Jones Draws Bipartisan Crowd at Shoals Town Hall

Over 250 people filled the hall at IBEW Local 558 in Sheffield on Thursday evening as Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones took questions from a standing-room-only crowd that included Democrats, Republicans and independent voters. The event was the latest stop on Jones' Statewide town hall tour, where attendees were invited to ask unscripted questions on any topic.

The Sheffield event marked Jones' third visit to the Shoals during the 2026 campaign. He previously traveled to the area in December for a community discussion and returned in April for a listening session, part of what his campaign says is an effort to meet voters face-to-face across Alabama.

Questions from the audience covered a wide range of issues, including the financial struggles of ALICE families — households that work full time but still struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, child care and transportation — as well as economic development in northwest Alabama.

One attendee asked Jones about a major power transformer manufacturing facility planned for the Shoals region.

"That's going to be about a thousand new jobs," Jones said. "I am not convinced that that is filtering down to the local workers as much as it should. We need to make sure that when these folks are coming in here, they make certain guarantees, not on the tax base, but that they bring in jobs that are going to be good paying, that are going to give people opportunities for advancement."

The event's location carried personal significance for Jones, whose campaign has frequently highlighted his ties to organized labor. Before the public forum, Jones met privately with union members at IBEW Local 558. His father worked at U.S. Steel in Fairfield, and Jones told attendees he was once a union member himself before entering public service.

"I still believe that unions have built the middle class in Alabama," he told the crowd.

The evening also produced one of its more personal moments when a woman identifying herself as a lifelong Republican said she could no longer support U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville.

She told Jones, "It's about the man, right?"

Jones embraced the voter and thanked her for sharing her story.

The woman then asked where Jones stood on establishing a State lottery.

Jones replied that he supports a lottery, noting Alabama remains the only Southern state without one, and asked the woman how she believed lottery proceeds should be used.

"Education," she answered.

"Education is the main thing," Jones agreed.

Jones has continued to emphasize direct voter engagement throughout his campaign, holding town halls where audience members—not campaign staff—set the agenda. His next scheduled town hall is set for July 22 in Dothan.

For more information, visit https://www.mobilize.us/dougforalabama/

The Shoals town hall may be seen on YouTube and below: