHOMARI FIGURES IS TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE STATE CAMPAIGNING.

ALL ROADS FOR HIM AND HIS OPPONENT LEAD TO MOBILE.

THERE, BOTH CANDIDATES WILL WATCH ELECTION RETURNS WITH SUPPORTERS.

ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED RACES DURING THIS ELECTION PERIOD TOOK PLACE HERE IN SOUTH ALABAMA FOR THE NEWLY REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2.

SO HOT WAS THIS RACE THAT PEOPLE ALL OVER ALABAMA, AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES CAME TO THE GULF COAST TO SEE THE RESULTS.

>> WE DIDN'T GET IN THIS RACE TO WIN IT.

WE GOT INTO IT TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO MAKE A CHANGE, TO GET THE HOSPITAL OPEN, WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

>> COMING INTO THE RACE WE KNEW THE COURT HAD A HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE BUT WE RAN A STRONG RACE AND TALKED ABOUT ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO ALABAMA FAMILIES, SKYROCKETING INFLATION, OPEN BORDERS AND RISING CRIME.

>> WHILE SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, FIGURES GETS WORD HE'S WON.

BOTH CANDIDATES SUM UP THE EXPERIENCE.

>> MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED MORE CITIZEN SERVANTS WHO RUN NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE WASHINGTON THEIR CAREER, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE DEDICATED TO SERVE OTHERS AND WORKING TOWARDS A BETTER DAY FOR ALL ALABAMIANS.

>> MY MOTHER AND FATHER DIDN'T RAISE ME TO BE ONE SIDED.

WE GOT INTO THE RACE BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME.

HOME IS NOT BLUE OR RED.

HOME IS A COLLECTIVE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LED THE NATION THROUGH THE TOUGHEST TIMES AND DARKEST DAYS AND WE CAN DO IT.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF US.

WE HAVE TO WORK BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND GET THE JOB DONE.

>> IN MOBILE, RANDY SCOTT, SHOMARI FIGURES.

>>> IN NON-ELECTION NEWS, ALABAMA CONTINUES TO PUSH FORWARD WITH AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS STATEWIDE.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE IN NOW IN THE HOME STRETCH.

FUNDED PRIMARILY BY FEDERAL DOLLARS, THE “BE LINKED ALABAM”" INITIATIVE IS SET TO COMPLETE BY 2026.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" JEFF SANDERS HAS THE STORY.

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS OR ADECA IS LEADING A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO UNDER SERVED AREAS WORKING WITH INTERNET PROVIDER AND LEADERS THE GOALLE IS TO CONNECT THE MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES BY THE END OF 2026, A DEADLINE SET BY FEDERAL FUNDING GUIDELINES.

THIS IS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD STATEWIDE CONNECTIVITY.

>> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH FROM THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS HAS BEEN A TRUE CONSORTIUM OF PEOPLE WORKING AND COLLABORATING.

>> THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ARPA AND ADDITIONAL GRANTS TOTALING $1.4 BILLION TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACROSS ALABAMA'S 67 COUNTIES.

THESE FUNDS ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING LASTING INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING DARK FIBER AND BRING BROADBAND ACCESS CLOSER TO RURAL AND HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES.

>> CONNECTIVITY THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE, OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WORKING FROM HOME, ALLOWING THE CHILDREN, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS A PANDEMIC IN THE FUTURE THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE DO LESSONS FROM HOME.

>> THE STAKES ARE HIGH AS ARPA GUIDELINES REQUIRE FUNDS TO BE COMMITTED BY THE END OF 2024 AND FULLY SPENT BY 2026.

SO FAR, ALABAMA AWARDED $500 MILLION TO INTERNET PROVIDERS WITH PROJECTS ESTIMATED TO COVER 127,000 UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS STATEWIDE.

BOSWELL SAID THE EXPANSION HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND MAKES ALABAMA COMPETITIVE IN GLOBAL INDUSTRIES.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO INDUSTRY, MAKING SURE THAT IF WE NEED TO CONNECT WITH KOREA ON THEIR TIMELINE OR JAPAN, INDIA, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT IN THE WORLD.

>> WITH THE CLOCK TICKING, BOSWELL SAID THE BROADBAND TEAM IS RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO MEET THE DEADLINE.

FOR CAPITOL JOURNAL I'M JEFF SANDERS.

FOR CAPITOL JOURNAL, I'M JEFF SANDERS.

A TENSE MEETING HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

THE LEGISLATIVE CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE MET FOR ITS MONTHLY TASK OF REVIEWING CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO BY STATE AGENCIES.

BUT THINGS GOT TESTY WHEN SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT BLOCKED THE ENTIRE AGENDA OF CONTRACTS WORTH MORE THAN $80 MILLION IN SPENDING IN AN EFFORT TO PRESSURE THE ALABAMA BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

ELLIOT SAYS ABC IS NOT COMPLYING WITH A 2023 LAW REQUIRING THEY ACCOMMODATE ONLINE TRAINING FOR HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN ALCOHOL SERVICE.

THE CONTRACT HOLDS CAN ONLY LAST 45 DAYS BUT ELLIOTT SAYS IT'S ABOUT PROVING A POINT.

>> THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THE HEAD OF THE ABC BOARD.

WE EXPECT THEM TO EXECUTE ON THE STATUTES THAT WE PASS AND SHE SIGNS.

THE FACT THEY HAVE NOT PROMULGATED THE RULES YET IS IRKSOME.

I'M HOPEFUL, AS YOU SAW FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THERE ARE PHONE CALLS BEING MADE SAYING GET YOUR STUFF IN ORDER AND GET TO WORK BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A LOT HELD UP.

ANYTIME THERE'S BEEN A DELAY BEFORE, THERE'S BEEN COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH AND THEY HAVE MOVED TO DO WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES THEM TO DO.

HERE SOME 18 MONTHS LATER WE HAVE NO MOVEMENT.

>> OKAY.

>> AND REPEATEDLY TABLING THE ISSUE BEFORE THE BOARD.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A STATE AGENCY SIMPLY UNWILLING TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW TO DELAY SO THE EFFECT IS TO NOT IMPLEMENT THE STATUTE.

