The momentum against federal vaccine mandates is on the Alabama side, Gov. Kay Ivey told Rotarians in Prattville and Millbrook on Tuesday.

Ivey stopped by the Willis Bradford Branch YMCA in Prattville to speak to members of both clubs about current affairs in Alabama and to campaign for re-election.

The governor cited a Georgia federal judge’s order to suspend vaccine warrants for federal contractors as the latest advance in the state’s struggle.

“It was the very first costume I put my name on,” Ivey said. “All of you, the momentum is on our side. I have no doubts that Alabama’s best days are ahead of us.

Ivey said she still strongly encourages vaccination, but believes the warrants are overbroad by the federal government.

“Biden’s White House is trying to get Americans to choose between getting vaccinated or putting food on the table for their families,” Ivey said. “I wanted everyone to be shot in the arm on day one. But the White House is trying to force the vaccine on Americans, and Alabama strongly opposes it. ”

The majority of Ivey’s speech focused on her accomplishments as governor and her goals for moving forward if she is re-elected.

“I tackled what the state has neglected decade after decade: dealing with roads and bridges and building new prison infrastructure,” Ivey said. “I made it my mission as governor to focus on our education system. … We are investing a record amount of funds in educational institutions.

The keys to strengthening the education system, said Ivey, are to focus on core subjects and ensure children master reading by grade three.

“Making sure every child has a strong educational foundation is key to everything we do,” said Ivey.

Ivey also drew attention to the Rebuild Alabama Act and the projects that were completed with the $ 4 million in gas tax revenue. The governor also touted the state’s economic rebound, as Alabama’s unemployment rate fell to 3.1%.

“It not only shows that we are on the right track to fully recover from the pandemic, but we are doing it and more,” Ivey said. “This is something we will all be proud of; our work is warning the rest of the country.

Two new challengers have entered the governor’s race, Tim James and Lynda Blanchard.

Blanchard was a candidate for the U.S. Senate until Tuesday, when she officially announced her run for governor.

Both candidates called Montgomery politicians out of touch. When asked for a response, Ivey said she didn’t know who Lynda Blanchard was.

“I’m strong on my record and working hard to get my point across,” Ivey said. “I don’t think a lot of people have heard of Lynda Blanchard – I certainly haven’t heard of her. So we will continue to do what we are doing.