By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, May 15, 2017, Randy Brinson filed his papers to run for the US Senate seat vacated by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) when Sessions was confirmed as US Attorney General by the US Senate. Brinson was at Alabama Republican Party headquarters on Lorna Road in Hoover on Monday at 10:00 am.
Dr. Randy Brinson said, “It is official. I am Randy Brinson and I am here today to announce my candidacy for the US Senate.”
Dr. Brinson said that he is running for Senate because, “I want to be part of leaving a legacy for our State and our country for our children and grandchildren.”
Brinson said, “I am tired of the corruption. In the last year, we have seen our Governor take a plea deal and resign, we have seen our former Governor get released from prison, and the Speaker of the Alabama House convicted. The people of Alabama deserve better.”
Brinson added, “I am not a lobbyist. The people of Alabama deserve someone that is going to go to Washington to fight for them. We need someone who will go to Washington and put Alabama first.”
Dr. Brinson said, “It is a new morning in Alabama.”
Brinson said that as a doctor who has practiced for 30 years I have seen the problems with Obamacare first hand. Brinson said that he if for the repeal and replacement of Obamacare which he said, “Is a huger overreach of federal government power. Through my work with the Christian Coalition and Redeem the Vote I have seen firsthand how our culture and our government pushes people of faith to keep silent about their beliefs. We must protect first amendment rights. When government can restrict our faith there is nothing that they will protect.”
Brinson promised to defend the Second Amendment rights of Americans to keep and bear arms. Brinson vowed, “I will fight to end Common Core. I will work for real educational standards not indoctrination in the guise of educational standards.”
As an Air Force veteran Brinson said that he believes in having a strong military. “We need to support our first responders and give them the support that they need. We need more good jobs in this country. “Fair trade benefits all of us but I also know that fair needs to be fair.”
Dr. Brinson promised to partner with President Donald Trump to fight against unfair trade practices that hurt Alabamians.
Brinson said that he is most experienced candidate in the race. I have experience working with the legislature for the last 12 years advocating for families and children. “Over the last five years we have done several trade missions to grow Alabama agribusiness globally.”
Brinson also cited his efforts to land a grant for Auburn University to study how to combat global hunger, and his ability to bring people together to find consensus. After the Deepwater Horizon disaster Brinson said, “I brought together the Tea Party on the right and the Sierra Club on the left” to make sure that money does not go to the Treasury but instead goes to the communities affected. This effort led to the RESTORE Act.
Brinson said that he has also worked with the government of Zambia to bring Alabama agribusiness there and that through his company he has been working with eight countries across the globe to solve the problems with agribusiness.
Dr. Brinson is the former President of the Alabama Christian Coalition and co-founder of Redeem the Vote. Dr. Randy Brinson is a medical doctor, an Air Force Veteran, and a small businessman. Brinson is a licensed lay minister, a member of Taylor Road Baptist Church and a former trustee of The University of Mobile. In 2003 Dr. Brinson formed Redeem the Vote to register and motivate people of faith to vote and was an instrumental part of George W. Bush’s re-election. Dr. Brinson is married to the former Pamela Bennett of Valdosta, Georgia. They live in Montgomery and have three grown sons and 2 granddaughters.
Brinson joins former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Roy Moore, State Representative Ed Henry (R-Hartselle), Birmingham businessman Dom Gentle, and US Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) as announced Republican candidates for the Senate seat.
Marijuana legalization advocate Ron Crumpton, former US Attorney Doug Jones, and Robert Kennedy Jr. have all qualified to run for US Senate as Democrats.
State Representatives Christopher John England (D), former State Representative Perry O. Hooper Jr., and State Senate President Del Marsh (R-Anniston) are all reportedly also considering joining the race.
Former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) appointed Sen. Luther Strange until a special election could be held in 2018. New Governor Kay Ivey (R) reset that Special Election for later this year. The major party special primaries will be on August 15th and the special General Election will be on December 12.
Wednesday, May 17, is the last day to qualify as a major party candidate.