I'M HOPING THIS FAIRLY DRAMATIC STEP HERE WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION AND I'M HOPING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE INCENTIVE TO THEM AND PRESSURE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AS THEY SHOULD.

>>> EDUCATORS AND ADVOCATES OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS GATHERING IN BIRMINGHAM THIS WEEK FOR THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

THEY HEARD FROM GEOFFRY CANADA, THE FAMED EDUCATOR BEHIND THE DOCUMENTARY "WAITING FOR SUPERMAN" ABOUT CHILDREN ESCAPING TROUBLED SCHOOLS.

ATTENDEES ALSO RECEIVED A PRESENTATION FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ACCORDING TO THEIR RESEARCH, CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA PERFORM 5.6% HIGHER IN OVERALL PROFICIENCY THAN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY ALSO HAD A SLIGHT EDGE IN ACADEMIC GROWTH COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT 0.4%.

THERE WAS ALSO TALK AT THE CONFERENCE ABOUT A GROWING PARTNERSHIP WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

APT'S TRISH CRAIN WAS AT THE CONFERENCE.

>> WE ARE STARTED TO SEE A POSITIVE TREND OF EARLY RESULTS, BUT POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE DOING IT DESPITE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL DISADVANTAGES.

SO, IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT MOMENT AND TRY TO GALVANIZE THE SECTOR TO MOVE FORWARD, TO SPEAK UP, TO ADVOCATE MORE FOR THE SCHOOLS' NEEDS.

AND THAT'S ONE PIECE.

THE SECOND PIECE, I WOULD SAY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WHAT LOOKS TO BE A COMING TREND IN PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND HBCUS IN ALABAMA.

THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT NOT TO THE SCALE EXPLORED IN ALABAMA AND NOT WITH THE CONNECTIVELY EXPLORED IN ALABAMA.

I THINK THAT MOVEMENT REPRESENTS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO HAVE ACCESS TO EARLY POST SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER AND GAIN EXPOSURE TO POST SECONDARY LIFE THROUGHOUT THEIR K-12 CONTINUUM SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

>>> SOME SAD NEWS TO REPORT THIS WEEK.

TWO FORMER LAWMAKERS WHO SERVED FOR DECADES IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE PASSED AWAY.

STATE SENATOR JIMMY HOLLEY OF ELBA DIED MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 80.

HE SERVED FIVE TERMS IN THE HOUSE AND SIX TERMS IN THE SENATE GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1972.

HE RETIRED AT THE END OF THE LAST TERM.

AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMES BUSKEY OF MOBILE PASSED AWAY FRIDAY AT THE AGE OF 87.

HE SERVED IN THE HOUSE FROM 1976 TO 2018 REPRESENTING DISTRICT 99.

OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S GUESTS.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES CAPITAL JOURNAL ONLINE AT APTV.ORG.

EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE A APP.

YOU CAN LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON CAPITOL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE AND LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL PODCASTS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS KATIE BRITT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOUR AUDIENCE.

>> IT'S BEEN A BIG WEEK.

>> THAT IT HAS.

>> A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ELECTION RELATED.

YOU WERE ON THE BALLOT BUT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE PARTY AND EVERYTHING.

HISTORIC ELECTION.

MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BUT NOW THE DUST HAS SETTLED A LITTLE BIT, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW DID HE PULL THIS OFF?

HOW DID HE PULL OFF A MAJOR ELECTORAL COLLEGE WIN AND WIN THE POPULAR VOTE.

>> THERE WAS A STARK CONTRAST ON THE BALLOT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WHETHER IT IS SECURING OUR BORDER, MAKING STREETS SAFER, HAVING STABLE PRICES, HAVING A STRONG DEFENSE.

PEOPLE KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM FOUR YEARS AGO.

YOU THINK WE GOT UNDER NO NEW WARS UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE FACT OUR DOLLAR WENT FURTHER AND THE FACT WE HAD MORE SECURE BORDER.

PEOPLE STARTED TO THINK OF HOW DO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS ALIVE FOR MY CHILDREN AND MY CHILDREN'S CHILDREN AND THEY HAD A CLEAR ANSWER AND VISION FOR WHO COULD EXECUTE THAT AND THAT WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE INTERESTING THING IS, HIS TICKET GAVE PEOPLE HOPE.

IT WAS A RESOUNDING TO HIS MESSAGE.

STATES YOU NEVER THOUGHT WOULD BE IN PLAY HAD -- LIKE CALIFORNIA AT 40% AND NEW YORK AND 44% ALL THE WAY TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AT 48%.

THEY BELIEVE IT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS, RIGHTFULLY SO ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL HIM.

PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS RHETORIC AND THINGS.

HE CAN SAY ERRATIC THINGS.

SOME OF HIS PAST ACTIONS AND EVERYTHING.

I REALIZE THAT'S THE CANDIDATE AT THE RALLIES.

YOU HAVE BEEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS.

DO THOSE INTERACTIONS YOU HAVE HAD WITHOUT THE CAMERAS AND NOT AT RALLIES DO THEY GIVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE THAN SOME HAVE ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO DO THE JOB AND BE AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT?

BOTH HIS RECORD OF HIS TIME IN OFFICE AND WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE, YOU LOOK AT THAT AND IT WAS TRULY TREMENDOUS.

THEN YOU STEP BACK AND THINK OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WHEN I HAVE CALLED HIM ABOUT THINGS LIKE IVF AND CHILDCARE.

WHEN I HAVE CALLED HIM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR OUR NATION AND WE HAVE HAD BACK-AND-FORTH CONVERSATIONS.

HE LOVES THIS COUNTRY.

HE LISTENS, MORALLY IN OUR CONVERSATIONS BACK AND FORTH HE ASKS QUESTIONS.

HE'S DECISIVE AND WANTS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA.

WHEN HE CAME IN FOUR YEARS AGO, THERE WERE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS TO HIM ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS WORKS AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE PUSHED AND PULLED.

I THINK HE COMES BACK NOW WITH GREAT RESOLVE AND VISION FOR THE NATION THAT CLEARLY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE NATION BELIEVES IN AND WANTS EXECUTED AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW FAR TO EXECUTE THAT.

I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIM.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT HE WILL DO FOR OUR COUNTRY AND EXCITED WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, SO IT APPEARS TO HAVE THE HOUSE, MAYBE BY A NARROW MARGIN, AND ALSO HAVE THE SENATE.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY AT 53 SENATORS.

