Endorsements are stacking up in the final hours before the Aug. 6 primary election in the races for governor and numerous high-profile congressional seats.
Significantly, outgoing Gov. Bill Lee made his first endorsement on Tuesday for 5th Congressional District candidate Charlie Hatcher, who is hoping to unseat sitting U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in the Republican primary. Lee has yet to make any endorsements in the race for governor.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmw6C6VD 2 =@@< 2E D@>6 @7 E96 @E96C ?@E23=6 ?2>6D E92E 92G6 >256 DE2E6>6?ED :? 72G@C @7 42?5:52E6D :? 9:89=J 4@?E6DE65 C246D 29625 @7 t=64E:@? s2J]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9C ^m
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm k^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmv@G6C?@Ck^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm&]$] $6?] |2CD92 q=24<3FC? 92D E@FE65 H:56DAC625 DFAA@CE 7C@> >2?J 6DE23=:D9>6?E 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D[ :?4=F5:?8 76==@H &]$] $6?] q:== w286CEJ[ &]$] #6AD] |2EE '2? tAAD 2?5 %:> qFC496EE[ 2D H6== 2D G2C:@FD >6>36CD @7 E96 %6??6DD66 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J[ :?4=F5:?8 $6?2E6 |2;@C:EJ {6256C y24< y@9?D@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqFD:?6DD>2? 2?5 >65:2 A6CD@?2=:EJ s2G6 #2>D6J[ #6AF3=:42? 24E:G:DE #:=6J v2:?6D 2?5 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >65:2 24E:G:DE #@33J $E2C3F4< 92G6 2== 2=D@ 6?5@CD65 q=24<3FC?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? 255:E:@?[ q=24<3FC? 92D C24<65 FA 6?5@CD6>6?ED 7C@> E96 %6??6DD66 !C@76DD:@?2= u:C67:89E6CD pDD@4:2E:@?[ %6??6DD66 uC2E6C?2= ~C56C @7 !@=:46 2?5 E96 %6??6DD66 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 U2>Aj x?5FDECJ]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm&]$] #6A] y@9? #@D6 :Dk^DA2?m kDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmE@FE:?8 E96 DFAA@CE @7 >@C6 E92? b__ 72C>6CD 2?5 >@C6 E92? a__ 3FD:?6DD =6256CD[ :?4=F5:?8 w]v] w:== #62=EJ r@>A2?J r92:C>2? y:>>J vC2?36CJ[ 7C@> 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 2D H6== 2D DFAA@CE 7C@> 7@C>6C &]$]k^DA2?mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm #6A] s:2?6 q=24<]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmdE9 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4Ek^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmx?4F>36?E dE9 s:DEC:4E #6AF3=:42? r@?8C6DD>2? p?5J ~8=6D D64FC65 E96 7@C>2= 6?5@CD6>6?E @7k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^2?5J\@8=6D\AC6D:56?E\ECF>A\C6AF3=:42?\AC:>2CJ^2CE:4=60hgdfa46h\6674\cb4`\2`6f\6gb4h3`_c44e]9E>=QmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ3@I\D:K:?8i 3@C56C\3@Ij >2C8:?i _AIj A255:?8i _AIjQ 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^2?5J\@8=6D\AC6D:56?E\ECF>A\C6AF3=:42?\AC:>2CJ^2CE:4=60hgdfa46h\6674\cb4`\2`6f\6gb4h3`_c44e]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%CF>A[ k^2mH9@k^DA2?mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm AC2:D65 ~8=6D :? 2 yF=J ag E6=6C2==J[ D2J:?8 96k^DA2?m kDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm36=:6G6D E92E ~8=6D “H:== 36 C62==J 6?D9C:?65 2D @?6 @7 E96 36DE 4@?8C6DD>6? E92E J@FV== 6G6C D66]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm~E96C ~8=6D DFAA@CE6CD :?4=F56k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^DE2E6^F\D\DA62<6C\>:<6\;@9?D@?\8:G6D\<6J?@E6\DA6649\2E\E6??6DD66\8@A\5:??6C^2CE:4=603h_57dg2\`675\c``c\2575\h_fhh23a4_4e]9E>=QmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm&]$] $A62<6C @7 E96 w@FD6 |:<6 y@9?D@?k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm2?5 &]$] w@FD6 |2;@C:EJ {6256C $E6G6 $42=:D6 W#\{@F:D:2?2X[ k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^6=64E:@?D^9286CEJ\5676?5D\3=24<3FC?\2D\62C=J\G@E:?8\F?56CH2J^2CE:4=606gbdhh7f\3543\cae_\hb5g\7bf``h4g27f5]9E>=QmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm&]$] $6?] q:== w286CEJk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm 2?5k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^3F=D@\D\a_ae\3:==D\7246\D4CFE:?J\7C@>\D@>6\H4D\3@2C5\>6>36CD^2CE:4=60d`572b3a\cf34\cfea\gahd\d352c4533fa_]9E>=n08=l`YgdIFDcY0FAY|"]]Y082Y}KtK~%&`~st_{;tb~s&J~s*c~s8]Y0820fzy%t)*fs`Y4Ktb~s&J~s*c~s4<3Kt<+Kp<5stb~s&J~s*c~s4<2;*HyvHHyv8HQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmDE2E6 #6A] v:?