DAPHNE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones called for a moratorium on data centers and committed to expanding Medicaid during his town hall in Baldwin County on Oct. 2, where he answered audience questions on education, healthcare, government accountability and other issues facing Alabama ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

A former U.S. senator and U.S. attorney, Jones said one of his goals was to improve Alabama’s quality of life, pointing out that previous state leaders have prioritized attracting businesses while failing to address things like education, wages and healthcare.

Jones is running against Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn University football coach who defeated Jones in his 2020 reelection run for the Senate. The two are competing to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.

During the town hall, Jones identified the rapid development of data centers as an immediate concern, pointing out their potential effects on Alabama’s electricity grid, water resources and their effects on surrounding communities.

“We need a moratorium on data centers. Period,” Jones said. “We've got to put the guardrails in place so that we know where the power is going to be paid for.”

Jones said he would seek to issue an executive order to temporarily halt hyperscale data center development if he takes office, although the legal scope of such an order would need to be determined.

He proposed to eliminate tax incentives for the facilities, requiring the companies to contribute financially to their host communities and to establish accountability measures for development that fail to fulfill commitments.

“I just want transparency so communities can make informed decisions,” Jones said.

Healthcare was another question brought up throughout the event, especially questions surrounding the financial instability of Alabama’s rural hospitals.

“Rural healthcare starts with expanding Medicaid. Period. End discussion,” he said.

Alabama remains one of 10 states that has not adopted Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Expansion would require cooperation with the Republican-controlled Legislature, a challenge Jones recognized during the town hall.

When an audience member asked how he planned on paying for his proposals, Jones said his administration would seek savings through greater government efficiency and identify funding opportunities without eliminating public sector jobs.

“If 40 other states have found the ability to expand Medicaid in some form or another, Alabama should be able to find a way,” Jones said.

Education also drew several questions, including concerns about teacher compensation, student literacy and Alabama’s CHOOSE act, which provides families with state-funded education savings accounts that can be used for private school tuition and other school-related expenses.

Jones criticized the program for directing public money toward private education and said he would aim for a gradual phaseout rather than immediately eliminate assistance for participating families.

“I want to phase out the CHOOSE Act,” Jones said. “Now some people want it completely eliminated, but I have to be honest about this. There are some kids that have benefited, and folks that have moved schools. I don't want to yank that away. I think we can phase that out and do that.”

He said redirecting the funding toward public schools could help improve teacher salaries and also expand existing literacy and numeracy initiatives beyond elementary school.

Jones also said he supported providing cost-of-living increases to retired teachers and pursuing a state lottery, alongside a broader regulated gambling package to generate additional revenue.

Alabama is one of five states without a state lottery, and previous legislative attempts to establish one have not been successful.

Responding to a question about organized labor, Jones brought up his family’s history in Alabama’s steel and mining industries and said he would work to improve the state’s relationship with unions.

“I am a strong proponent of organized labor. They built the middle class, they built Alabama,” Jones said. “We're going to do all we can to promote them.”

The town hall also emphasized the differences Jones is seeking to establish between himself and Tuberville as the election approaches.

Jones criticized Tuberville’s campaign advertisements on crime and data centers and renewed his call for the Republican nominee to participate in a public debate.

“Every question I've gotten here tonight is best done on the debate stage, so people can see both candidates and what we stand for and how we got there. Because it's not just talking points; you've actually got to critically think about what's in the best interest of the state,” Jones said.

The Daphne town hall came on the same night President Donald Trump appeared at a rally about 15 miles north in Mobile, where he endorsed Jones’ Republican opponent Tuberville.

Jones said the timing of the two events was coincidental and that the Daphne town hall had been scheduled as part of his campaign’s travel across the state.

Near the end of the discussion, Jones described the approach he wants to bring to the state government and referenced "Crowded Table,” a song by the country group The Highwomen.

“I've got a vision for this state, and it is not a vision of hate and division, pitting neighbor against neighbor, no matter who you are,” he said. “We're going to give everybody a seat by the fire. We're going to give everybody a voice and this state will grow like it's never grown before.”

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.