I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OUTSTANDING RIGHT NOW.

53 REPUBLICAN SENATORS.

THAT ENABLES US TO GO IN AND BEGIN THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS, WHICH YOU ARE FAMILIAR.

THAT WILL GIVE US THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT THAT WILL BE EXPIRING.

THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT OFF THE BAT.

WE WILL START WITH A BUDGET RESOLUTION AND WORK WITH VARIOUS COMMITTEES TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL SEE REFORM AND CHANGE RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

SENATE MAJORITY, WE DON'T KNOW THE MAJORITY.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE MINORITY FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

>> I'M EXCITED.

>> EXPLAIN HOW LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT, NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND FOR A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON?

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THAT THAT MAKES?

>> IT IS MAKES A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU THINK OF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT COMING IN AND THE SENATE ITSELF FIRST, ALL OF HIS CABINET APPOINTEES WILL COME THROUGH THE SENATE.

ALL OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS, ANY FEDERAL JUDGES COME THROUGH THE SENATE.

IF THERE IS A SUPREME COURT VACANCY, WHICH THERE'S A LOT SWIRLING ABOUT THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THAT IS COMING THROUGH THE SENATE.

AND A COMFORTABLE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

YOU ALWAYS WANT MORE BUT 53 IS DIFFERENT THAN 50 AND THAN 51.

IT GIVE YOU A BUFFER.

BEING ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO EXECUTE THE VISION IN FRONT OF US.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND HAVE THE TRIFECTA AND THE WHITE HOUSE, THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN USE THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS AND THE SENATE YOU HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE RULE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CUTTING TAXES.

IN THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS, YOU ARE TAKING, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.

IT ALLOWS US TO VOTE AT A 51-VOTE THRESHOLD WHEN THINGS CAN FLY.

THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WILL MAKE -- IT WOULD TAKE 60 VOTES TO BREAK THE FILIBUSTER.

IT MEANS WE HAVE TO BE UNIFIED.

IN THE HOUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL KEEP THE MAJORITY AND IT MAY BE MORE NARROW, BUT THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE CAN LEAD.

ALSO TO GET TO WORK ON THEIR AGENDA.

THE THING AFTER BEING IN THE MINORITY THE LAST 22, 23 MONTHS FOR ME, IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I BELIEVE CHUCK SCHUMER SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR AND ALLOWED US TO WORK ON.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND THE FACT WE WERE 232 DAYS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR BEFORE WE PASSED APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

WE ARE IN A SIMILAR POSITION THIS YEAR.

CHUCK SCHUMER HASN'T PUT ONE ON THE FLOOR AND WE ARE PAST THE FISCAL DEADLINE.

YOU THINK OF THE FARM BILL WHERE WE ARE OVER A YEAR PAST THE DEADLINE ON THE FARM BILL.

OUR FARMERS ARE HURTING.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT HOME AND CRISSCROSS THE STATE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I HAVE SAT ACROSS FROM MEN AND WOMEN WHO POURED THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO PROVIDING THE FOOD AND RESOURCES OF THIS NATION AND THE PLANET NEED.

WITHOUT PASSING A FARM BILL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COSTS THAT FARMERS HAVE, EVERYTHING FROM ENERGY, FERTILIZER, MACHINERY AND BEYOND, THOSE COSTS ARE REALLY HURTING.

AND WE AREN'T DONE OUR JOB AND CHUCK SCHUMER HASN'T PUT THE BILL ON THEM FLOOR.

THINGS LIKE THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DRAGGING ON FEET ON AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PAY THE PRICE.

THE MAJORITY LEADER, WHICH WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT, WE WILL HAVE A NEW ONE WILL MAKE A DECISION WHAT COMES TO THE FLOOR AND HOW IT COMES TO THE FLOOR.

WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW, AS REPUBLICANS IN THE MAJORITY, WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS VISION AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO GET TO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

TODD, WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAID ON TUESDAY NIGHT IS WE ARE READY FOR CHANGE.

WE ARE READY FOR YOU TO START TO DO YOUR JOB AND I THINK THEY EXPECT RESULTS AND THEY ARE WORTHY OF RESULTS.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO GET TO WORK DOING.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

>> YEAH.

>> MITCH MCCONNELL HAS BEEN THE REPUBLICAN LEADER FOR A LONG TIME HAS SAID HE WILL STEP ASIDE.

YOU HAVE A RACE.

I GUESS IT IS THE THREE JOHNS I HAVE HEARD ABOUT, MAYBE RICK SCOTT AS WELL.

AND YOU WILL GO THROUGH THE MEETINGS AND CAUCUSES.

WALK THROUGH HOW THAT IS DECIDE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

>> THIS IS HUGE AND THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS SITTING SENATORS TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE DO THINGS AND WHAT IS EXPECTED BY NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CONFERENCE BUT THE PRODUCT THAT WE ARE PRODUCING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THREE JOHNS, TWO DECIDED TO RUN FOR MAJORITY LEADER.

SO, THEY HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO US INDIVIDUALLY.

THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING TO US AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

OUR FRESHMAN CLASS, WE HAVE A TIGHT FRESHMAN CLASS.

I ACTUALLY GOT ON A CALL WITH THE THREE CANDIDATES AND ASKED THEM A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND DID THAT TOGETHER.

OF COURSE, JD IS A LITTLE BUSY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF HIM AND THE JOB HE'S GOING TO DO FOR OUR COUNTRY AND EVERYONE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW HIM IN THE WAY WE HAVE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON TUESDAY WHEN WE GET BACK.

WE HAVE VETERANS DAY ON TUESDAY, AND WHEN WE GET BACK WE WILL HAVE A CAUCUS OR CONFERENCE MEETING WHERE WE WILL ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

IT'S CALLED A FAMILY MEETING.

THERE WILL BE NO ONE BUT MEMBERS IN THE ROOM AND THE QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED ARE HOW ARE THINGS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET TO WORK AND MAKE THINGS WORK LIKE THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, THE THINGS AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON US TO DO?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUAL SENATORS?