@ qF=D@k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm~8=6D’ AC:>2CJ 492==6?86C[k^DA2?m kDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm7@C>6C DE2E6 28C:4F=EFC6 4@>>:DD:@?6C 2?5 #6AF3=:42? 42?5:52E6 r92C=:6 w2E496C[ ?@H 92D E96 6?5@CD6>6?E @7k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^8@G\3:==\=66\6?5@CD6>6?E\E6??6DD66\4@?8C6DD:@?2=\dE9\5:DEC:4E\492C=:6\92E496C^2CE:4=60g464f5e`\gg5`\chfb\3h76\a652`2e3bf4`]9E>=QmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmv@G] q:== {66k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm2?5 7@C>6C %6??6DD66 v@G] q:== w2D=2>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmw2E496C 2=D@ 92D E96 DFAA@CE @7 7@C>6C &]$] $64C6E2CJ @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 v6@C8:2 v@G]k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^492C=:6\92E496C\D@??J\A6C5F6\E?^2CE:4=60f`h`d_2a\_4f5\c4c_\ggc7\25cd_cc5g236]9E>=QmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm$@??J !6C5F6k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm[k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^H:==:2>D@?\4@F?EJ\>2J@C\C@86CD\2?56CD@?\8:G6D\=2DE\DE2E6\@7\4@F?EJ\255C6DD^2CE:4=60_dhdb33`\255c\c7_4\3_g4\73af3fegge45]9E>=n08=l`Y6IJhI6Y0FAY|"]]Y082Y|%p_};pJ|;4K|:cI}K8`|;8a~%tdY0820fzy%t)*fs`Y4Ktb~s&J~s*c~s4<3Kt<+Kt<5stb~s&J~s*d~%<<2;xHyvHHyv8HY0820c%atq`cfqgY4Ktb~s&J~s*d|%<<3Kt<+Kp<5stb~s&J~s*d~%<<2;*HyvHHyv8HQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm(:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ |2J@C #@86CD p?56CD@?k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm 2?5 7@C>6C %6??6DD66 &]$] #6A] k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^492C=:6\92E496C\2?5J\@8=6D\E6??6DD66\4@?8C6DD:@?2=\D62E^2CE:4=60566`_2d4\dahe\cgg5\2452\ggg7g7`67h3a]9E>=n08=l`YGFKh8HY0FAY|"]]Y082Y}%4I|;4H|sx_{;tb~s|d};pJ|;x]Y0820fzy%t)*fs`Y4Ktb~s|d};pJ|;t<3Kt<+Kp<5stb~s|d};pJ|;t<2;*HyvHHyv8HQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm+249 (2>Ak^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qms6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6 r92K |@=56C H2D 6?5@CD65 3J 7@C>6C v@G] !9:= qC656D6?[ 7@C>6C &]$] #6A] y@9? %2??6C 2?5 C6E:C:?8 &]$] #6A] $E6G6 r@96?]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmeE9 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4Ek^DA2?mk^9bm
kAmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm$E2E6 #6A] y@9??J v2CC6EE 2?5 7@C>6C cE9 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E #6A] '2? w:==62CJ 7246 @77 :? E96 #6AF3=:42? AC:>2CJ 7@C E96 D62E E92E H:== 36 G242E65 3J &]$] #6A] y@9? #@D6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm#@D6 92D ?@E 6?5@CD65 6:E96C 42?5:52E6[ 3FE w:==62CJ H2D #@D6VD 49:67 @7 DE277 F?E:= 96 DE6AA65 2H2J E@ =2F?49 9:D 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 3:5] $kDA2?mE2E6 $6?] !2F= q2:=6J 2?5 E96 >2J@CD @7 rC@DDG:==6 2?5 rF>36C=2?5 2?5 $F>?6C 4@F?E:6D 92G6 2== DFAA@CE65 w:==62CJ]k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm%96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 v2:?6D 2?5 $42=:D6[ 2?5 &]$] w@FD6 |2;@C:EJ (9:A %@> t>>6C 92G6 324<65 v2CC6EE] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmq@E9 >6? E@FE E96:C %CF>A =@J2=E:6D[ 3FE E96 AC6D:56?E 92D ?@E H6:8965 :? @? E96 C246]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmhE9 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4Ek^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm%CF>A 92D 6?5@CD65 DE2E6 $6?] qC6?E %2J=@C W#\|6>A9:DX :? 9:D 3:5 E@ C6AC6D6?E E96 C646?E=J C65C2H? hE9 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E[ D2J:?8 E92E 96’D “DEC@?8=J DFAA@CE65 3J E96 >@DE w:89=J #6DA64E65 |pvp (2CC:@CD :? %6??6DD66]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%2J=@C’D =:<6=J s6>@4C2E:4 492==6?86C[ DE2E6 #6A] yFDE:? !62CD@?[ H2D 6?5@CD65 3J &]$] #6A] p=6I2?5C:2 ~42D:@\r@CE6K Ws\}*X 2?5 E96 AC@8C6DD:G6 24E:@? @C82?:K2E:@? |@G6~? 2?5 %x##r '@E6D W%6??6DD66 x>>:8C2?E U2>Aj #67F866 #:89ED r@2=:E:@?X] uk^DA2?mkDA2?m6==@H hE9 s:DEC:4E s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6 DE2E6 $6?] {@?5@? {2>2C 92D E96 6?5@CD6>6?E @7 C6E:C:?8 hE9 s:DEC:4E &]$] #6A] $E6G6 r@96?] k^DA2?mk^Am
