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Gilberry drops out of AL-2 GOP primary; ‘not the right place for me’

Wallace Gilberry, the Bay Minette native and former NFL tight end, is dropping out of the race for Alabama’s Congressional District 2.

“I’m not a politician, but my heart has always been in helping Alabama and helping our people better themselves,” Gilberry said in a statement Monday. “The response we’ve received over the last month in this campaign has been humbling and I’m blown away by it. After reflecting over Christmas and New Years, I have come to the decision that this race, at this time, is not the right place for me to help my community, so I will be stepping aside.”

Gilberry was one of eight Republicans who qualified to run in the newly drawn district in the March 5 primary. Thirteen Democrats qualified, but two have since pulled their names.

In his statement, Gilberry said he was never going to “quit on Alabama.”

“I will continue to serve our communities and be involved in any and every way I can to fight back against out-of-touch liberal politicians and too many bad policies that are hurting people and making life tougher every day,” he said.

Because Gilberry’s name had already been certified by the Alabama Secretary of State and ballots are being printed, his name will remain on the March 5 ballot.

Assuming the appropriate steps for an official withdrawal from the race have been taken with the GOP party, any votes he receives on March 5 will be tallied but will not be certified, the office said on Monday.

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