MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – With Election Day less than two weeks away – the candidates running for Alabama’s redrawn 2nd Congressional District faced off Thursday night for their final debate here on FOX 10 News.

As Republican Caroleene Dobson and Democrat Shomari Figures prepare to face off for the final time, both candidates are trying to get out the vote in the final heat of the race.

“We’re going to zigzag and crisscross all over this area,” Dobson said.

“Look, it just grinds… It just grinds and touches as many voters as possible… Shake as many hands as you can,” Figures said.

Figures, a husband and father of three, is the son of the late Michael Figures, a Mobile native who served in the State Senate. After her father’s death, her mother Vivian Figures ran for her husband’s seat and won; this position he still holds today. Shomari said his parents inspired him to dedicate his life to public service.

Dobson, a wife and mother of two, was born and raised in Beatrice, Alabama. He is a real estate attorney and describes himself as a lifelong advocate of conversational values.

Helping FOX 10 News continue the conversation: Mobile Room.

“There aren’t many close races in America right now — this is one of them,” Mobile Chamber President Bradley Byrne said.

The candidates immediately got to work, discussing how to attract more manufacturing jobs to Alabama.

“Since 2001, Alabama has lost 42,000 manufacturing jobs. So we have to make sure we have a level playing field for our producers in Alabama,” Dobson said.

“This is one of the issues we can point to the previous administration. “The cost of the last four years has not cost many businesses, especially in manufacturing industries, the cost of the Trump tariffs,” he said.

With the recent closure of rural hospitals, including Thomasville Regional Medical Center, candidates were asked how they would meet the need for access to healthcare for all Alabamians.

“This is a serious problem that we have the options in the palm of our hands to address… We can expand Medicaid… And Congress can help do that by passing the incentive for the State of Alabama to do the right thing and expand Medicaid… This is permanent.” is not the solution — we also need economic growth — but if Medicaid were expanded, I can guarantee you the hospital in Thomasville would still be open,” Figures said.

“Strong health care is built on a strong economy, and we need to rein in inflation, have less regulation. We also need to make sure we have good-paying jobs that provide private insurance to keep these hospitals afloat. Expanding Medicaid is a matter for our State Legislature, and I hope they will trust it and consider it,” Dobson said.

“We have hospitals closing — I don’t care who you are — if you want economic growth in your communities to bring higher-paying jobs — not even Nick Saban can shut down hiring — we’re not doing that,” Figures said.

Dobson attacked Figures throughout the debate over transgender rights, from debates over healthcare and tax reform, among other issues.

“If my opponent is serious about protecting young people in this state, then I would like him to explain why he and the Department of Justice are suing the State of Alabama in 2022 to overturn our laws that protect our children from dangerous gender reassignment procedures and treatments,” Dobson said.

“But it starts with prioritizing locally — keeping your eye on the ball… And focusing on local issues — like going after big defense contracts and not spending time talking about gender changes. We’re talking about what’s happening locally here,” Figures said.

Both say one issue will be top of mind: securing timely funding for the new I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bay Project.

“This affects more than just commuter transportation. It affects our ability and efficiency to move products out of the port and into the American economy. So we’re prioritizing that by going to work — trying to get on the transportation and infrastructure committee so we can have an impact on the type of money that flows here,” Figures said.

“The Bridge and Bay Project is vital to families on both sides of the bay — and I will fight to secure funding to ensure there are no tolls for the bridge to provide for hard-working families in Baldwin County and Mobile County and travel over I-10 Families who pay are not subject to double taxation through the toll system,” Dobson said.

Of course, this is just a small part of the hour-long discussion. You can watch the whole thing again fox10tv.comFOX 10 News App, FOX 10 Youtube Channel and FOX 10 Gulfstream App.

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