Alabama's Senate race is getting down to the wire and, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL 7th District) is trying to get all hands on deck to make sure Democratic candidate Doug Jones secures the coveted spot. According to USA Today, Sewell has called on fellow lawmakers and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) high-profile U.S. representatives James Clyburn (D-SC 6th District), Cedric Richmond (D-LA 2nd District), Sanford Bishop (D-GA 2nd District), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX 18th District) and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to assist in mobilizing efforts.
Jones will be running against Roy Moore – who is facing serious sexual misconduct allegations – in the Dec. 12 special election to replace former Sen. Jeff Sessions' seat.
“Everybody is eager to do what they can to help,’’ Sewell, who is also a CBC member, said. “It’s just about making sure that we mobilize and turnout out not only the African American vote, but really the millennials. We’re really trying to cast a wide net.”
So far, Sewell and Jones have been visiting black churches within the state. “She’s recognizable, so folk know her and they know her family,'' said Derryn Moten, chairman of the History and Political Science Department at the Alabama State University. "She can get Jones into places that he may not be able to enter without some effort otherwise. She can facilitate a lot of things for him.’’ Moten also suggests that Jones hit black rural areas, despite any fears that it may take away from the white vote.
Sewell reiterated that the black voter turnout will be key for the upcoming special election. “The key will be to over perform in the traditional base, Democratic base areas, which is the African American community, labor community, urban communities and to try to be able to siphon off some of those moderate Republicans and try to get them to vote Democrat,” she said.
The Jones campaign confirmed they were grateful for Sewell's assistance. "Our campaign and Congresswoman Sewell are continuing to work closely together in the closing weeks of this race,’’ said Jones campaign spokesman Sebastian Kitchen.
