Katie Britt

With Republicans increasingly anxious about Democratic turnout and the fight for control of Congress, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt on Monday urged Alabama GOP voters to stay engaged, arguing that Republican candidates can still prevail if they turn out in November.

Speaking before the Mobile County Republican Party at Regency Church of Christ in Mobile, Britt acknowledged that Republicans need to address a number of issues such as gasoline prices and the conflict with Iran, which, polling suggests, voters largely blame for rising fuel costs. But she argued that other issues, including voter identification requirements and restrictions on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, remain political strengths for the GOP.

The senator continued to frame the contrast between the parties as one of “common sense” versus “crazy,” echoing language she used over the weekend while sparring with former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, now a Democratic candidate for governor, on social media.

“I believe that Alabama is a Republican state,” Britt said before the meeting, while speaking to reporters. “I believe our policies of common sense are ones that will prevail.”

While Britt expressed confidence about Republican prospects on Nov. 3, several Alabama Republicans voiced concern about turnout trends that emerged during the May 19 primary election.

According to Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch, more Democrats voted in Mobile County’s primary than at any point since the 1990s. Statewide, Democratic turnout increased sharply compared to Republican participation, and in Mobile County, some Republicans in otherwise safe or uncontested races are contributing as much as $25,000 to get-out-the-vote efforts.

“We have to get our people to vote or we’ll turn blue,” Burch said.

Even former U.S. Attorney General and former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions said the turnout numbers concern him, though he encouraged Britt to continue her efforts around the state and beyond.

“It is troubling for me,” Sessions said of the stronger Democratic turnout and softer Republican participation in the primary contests. He added that he believes “turnout makes a difference” on Nov. 3.

Britt said she plans to travel to Iowa and other states in the coming weeks to campaign for Republican candidates in competitive races. She also said recent generic ballot polling suggests Republicans may be gaining momentum.

“I think that will continue for the next 29 days and lead us to victory on Nov. 3,” Britt said. “We need people to turn out. We’ve got to make sure people understand the policies on the ballot and the plan we have. We’ve done a lot of things, and we have a lot more things to work on.”

National polling indicates Republicans could be at risk of losing both their narrow U.S. House majority and their Senate majority. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed Democrats tied or leading in several traditionally Republican-leaning states, while many forecasts project Democrats retaking the House.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating stands at 34% nationally, according to a Civiqs rolling average.

In Alabama, however, Trump remains more popular, with 47% approving and 43% disapproving of his job performance. But even that is being criticized by Democrats. Jones, in a news release Monday, said Trump’s standing with Alabama voters “has slipped” from 59% approval when he took office in January 2025 to the current rating. Trump carried Alabama by 30.5 percentage points in 2024.

Republicans continue to hold polling leads or are considered the favorites to win in most major Alabama statewide races, but concerns remain in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. The district was redrawn and later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, and Republicans view it as favorable territory. However, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures and Republican state Rep. Rhett Marques remain locked in a competitive race.

“It will be a close race,” said Caroleene Dobson, the Republican nominee for Alabama secretary of state. “We got to make sure we send Rhett Marques to Washington, D.C. Even though it’s a Republican-leaning district, it’s a close race. It’s not overwhelmingly Republican.”

Despite those concerns, Britt said she remains confident Alabama voters will ultimately support Republican candidates and reject the direction of the national Democratic Party.

“When people assess where the Democratic Party is moving under the Democratic Socialists of America or the common sense approach of the 80-20 issues we’re pushing, I believe they will come home.”