RIGHT NOW WE CAN MARK UP A BILL AND PUT WORK IN TO THAT AND TAKE VOTES AS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO AND THE BILL WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, OR THIS PAST SENATE.

CHUCK SCHUMER WOULDN'T ALLOW IT TO COME IN THE FLOOR.

WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE IT AS A BODY AND GETTING BACK TO THAT AND ALLOWING US TO PARTICIPATE.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS, FOR INSTANCE SEVERAL BILLS CHUCK SCHUMER WOULDN'T ALLOW AMENDMENTS.

YOU HAD NO OPPORTUNITY.

HE PUT A BILL ON THE FLOOR, A BILL THAT HE SAID WAS ABOUT IVF.

IT EXTENDED FAR PAST THAT.

IT WENT INTO HUMAN CLONING.

IT DIDN'T NOT PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

HE PUT IT ON THE FLOOR AND SCHUMER SAID I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY AMENDMENTS.

WE HAD NO OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE THAT BILL OR PUT THINGS IN THE BILL WE NEEDED TO BE STRIPPED OR ADDED TO A VOTE OF THE SENATORS.

FINDING A MAJORITY LEADER THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE THIS DEBATE AND AMEND BILLS WILL BE A QUESTION ANSWERED TOO.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENT AND GET THIS PLACE WORKING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE WILL HAVE THE VOTE ON WEDNESDAY.

UNLESS IT IS DELAYED, WE WILL HAVE THE VOTE ON WEDNESDAY.

THE NEW KIDS GET TO VOTE.

ALL THE NEW SENATORS, WHICH I'M EXCITED.

WE FLIPPED FOUR SEATS THERE IN THE SENATE FOR REPUBLICANS.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME NEW SENATORS JOINING US THAT AREN'T FLIPPED SEATS, IN THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

WE WILL HAVE ORIENTATION NEXT WEEK.

I WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE INCOMING FRESHMEN AND THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTE.

THE VOTE SHOULD BE WEDNESDAY.

WE WILL HAVE A NEW LEADER AND VISION COME THURSDAY.

>> BIG VOTE.

BIG RACE.

YOU HAVE A NEW COLLEAGUE IN SHOMARI FIGURES.

WE WILL BE TALKING TO HIM VIA ZOOM HERE IN A MINUTE.

>> EXCELLENT.

>> HE'S A DEMOCRAT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

FROM MY TIME IN WASHINGTON, I REMEMBER THAT THE DELEGATION, ALABAMA DELEGATION, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, TENDS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THINGS THAT MATTER TO THE STATE.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I CALLED AND CONGRATULATED HIM ON TUESDAY EVENING AND TOLD HIM I LOOKED FORWARD TO FINDING WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

AN EXAMPLE OF THAT AND WHEN IT HAS WORKED THE BEST IN MY 22, 23 MONTHS IN THE U.S. SENATE HAS BEEN SPACE COMMAND.

IN SPACE COMMAND, TODD, THAT WAS TRULY A MOMENT WHERE EVERY MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION, NO MATTER THEIR POST, NO MATTER THEIR PARTY CAME TOGETHER AND SAID HOW CAN I FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE MY COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT, NETWORK WITHIN THE WAY THAT I CAN, EVERYTHING FROM TERRI SEWELL MAKING CALLS TO HAKEEM JEFFRIES SAY WE NEED YOU HERE.

AND APPROPRIATORS PUTTING LANGUAGE IN BILLS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE SPACE COMMAND COMING TO ITS RIGHTFUL HOME AT RED STONE ARSENAL.

YOU HAD AUTHORIZERS WRITING LANGUAGE IN THOUGH AUTHORIZING BILLS GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY.

EVERYBODY DID THEIR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MOMENT THAT I HOPE WE HAVE COMING REALLY SOON WHERE WE SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY THE RIGHTFUL HOME OF SPACE COMMAND, WHERE IT IS BEST FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE, WHERE IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE WITHOUT A DOUBT IS RED STONE ARSENAL IN HUNTSVILLE.

I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN AND THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED BUT FOR OUR DELEGATION WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO PUT THE PEOPLE AND NEEDS OF ALABAMA BEFORE WE DID PARTY OR ANY OTHER AFFILIATION.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THAT AND CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW HIM AND TO WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION AND FIND OTHER THINGS WE CAN MAKE SURE WE ARE PUTTING THE NEEDS OF ALABAMIANS FIRST.

>> SPACE COMMAND.

>> YEAH.

>> SEEMS LIKE IT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN BUT THAT WOULD BE ENORMOUS.

>> IT WOULD BE ENORMOUS AND ANOTHER THING, TOO VULCAN MATERIALS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY HAVE COVERED IN THE PAST, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ALL OF US SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE AND SAYING, LOOK TO THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO LEAN IN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE I THINK HE WILL REALLY DOUBLE DOWN.

THAT'S MY EXPECTATION.

YOU CAN NOT SEIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY.

>> GET THEM TO EXPLAIN, THEY SEIZED A QUARRY AT THE YUCATAN BASICALLY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO.

HOW CAN YOU GETAWAY WITH THAT?

>> CORRECT.

THIS IS AN ALABAMA-BASED BUSINESS, BUT THEY TOUCH PEOPLE ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY AND THE GLOBE.

THE FACT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALLOW AN AMERICAN BUSINESS TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT, TO ME, IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

I EXPECT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO HANDLE IT VERY DIFFERENTLY AND SAY HEY, WHEN PEOPLE INVEST AND TRY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COUNTRY, WE EXPECT YOU TO RESPECT THE INVESTMENT.

OTHERWISE, WHY WOULD PEOPLE GO TO MEXICO AND DO BUSINESS?

I THINK YOU WILL SEE A MUCH STRONGER STANCE FROM TRUMP.

TRUMP UNDERSTAND THE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.

I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING PEOPLE ARE LONGING FOR.

THE CHAOS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY IN RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE GLOBE -- YOU HAVE OVER 10 MILLION PEOPLE COME ACROSS THE BORDER.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT, FENTANYL OVERDOSES, SAFETY AND ISSUES WE ARE HAVING AS FAR AS PEOPLE -- DIFFERENT CITIES AND ENTITIES NOT HANDLING THE INFLUX.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THERE.

