Former Democratic Rep. Bright to Challenge Roby as a Republican
Former congressman was elected as a Democrat in 2008, lost in 2010
Former Democratic Rep. Bobby Bright announced he will challenge Rep. Martha Roby in the Republican primary in Alabama’s 2nd District.
Bright was elected in 2008 before losing to Roby in the tea party wave in 2010. Despite serving as a Democrat, Bright said he always voted conservatively, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.
“The label in front of a person’s name does not make the person,” he said. “You look at what actions he’s taken.”
But Maddie Anderson, regional spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, criticized Bright’s record.
Watch: Three Things to Watch in Texas’ Upcoming Primaries
[jwp-video n=”1″]
“A candidate running as a Republican in Alabama who voted for Nancy Pelosi is definitely the most shocking news of the day — even in 2018,” she said. “Nancy Pelosi is the most unpopular political figure in the entire country and I look forward to watching Bobby Bright explain to Alabamians how exactly he supports both Pelosi and the tax-cutting GOP agenda.”
Bright said his vote for Pelosi while in the House was procedural and to ensure his district was properly represented. He voted against the 2010 health care law.
Roby came under criticism for opposing Donald Trump as her party’s presidential nominee in 2016.
After the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump bragged about groping women, Roby was one of a number of Republicans who said she would not vote for him.
In response, Roby has drawn a number of Republican primary challengers, including state Rep. Barry Moore and Rich Hobson, the former campaign manager for failed Senate candidate Roy Moore.
Earlier this month, Roby was endorsed by new Republican group Winning for Women, alongside a number of other Republican incumbent women.