U.S. District 1 congressional candidate Bradley Byrne announced a pair of endorsements this week, roughly three weeks before voters will head to the polls in a runoff election between him and Dean Young, the other Republican candidate. The endorsement of the National Rifle Association today comes on the heels of one by State Rep. Chad Fincher, who finished third in the primary election for the same seat Sept. 25.
“I trust that Bradley will go to Congress to stand up for our South Alabama values, and I trust that he will always be honest with the citizens of our district,” Fincher said in in a statement. “We need to elect conservatives who are willing to work with other conservatives to win – not attack fellow conservatives for personal gain.”
Fincher’s endorsement is the second of a former congressional candidate for Byrne. On the night of the primary, fourth-place finisher Quin Hillyer said he would support Byrne’s continued campaign. There were nine Republicans on the ballot Sept. 24. Byrne finished first with 35 percent of the vote compared to Young’s 23 percent.
Also, while Young has made a habit of sporting a NRA cap at several campaign events, the NRA’s endorsement of Byrne was based on the candidate’s “solid and consistent pro-gun voting record in the Alabama State Senate and responses to our 2013 federal candidate questionnaire,” according to a press release.
The NRA and its related Political Victory Fund gave Byrne an “A” rating for his record and promises to defend 2nd Amendment rights. Both Byrne and Young, along with Democratic contender Burton LeFlore, have accepted invitations to attend a candidate forum Monday, Oct. 21, at the University of South Alabama. The event, which will take place from 7-8 p.m. at the Mitchell Center on the USA campus, is also sponsored by AARP Alabama, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and Local 15.
The winner of the Nov. 5 Republican run-off will meet LeFlore in the general election on Dec.17.
