There are three Republican candidates who are on next Tuesday’s primary ballot for the Alabama House of Representatives District 38 position. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, either Bryan Murphy, Todd Rauch or Debbie Wood is going to face the unopposed Democratic candidate, Brian McGee, in November’s general election.

The current representative, Republican Isaac Whorton is not in this year’s race after being elected in 2014. Whorton defeated Randy Price with 56.4 percent of the vote in the Republican primary before going unchallenged in the general election.

Murphy has been a veterinarian for 30 years. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Sciences in Poultry Science and then he graduated from the Auburn University of Veterinary Medicine. Murphy is an advocate for fewer taxes, improving the education system in Alabama and he is a Second Amendment supporter. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and BamaCarry.

“I have had a concealed carry permit for nearly 20 years,” Murphy wrote on his Facebook page. “I am the ONLY candidate that always addresses the importance of protecting OUR Second Amendment rights whenever speaking and will continue to do so.”

Rauch is a veteran who began serving in the Army in 2001. He was deployed to Kuwait in 2003, where he suffered wounds to his shoulder, arm and leg. He was awarded a Purple Heart and then retired from the Army. He eventually moved to Opelika, where he finished his psychology degree at Auburn. He believes in God, is an advocate for protecting the Second Amendment and putting veterans first.

“We have important issues facing our state,” Rauch said in a campaign video posted on his website. “Improving education, creating good jobs, and supporting our veterans. Addressing those issues will take hard work. As a veteran, I know that service is about doing the job right, not just looking for the next promotion.”

Wood is a small business owner who has a wealth of experience in public service. She was elected to the Chambers County Commission in 2002 and has been re-elected three times. Wood served one year as the president of the Association of County Commissions for Alabama and she currently serves on the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. Wood has four main goals, according to her website, which are to: focus on jobs for the future, infrastructure for the future, ethics and education.

“I’m working hard every day to create a business environment in Chambers and Lee Counties that promotes job creation,” Wood wrote in a Facebook post. “The spike in homebuilding in East Alabama demonstrates that our conservative policies are working.”

If needed, the primary runoff will be held July 17. The general election is on Nov. 6.