Former State Sen. Bill Hightower, R-Mobile, announced his candidacy for Alabama’s open 1st Congressional District.
“After much thought, discussion with my family, and prayer I am proud to announce my candidacy to serve Alabama’s First Congressional District in Congress,” Hightower said. “South Alabama has given me and my family so much, I cannot sit on the sidelines as our nation is facing so many challenges.”
“Washington is dysfunctional, and the people of South Alabama need a congressman who will fight for us each and every day in Congress to make sure our priorities and our values are represented,” Hightower continued. “I will proudly stand with President Trump’s efforts to continue growing our economy, cut wasteful government spending that is bankrupting future generations, and defend the sanctity and dignity of each and every life.”
“The radical liberal leadership of Nancy Pelosi and AOC is taking us down a dangerous path of socialized medicine, open borders, and socialism,” Hightower warned. “Without new leadership, we will not get new results, and you cannot expect Washington, DC liberals to come up with the solutions to fix the fundamental problems facing our nation.”
“I plan on taking my positive message of Alabama values and putting Alabama first directly to the voters of the First Congressional District. I look forward to talking with voters, meeting with voters, and hearing from voters their concerns, hopes, and ideas to strengthen our community and country,” concluded Hightower.
In business, Hightower has worked with Fortune 500 and other corporations including Emerson Electric, AlliedSignal, Eaton, and Balfour-Beatty. In 2002, shortly after the terror attacks of September 11, Bill returned home to Mobile, to be closer to family. He now runs several small businesses. His business experience makes him uniquely qualified to contribute job-growing policies for hard-working families in Alabama.
Congressman Bradley Byrne, R-Alabama, announced that he was running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Doug Jones. If Byrne is running for the Senate, that means that his 1st Congressional District seat will be open in the 2020 election.
Hightower was one of the more conservative state senators in Montgomery. He introduced flat tax and term limits legislation while a member of the Alabama state Senate.
As a boy, Hightower worked at his grandparent’s farm, cleaned swimming pools, and also as a laborer on construction projects. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Alabama in Commercial Banking/Finance. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University.
Bill is married to Susan Binegar Hightower. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Hightower gave up his state Senate seat in 2018 to pursue the Republican nomination for governor. He finished in fourth place in the statewide GOP primary.
When U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, retired, now Governor Kay Ivey’s chief of staff, there were a number of candidates who pursued the conservative district in the GOP primary. Byrne was the leading vote getter in the Republican primary and narrowly defeated former Roy Moore aide, Dean Young, in the GOP primary runoff; and then went on to win the general election.
The First Congressional District of Alabama has been securely in Republican control for the last 54 years. Donald Trump carried the district 64 percent to 34 in 2016. It includes Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties and part of Clarke County.
