Alabama Lieutenant Governor Candidates Debate Medicaid and Grocery Taxes

Alabama lieutenant governor candidates Democrat Phillip Ensler and Republican John Wahl debated affordability, rural health care and the role of the office in a rare televised statewide campaign debate. Both said they support eliminating the state’s remaining 2% sales tax on groceries, while Ensler also advocated tax relief on overtime and farm equipment and expanding Medicaid; Wahl emphasized tax cuts enacted under Republican leadership. On rural health care, Ensler argued Medicaid expansion could help keep hospitals open, while Wahl proposed locally partnered triage centers and said preventing further hospital closures should be a priority. The candidates also differed over their ability to work across party lines, with Ensler citing bipartisan legislative efforts and Wahl questioning his effectiveness when some bills did not advance. The debate also touched on education and data centers.