YOU LOOK ACROSS THE GLOBAL AND THE STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH THOSE ABRAHAM ACCORDS, THINGS PEOPLE NEVER THOUGHT WERE POSSIBLE VERSUS THE CHAOS WITH ISRAEL, IRAN AND ALL OF IRAN'S PROXIES, RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AND CHINA BEING ON THE MARCH.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE WILL ULTIMATELY SEE THE STRENGTH, NOT JUST PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH AS YOU SEE ACROSS THE GLOBE BUT PUTTING AMERICANS, LIKE VULCAN MATERIALS IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO BUSINESS AND WITH ALLIES AND ELSEWHERE.

>> NEXT TIME I HAVE YOU ON, WE WILL GO DEEPER INTO FOREIGN POLICY.

>> I WOULD LOVE THAT.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF WHEN THE ADS AND TEXTS STOP AFTER ELECTION DAY.

>> MY FRIENDS, WE GO WALK IN THE MORNING AT 5:15.

WE WERE WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY ARE LIKE OH, YOUR FRIEND TED OR SO AND SO KEEPS TEXTING ME.

YOU GET ON THE LISTS WILL AND YOU CAN NOT GET OFF.

>> I WAS GETTING TEXTS FROM METH.

>> YES.

YES.

>> THIS YEAR HAS BEEN NASTY AND NEGATIVE AND DIVISIVE.

IT SEEMED TOXIC.

MAYBE I'M OVERBLOWING IT.

YOU HAD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS.

GIVE US SOME OPTIMISM.

IS THERE A WAY TO GET PAST THIS DIVISIVENESS AS A COUNTRY I KNOW WE ARE NOT ALL GOING TO AGREE BUT CAN WE DISAGREE AGREEABLY?

>> WE NOT ONLY CAN, TODD, WE MUST.

THAT IS ONE THING I HAVE TRIED REALLY HARD TO DO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO BRING BACK WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOMEONE TO SHOW THEM RESPECT AND THE FOUNDATION OF OUR NATION IS SUCH THAT WE CAN HAVE DIALOGUE AND DISAGREE AGREEABLY.

THE WAY I WILL CONDUCT MYSELF IS JUST THAT.

EVERY INTERACTION I HAVE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST TWO YEARS, I SAID WHEN I RAN I WANT ALABAMA TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE BUT WE CAN'T IF PEOPLE DON'T TRUST AND RESPECT THE WAY I TREAT THEM AND RESPECT OUR STATE.

EARNING MY COLLEAGUES TRUST AND RESPECT WAS A PRIORITY OF MINE IN EVERY INTERACTION AND DIDN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE THEY WERE ON.

SOME OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS IN THE SENATE ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

WE HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE.

THEN IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE REAL DIALOGUE, TO SAY WHY IS IT THAT YOU THINK THIS?

WHAT ABOUT THAT VOTE?

AND WHEN YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT, YOU LEARN A LOT.

YOU MAY NOT STILL AGREE WHEN YOU WALK AWAY, BUT YOU HAVE A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF HOW THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE, HOW THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT, AND THE THINGS THEY ARE DEALING FOR OR THEIR CONSTITUENCIES ARE DEALING WITH INFORM THEIR POSITION.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GET TO THAT PLACE IN THE NATION WHERE YOU ARE NOT JUDGING SOMEONE BASED ON WHO THEY VOTED FOR.

THAT'S TOXIC.

IT NOT ONLY EATS YOU ALIVE BUT IT EATS OUR SOCIETY ALIVE, AS WELL.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALABAMIANS, IN GENERAL, TO PUT THOSE THINGS ASIDE.

FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

LOOK FORWARD TO JANUARY AND FOLLOWING THE NEXT CONGRESS.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS CONGRESSMAN SHOMARI FIGURES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US BACK.

>> IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT NOW.

YOU HAD A VICTORY ON TUESDAY AND NOW HEADING TO CONGRESS.

IT'S BEEN A FEW DAYS SINCE THE ELECTION.

HAS REALITY SET IN ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME?

>> I THINK -- I THINK SO.

IT'S A VERY HUMBLING FEELING.

I'M GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE PEOPLE AND VOTERS PLACING TRUST IN US.

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SETTING OUR MIND TOWARDS TO DO JUST THAT, GET TO WASHINGTON AND GET THE JOB DONE ON THOSE ISSUES, ADDRESSING MANY OF THE ISSUES WE CAMPAIGNED ABOUT OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> I WAS LOOKING OVER THE ELECTION RESULTS, IT WAS A DECISIVE VICTORY FOR YOU.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE COUNTIES.

I HAVE NOTICED MONTGOMERY SPECIFICALLY, 31 POINT WIN IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY OUTPACING EVEN THE TOP OF THE TICKET, KAMALA HARRIS, 27,000 VOTE MARGIN WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE MARGIN IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT.

WHAT ABOUT MONTGOMERY DID YOU DO TO WIN SO DECISIVELY HERE IN THE CAPITOL CITY?

>> I THINK IT IS ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT MONTGOMERY MEANS, NOT JUST TO THIS DISTRICT AND THE STATE BUT WHAT IT MEANS TO THE COUNTRY.

MONTGOMERY, I'VE SAID SINCE I GOT INTO THE RACE, I THINK MONTGOMERY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY IN THE AMERICA AND PERHAPS THE WORLD, THE 20TH CENTURY BECAUSE OF THE MOVEMENT BORN OUT OF MONTGOMERY.

I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING AND UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY THIS CITY HAS PLAYED IN MAKING AMERICA DO AS DR. KING WOULD ALWAYS SAY, BE TRUE TO WHAT IS SAID ON PAPER.

I THINK IT STARTS THERE AND STARTS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES RESONATING AND THE THINGS CONCERNING PEOPLE.

WE HEARD ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, HEARING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF JACKSON HOSPITAL AND, YOU KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAD A GREAT TEAM.

WE HAD A GREAT TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF THERE IN MONTGOMERY AND GREAT SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS A TOTALITY OF THE EFFORT THAT GOT US THERE.

>> OKAY.

WHAT'S NEXT?

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

I GUESS YOU ARE GOING TO CONGRESS.

YOU HAVE TO BUILD OUT A STAFF.

