WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will visit Mobile next Friday to rally his base ahead of the midterms.
Trump has a history in Mobile. He first hosted a rally in the Port City in August 2015, where he was famously endorsed by then Alabama U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, a key milestone in his capturing of the Republican nomination for president.
Trump last visited Alabama for a rally a decade ago when he made a stop in Mobile to celebrate his 2016 presidential victory as part of his “Thank You” tour at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The president will rally at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center next week.
The rally is set to begin at 6:00 pm and doors will open at 2:00 pm. The public can request up to four tickets online.
The day before his visit to Alabma, Trump will also stop in Durant, Oklahoma, another Republican stronghold, as the president looks to face friendly crowds ahead of what is likely to be a difficult midterm environment for the Republican Party.
The Mobile rally is part of Trump’s “barnstorm” across the country, in which he plans to visit Republican-friendly and battleground states alike before November, a Republican National Committee spokesperson told Alabama Daily News.
Trump is stumping in Alabama’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, where former Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl is likely to win back his former seat. The Cook Political Report rates the race as solidly Republican.
“As the Trump endorsed candidate for Congress in Alabama District 01, this is a great honor to have him in district,” Carl said on social media. “President Trump has been here a couple of times before but let’s make this the best trip yet!”
But next door, in the new 2nd District, Republican State Rep. Rhett Marques of Enterprise is running in a highly watched race against U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, who is fighting to keep his seat in the wake of redistricting. Both national parties are investing heavily in that race.
Mobile was chosen to energize voters and boost turnout throughout Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as the Mobile media market reaches into Pensacola, the RNC spokesperson said. The Alabama rally is also a nod to Trump’s 2015 and 2016 visits to the area.
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, who is now running for U.S. Senate, first endorsed Trump during his rally in Mobile in 2015. Moore has highlighted that moment throughout his campaign.
“President Trump knows how important it is to have rock-solid conservatives representing Alabama in Washington and Montgomery, and I’m happy to have him visit our state so close to this critical midterm election,” Moore, who Trump has endorsed, said on social media Friday.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., also said she looked forward to welcoming Trump back to “Sweet Home Alabama.”
GOP lieutenant governor nominee and former party chair John Wahl, who Trump has also endorsed, said he understands the “special relationship (Trump) has with the people of our state.”
“This will be an incredible opportunity for Alabamians to hear directly from President Trump and be part of a truly historic event,” Wahl said.
Other speakers at the Mobile rally will be announced in the coming days.
The general election is Nov. 3.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.