Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) is facing a new challenger in next year's race. State Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) Tuesday announced that he will challenge Jones in the Democratic primary.
In a speech on the House floor, Rogers claimed to have already raised $500,000 for the race, and said he intends to raise another $500,000. Rogers and Jones, longtime friends, have been at odds since Jones called on Rogers to apologize for controversial comments about the abortion ban bill. Rogers, who opposed the bill, said: "Some kids are unwanted, so you kill them now, or you kill them later."
Rogers said Jones called to chastise him, and Rogers made it clear that he resented it. Rogers said the last people to speak with him that way were his late parents. Jones issued a statement, saying he'd have to "agree to disagree" with Rogers, who he has represented as an attorney. "I made my position clear. I thought his remarks were appalling and I told him that I strongly disagreed with him," Jones said. "There is already too much division in our politics and I won’t add to it here. With that, that’s all I’m going to say on this matter.”