YOU HAVE TO MEET WITH LEADERSHIP AND ALL OF THAT.

TALK THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS TO ACTUALLY TAKING OFFICE.

>> FOR US THE NEXT STEPS -- WE RAN THE RACE ON BEING FOCUSED ON LOCAL ISSUES.

SO THE NEXT STEPS FOR US ARE CONTINUING THAT LOCAL FOCUS.

TO THAT END, WE ARE BUILDING OUT A TRANSITION ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT'S GOING TO INCORPORATE VOICES ACROSS THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE FROM ALL 13 COUNTIES, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, BUSINESS LEADERS, ALL WITH THE GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO GO TO WASHINGTON WITH AN INFORMED PERSPECTIVE OF THE ISSUES AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT MY JOB TO GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AND REPRESENT DEMOCRATS.

IT'S MY JOB TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT.

IT STARTS THERE FOR US.

AT THE SAME TIME WE WILL BE BUILDING OUT A TEAM AND STAFF, BOTH IN MONTGOMERY AND MOBILE AND THE DISTRICT, AS WELL AS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT'S A LOT.

NOT A NONE OF TIME TO DO IT BUT WE WILL GET IT THERE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S INTERESTING.

I'LL GET BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO SENATOR BRITT.

SHE MENTIONED THE TRADITION IN THE ALABAMA DELEGATION GOING BACK DECADES OF THE MEMBERS WORKING TOGETHER, PROBABLY BETTER THAN OTHER STATES.

MAYBE IT'S OUR SMALLER SIZE BUT THERE'S A TRADITION OF WORKING TOGETHER, HELPING EACH OTHER OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

I'M CURIOUS IF SOME OF YOUR FUTURE COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU ABOUT GETTING TO WORK WITH YOU IN CONGRESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE HEARD FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE DELEGATION, INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY KATIE BRITT AND TERRI SEWELL AND OTHERS ACROSS THE DELEGATION.

THEY HAVE WELCOMED ME AND EXPRESSED THE SAME SENTIMENT THAT THE DELEGATION HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO ADDRESS ISSUES HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I'M IN THIS TO DO THE SAME THING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE TEAM AND THE DELEGATION AND WORKING WITH THEIR STAFF AND EVERYTHING WE CAN EVERY DAY TO PUT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA FIRST.

>> YOU KIND OF MENTIONED THIS EARLIER BUT I WANT TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, IT IS NOT OFFICIAL BUT LOOKS LIKE REPUBLICANS WILL RETAIN A SLIM MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

IT COULD CHANGE BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS LOOKING LIKELY.

THAT WILL PUT YOU IN THE MINORITY, BUT YOU HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT REPRESENTING ALL OF THE DISTRICT, NOT JUST IN A PARTISAN WAY.

HOW WOULD BEING IN THE MINORITY BE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU AND ARE YOU EAGER TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND HOW WOULD YOU WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO MAKE SURE THE DISTRICT ISN'T LEFT OUT WHEN IT COMES TO VOTES AND FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> YEAH, WHO'S IN THE MAJORITY AND WHO'S IN THE MINORITY DOES NOT CHANGE THE MISSION AND OBJECTIVE.

THE MISSION AND OBJECTIVE IS TO GO AND FIND SOLUTIONS AND FIND THE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES HAPPENING IN THIS DISTRICT.

NOW, CERTAINLY IN A DEMOCRAT MAJORITY, YOU HAVE A BIGGER SEAT AT THE TABLE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME, WHETHER A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHETHER IT REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS ARE LEADING THE SENATE OR HOUSE AND THAT'S OUR POSITION SINCE WE GOT INTO THE RACE.

WE HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DISTRICT.

HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT, LOOK, I THINK IT STARTS WITH BUILDING A CAUCUS THAT'S -- I DON'T MEAN A LITERAL CAUCUS BUT IDENTIFY THE SUPPORT OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM THE SAME ISSUES IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

THERE ARE REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS THAT HAVE SEEN HOSPITALS CLOSE AS WELL AND SUFFERING WITH GUN VIOLENCE AS WELL AND THERE ARE REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS THAT NEED INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND DRIVING MILITARY SPENDING, AS WELL.

WE LOOK WHERE WE CAN BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AROUND COMMON ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED AND TAKE IT TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THAT -- GET THOSE ISSUES, AT LEAST TO SOME DEGREE, COMPENSATED OR INCLUDED IN THE BILLS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON AND NOT HIDE BEHIND PARTISAN POLITICS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FACT WE HAVE THE LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE NATION, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, DOES NOT CARE IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

THOSE HEALTH OUTCOMES -- YOU SHOW UP AND SAY IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR RED OR BLUE, WE HAVE TO FIX THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND GET TO WORK DOING THAT.

LASTLY, WHEN I WAS IN THE THREE -- THE THREE YEARS I WORKED IN CONGRESS BEFORE, DEMOCRATS WERE IN THE MINORITY AND I WORKED FOR A STATE WHO HAD A U.S.

SENATOR OF EACH PART, ONE REPUBLICAN, ONE DEMOCRAT.

WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE IS THE NORM.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY I KNOW TO WORK IN CONGRESS GIVEN MY BACKGROUND THERE.

>> YEAH.

THE ONE THING ABOUT MAJORITIES, THEY CHANGE.

RIGHT?

LOOK AT THE RECENT HISTORY.

IT HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH.

ONE DAY YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY AND TWO YEARS LATER YOU ARE IN THE MAJORITY WHICH COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN BASED ON HISTORICAL TRENDS.

HAVE YOU GIVEN THOUGHT TO WHAT COMMITTEES YOU WANT TO PURSUE?

I KNOW YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT BUT WHAT COMMITTEES ARE YOU EYEING AND TALKING TO LEADERSHIP ABOUT BEING ON.

>> LOOK, WE'RE STILL NAVIGATING THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

I CAN TELL YOU THE SORT OF GOLD STANDARD FOR ME IN THIS DISTRICT WOULD BE APPROPRIATIONS, TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AND HAVE MORE INVESTMENTS AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND FUNDING FOR RURAL HOSPITALS.

THAT WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST BUT THAT'S AN ASPIRATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR A FRESHMAN.

SO, UNDERSTANDING THE REALITIES THAT THAT IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN I WILL LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS TO STILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THAT FOCUS ON SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WE NEED ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

ARMED SERVICES, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MANY MILITARY BASES, INCLUDING MONTGOMERY, TO WHERE THEY IMPACT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY'S OF THIS DISTRICT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL DEFENSE CONTRACTORS HERE, AS WELL.

PIKE COUNTY, MOBILE AND OTHERS THAT ARMED SERVICES COULD BE BENEFICIAL.

I'D SAY AG COMMITTEE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY NOT ONLY IN THE DISTRICT BUT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS OF THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR FARMERS AND THE INDUSTRY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS ATTACHED WITHIN THE AG JURISDICTION IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF BECAUSE WE HAVE EXTREME POVERTY IN TOO MANY PLACES IN THE DISTRICT.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD EXPECT.

THOSE ARE INFLUENTIAL COMMITTEES FOR THAT SECOND DISTRICT.

GOOD LUCK ON THAT.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

LOOK, YOU HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN APPEARING MULTIPLE TIMES ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAVE APPRECIATED IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH YOU AND CHECKING IN AS YOU BEGIN YOUR FIRST TERM IN CONGRESS.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST NOW BUT THROUGHOUT THE RACE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BALANCE AND COVERAGE OF THE RACE.

I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MRS. DOBSON, AS WELL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE SOURCE FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN FOR ALL CANDIDATES IN HERE.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE VALUABLE ROLE OF INFORMING VOTERS IN A NEUTRAL MANNER.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND SHARING WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN DC.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS A LOT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON CAPITOL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS WES ALLEN.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU ARE THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICIAL FOR ALABAMA.

WE HAD A MAJOR ELECTION IN THE COUNTRY BUT HERE IN ALABAMA, AS WELL.

LET ME ASK YOU, FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT, HOW DID IT GO?

>> I THINK IT WENT GREAT.

FIRST OFF, I WANT TO BRAG ON ALL OF THE VOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT ADMINISTERED OUR ELECTION LAWS, THE PROBATE JUDGES, CIRCUIT COURTS, REGISTRARS AND POLL WORKERS.

IT TAKES AN ENTIRE TEAM TO WORK TOGETHER AND ADMINISTER ELECTIONS.

WHEN YOU HAVE 67 DIFFERENT ELECTIONS IN THE STATE AT ONE TIME, THE PROBATE, CIRCUIT CLERKS HANDLE THE ABSENTEE VOTING, SHERIFFS HANDLE SECURITY, CUSTODY OF THE BALLOTS AND THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS HANDLE VOTER REGISTRATION IN COUNTY AND POLL WORKERS THAT GET UP, WORK HARD, GET TRAINED, ARE THERE BEFORE SUN UP SOMETIMES AND THEN AFTER SUNDOWN AND HOW HARD THEY WORK.

IT TAKES SO MUCH COMMUNICATION AND TEAM WORK.

I WANT TO BRAG ON THEM.

THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ELECTIONS.

IF IT WERE NOT FOR THAT TEAM, THERE WOULD BE NO ELECTIONS IN ALABAMA.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM AND THE HARD WORK THEY PUT INTO IT.

THEN OUR TEAM AND IN THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

I'VE GOT A GREAT BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND PROUD OF THEM, AS WELL.

IT WAS A GOOD DAY, GOOD NIGHT AND PROUD OF THE VOTERS BECAUSE THEY SHOWED UP.

>> I THINK I SAW 58% VOTER TURNOUT.

NOT THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN BUT NOT THE LOWEST EITHER.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE POLL WORKERS.

I VOTE IN HUNTINGTON AND IT IS THE SAME FOLKS EVERY YEAR AND THEY WORK HARD.

AND WITH THE HOT TURNOUT LIKE THIS WEEK THEY WERE TIRED AND WORKING ALL DAY.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT SERVICE.

YOU MENTIONED POLL WATCHERS.

WE REPORTED SOME ON ALL OF THESE POLL WATCHERS DEPLOYED.

YOU HAD THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY ANNOUNCING THEY ARE SENDING POLL WATCHERS OUT AND THE ACLU, SPLC, ALL FOCUSED ON THE SECOND DISTRICT RACE SO HIGHLY WATCHED.

DID ANYTHING COME OF THAT?

WERE THERE ANY PROBLEMS?

I COULD SEE WITH PARTISAN POLL WATCHERS SOME SKIRMISHES, DID WE NOT HEAR ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> POLL WATCHERS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS.

WE ALWAYS TALK -- ESPECIALLY ME, I WANT THE PUBLIC AND THE VOTERS IN THIS STATE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS AND THE POLL WATCHERS ARE PART OF THAT PROCESS.

ELECTION INTEGRITY, ELECTION SECURITY.

POLL WATCHERS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF ELECTION DAY BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET APPOINTED BY THEIR PARTICULAR PARTIES BECAUSE EACH PARTY HAS ONE APPOINTMENT PER PRECINCT IF THEY WANT TO SEND SOMEONE IN TO WATCH.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT POLL WATCHERS ARE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT I KNOW OF THAT CAME INTO OUR OFFICE OF ANYBODY COMPLAINING.

THEY CAN'T INTERFERE AND OVERLOOK SOMEBODY'S SHOULDER AND SEE HOW THEY ARE VOTING.

THEY ARE IN THE ROOM TO OBSERVE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ROOM.

>> BECAUSE BOTH SIDES ARE IN THE ROOM IT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE WHICH IS SOMETHING WE NEED IN ELECTIONS.

I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT, TOO.

ON THE NATIONAL SCALE, AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY FOR DONALD TRUMP.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE CHARGES OF ELECTION FRAUD.

CAN WE GET OVER THE HUMP OF EVERY ELECTION NATIONALLY THERE'S SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT VOTER FRAUD AND EVERYTHING.

NOT TO DIMINISH THAT BUT YOU CAN GET IN TO RABBIT HOLES OF CONSPIRACY.

MAYBE IN AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY THERE'S HOPEFUL LESS OF THAT AND HOPEFULLY LESS OF THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ELECTIONS.

THE BEST THING WE CAN BE DOING AS ELECTION OFFICIALS, SECRETARIES OF STATE, THE JUDGES AND CLERKS IS TO COMMUNICATE.

