MONTGOMERY, Ala. – New polling shows a former state senator and a current one as the best known candidates in the large field of Republicans running for Congress in Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District. For now, that’s giving them a leg up early in the race.
Former State Senator Dick Brewbaker, R-Montgomery, and current State Senator Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, were the top two choices of GOP voters when asked who they would vote for if the primary election were held today. Brewbaker was the choice of 24.3% of those surveyed and Albritton was the choice of 12%.
The poll showed Montgomery attorney Caroleen Dobson with 5.3% and former Alabama and NFL standout Wallace Gilberry with 4.7%. A full 53.7% are undecided.
The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for the Alabama Forestry Association. It surveyed 300 likely Republican voters Dec. 5-7.
Name recognition is the difference between the candidates early in this race, as no candidate has yet begun advertising.
The survey offered a glimpse into what type of person Republican voters want to send to Congress in the 2nd District. Asked whether they would prefer a candidate with with political experience who knows how to get things done versus a political newcomer with fresh thinking, 49.3% chose new comer versus 39.3% opting for experience.
Asked whether they prefer a candidate who agrees with them on the issues or one who has the better chance of winning the general election, 64.7% chose issues versus 32.7% who said winning.
Asked what issues are most important to them in this election, 47% said economic issues like inflation and spending, 27.7% said national security, including immigration, 10.7% said Christian family values, 5% said corruption, 4.7% said health care and 2.7% said foreign conflicts.
Whichever candidate Republicans nominate will face a significant challenge in the general election. As redrawn by the federal court, the district now has a Black voting age population of 48.3%, which leads most political experts to predict the district to lean Democratic in November. In all, eight Republicans and 13 Democrats have qualified to run.
The survey also tested the Republican race for president. Asked who they would vote for if the election was today, 55.7% said Donald Trump, 19% said Nikki Haley, 15.7% said Ron DeSantis, 3.3% said Chris Christie and 2.3% said Vivek Ramaswamy. Just 4% of voters were undecided.
This story will be updated with more information from the Forestry poll.