Bradley Byrne announces 2020 Senate bid to challenge Doug Jones

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Doug Jones_Bradley Byrne

Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne on Monday announced he  will run for a Senate seat in 2020, giving Republicans their first option for taking back the seat that U.S. Sen. Doug Jones won in a special election in Dec. 2017.

Byrne made the announcement Monday night, just down the street from where he grew up, at Wintzell’s in downtown Mobile, Ala. In announcing his candidacy, Byrne made clear his campaign will focus on his record as a fighter for Alabama’s values.

“The fight for America’s future is too important to sit on the sidelines. I am running for the United States Senate to defend the values important to Alabama,” Byrne said. “We need a Senator who will fight with President Trump to defend the Constitution, build the wall, stand up for the unborn, push for lower taxes, make health care more affordable, and protect the Second Amendment. I will fight every day to bring Alabama’s conservative values to Washington.”

Following Byrne’s announcement, Jones weighed-in on Byrne’s candidacy.

“Given the results of his losing bid for governor in 2010, in which he did not even win the republican nomination, it’s hard to see why they would nominate a career politician like Bradley Byrne now,” said Jones. “He has been part of the problem in Washington for years.”

Byrne has represented Alabama’s 1st District since 2014.

Battle of the war chests

When it comes to cash-on-hand, Byrne is not too far behind Jones.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Byrne has $1,090,498.98 is his congressional campaign fund, which he is able to transfer to his senate campaign.

Meanwhile, Jones has a balance of $2,131,165.71 cash-on-hand.