AND TRANSPARENCY.

I MADE SURE EVERYONE WAS WELCOME TO COME IN AND WATCH WHAT WE WERE DOING AND INSPECT THE TABULATORS WHEN WE WERE TESTING AND CERTIFYING THOSE TABULATORS, JUST DOING ANYTHING IN THE PROCESS.

WE WANT FOLKS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE ARE DOING SO THERE AREN'T QUESTIONS.

>> NO BACK ROOM COUNTING.

>> RIGHT.

WE ALWAYS INVITED EVERYONE TO WATCH AS THE TABULATIONS POUR IN THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WHEN THE SHERIFF WOULD BRING THEM ACROSS THE HALL FROM THE COURTHOUSE AND BRING THEM TO OUR OFFICE.

WE PUT INPUT THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE PROCESS TO GIVE CONFIDENCE TO THE PEOPLE.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE I TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND GIVE TALKS TO VARIOUS GROUPS, I ALWAYS GET ONE QUESTION, ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO AN ELECTION AND THAT IS WHY DON'T WE HAVE EARLY VOTING IN ALABAMA.

I KNOW THE ANSWER IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T PASSED A LAW LIKE OTHER STATES HAVE PASSED A LAW.

WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THAT?

COULD WE EVER SEE AN EARLY VOTING SITUATION IN ALABAMA, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST A WEEK OR TEN DAYS OF EARLY VOTING?

WHAT'S YOUR VIEWS ON THAT?

WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THE LEGISLATURE IF ASKED.

>> MY STANCE -- BEFORE I BECAME THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND I CAMPAIGNED ON ELECTION DAY, NOT ELECTION MONTH.

I THINK IT IS A MORE SECURE SITUATION, A MORE SAFE, SECURE TRANSPARENT SITUATION HAVING AN ELECTION DAY.

PAPER BALLOTS AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE PROCESS IN ALABAMA.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SUBJECT WILL COME UP BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

I'M IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOW.

USED TO SERVE ONE TERM IN THE HOUSE BUT IF IT COMES UP I'M SURE I WILL BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION BUT ALABAMA, OUR WAY THAT WE DO THINGS IS SAFE, SECURE, TRANSPARENT AND I THINK THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE HAS CONFIDENCE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT YOU SAW WE HAD THE RESULTS IN AND, YOU KNOW, I'M CONFIDENT IN WHAT THE PROBATE JUDGES AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE DOING.

>> IF YOU TRULY CAN'T GET TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, THE ABSENTEE PROCESS IS AVAILABLE.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT.

YOU AND I HAVE LONG DISCUSSED THE STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN TO FORTIFY THE ABSENTEE PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.

WE DON'T THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE MANIPULATED AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THE ABSENTEE PROCESS.

IT IS AVAILABLE AND IMPORTANT.

>> WHILE I HAVE YOU, I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE THAT CAME UP WITH THE VOTING ROLL PURCHASE SO TO SPEAK.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE THAT TERM BUT YOUR OFFICE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF REMOVING NONCITIZENS FROM THE VOTING ROLL.

GOT AN -- BLOCKED BY THE COURT ON A TIMING ISSUE, 90 DAYS AND ALL OF THAT, ENJOINED AND STILL BLOCKED.

OTHER STATES DID TOO.

VIRGINIA HAD A CASE THAT WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT AND THEY EVENTUALLY ALLOWED IT.

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THAT AND IS THERE ANYTHING YOUR OFFICE CAN LEARN FROM THAT AS IT MOVES FORWARD TO THE NEXT ELECTION?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THE PI WENT THROUGH ELECTION DAY.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE THE DAY AFTER NOW.

WE'RE OUT FROM UNDER THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, ONLY U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD BE VOTING IN ALABAMA ELECTIONS.

I THINK THAT IS COMMON SENSE.

FROM DAY ONE, WHEN I WAS SWORN IN, I MADE ELECTION INTEGRITY A TOP PRIORITY.

PART OF THAT IS VOTER FILE MAINTENANCE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE VOTING IN ELECTIONS.

WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE'RE STILL INVOLVED IN THOSE COURT CASES, EVEN AS WE SPEAK NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE OUT FROM UNDER THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.

I'M LIMITED ON WHAT I CAN SAY FURTHER BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN FEDERAL COURT.

I WISH I COULD GO MORE IN DEPTH BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY I WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE.

>> YEAH.

I UNDERSTAND.

IT'S ALL IN THE COURTS AND I GUESS WE WILL SEE.

MAYBE I CAN ASK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT IT BUT I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG IN ALABAMA COMPARED TO VIRGINIA AND ALL OF THAT.

I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO LET THE COURTS PLAY OUT AND PERHAPS YOU CAN SAY MORE AS THE RULINGS COME DOWN.

>> I'M THE DEFENDANT IN THE CASE.

SO IT LIMITS ME ON WHAT I CAN SAY.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT GOES AND TRACKS ALONG THERE.

>> UNDERSTAND.

YOU HAVE HAD A LONG WEEK.

MUST BE TIRED.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND EXPLAINING SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS AS 2026 COMES AROUND.

>> HARD TO BELIEVE.

IT WILL BE HERE QUICK.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL ONLINE ANYTIME AT VIDEO.APTV.ORG.

EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

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BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

WE HAVE COVERED THIS ELECTION FOR WEEKS AND ANOTHER BIG ONE IS COMING IN 2026.

IN THIS AGE OF PARTISAN POLARIZATION, WHERE OFFICIALS ARE OFTEN TEMPTED TO RETREAT TO THE EXTREMES OF THEIR PARTIES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR LEADERS AND WE, THEIR CONSTITUENTS, REMEMBER THE WORDS OF EDMUND BURKE.

HE WAS TALKING TO THE BRISTOL ASSEMBLY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIRECT DEMOCRACY AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC THAT WAS BEING CONCEIVED.

HE SAID "YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OWES YOU NOT ONLY HIS INDUSTRY BUT HIS JUDGMENT AND HE BETRAYS YOU, INSTEAD OF SERVING YOU IF HE SACRIFICES IT TO YOUR OPINION."

WITH THAT, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME HERE ON APTV.

FOR TOUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.