On Monday, Robert McCollum announced that he is considering running in the Alabama Republican primary for Congress. McCollum told Alabama Today that he is forming an exploratory committee to look at challenging long-time incumbent Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03).
McCollum said that he had been considering a run anyway but was motivated to move up his timeline for the 2024 race after the Friday night incident where Rogers had to be restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Friday night from coming after Rep. Matt Gaetz. Rogers was angered by Gaetz’s refusal to change his vote from present to in favor of Rep. Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House.
“After the disaster on the house floor, it became clear to me that the people of the 3rd congressional district deserve better than that. That was the most childish thing I had ever seen,” McCollum said. “What have we become? What happened to respect for our colleagues? What happened to spirited debates and not playground brawls?”
Rogers has apologized for losing his temper with Gaetz.
“.@RepMattGaetz and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding,” Rogers wrote on Twitter Sunday.
Gaetz has accepted the apology and said he and Rogers have a strong working relationship.
McCollum claimed that he found the incident “embarrassing” for the state and the district but had already been considering challenging Rogers because he was dissatisfied with how Rogers was representing the district.
“The people of the 3rd district deserve someone that is going to represent them and not the Washington establishment!” McCollum said. “Someone that will work tirelessly with his colleagues to get the best for the American people!”
Rogers, who is the Ranking Member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee in the 117th Congress, is expected to Chair the committee in the 118th Congress.
McCollum said that under the circumstances, Rogers should not be chairing any committee.
“Congressman Rogers should step down from any committee or chairmanship,” McCollum said. “That kind of behavior should not be rewarded nor tolerated.”
Rogers was accused of being intoxicated at the time of the incident by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee).
“Congressional leaders should not be allowed to drink on the house floor!” McCollum said. “Our leaders should have more respect for our capital and the meaning of it!”
Rogers released a statement following McCarthy’s election as Speaker of the House on the 15th ballot.
“I am excited to see Kevin McCarthy elected Speaker of the House,” Rogers said. “Now it is time for the House to do the work the American people sent us here to do.”
McCollum appealed to voters for their support.
“I’m not going to sit here and promise that I will be 100% perfect – no one but God is! But what I can promise you is honest representation, conservative representation, sober representation, and strong conservative representation of Alabama’s 3rd congressional district!” McCollum said in a statement. “That is why today I’m announcing I will be forming an exploratory committee for Alabama’s 3rd congressional district currently held by Mike Rogers; we deserve better!”
Robert Lane McCollum is a native of Tallapoosa County. He is a graduate of Horseshoe Bend High School. He has been a small business owner.
McCollum was defeated by Public Service Commissioner Chip Beeker in the 2022 Republican primary runoff.
Rogers has represented the Third Congressional District since 2003. He previously represented Calhoun County in the Alabama House of Representatives and on the County Commission.
The 2024 Alabama Republican Primary is tentatively scheduled for March 5, 2024.
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