MONTGOMERY, AL – U.S. Representative Martha Roby, R-Ala., announced Friday that she will not seek reelection to Congress in 2020.
Roby was first elected in 2010 and has served five terms representing Alabama’s 2nd District.
In a statement, Roby thanked her constituents for “the tremendous privilege and honor of serving our state and country.
“Riley and I, and our children, Margaret and George, will be forever grateful to the people of Alabama’s Second District”, Roby said.
“As we prepare to close this wonderful chapter, I extend my sincerest thanks to my husband, our children, our parents, families, friends, congressional colleagues, and staff, who all made our important work possible and offered their support every step of the way.”
While in Congress, Roby’s top priories have been increasing military funding after the 2011 sequestration cuts, securing better agriculture policy for farmers, and exposing inadequacies and scandals at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Roby was also a fierce pro-life advocate and frequently delivered passionate floor speeches calling for greater legal protections for unborn children.
Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby praised Roby’s service and credited her for being “instrumental” for bringing the F-35 to the Montgomery-based 187th Fighter Wing.
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Gov. Kay Ivey called Roby an “outstanding leader” and “a trailblazer for women.”
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Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who shares with Roby the distinction of being the first two women elected to Congress from Alabama, said they “always worked together for Alabama” despite political differences.
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Roby made political waves in 2016 when she called on then-candidate Donald Trump to step aside as the GOP presidential nominee and make way for Mike Pence when audio surfaced of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women. She explained her decision as practical, professional and personal, and never backtracked as so many other Trump denouncers did.
After the 2016 election, Roby congratulated Trump and made it clear she was in line with the shared Trump-GOP agenda. Trump later endorsed Roby for reelection in 2018 calling her “a consistent and reliable vote for our Make America Great Again Agenda.”
Before her time in Congress, Roby served on the Montgomery City Council and worked as an attorney.
Disclaimer: Alabama Daily News Publisher Todd Stacy formerly worked for Roby in her congressional office.