From the recent same-sex marriage ruling to the upcoming presidential race, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., answered questions from Pike County residents during a meet-and-greet on Tuesday.

Donna Horn, chairman of the Pike County Republican Party, opened her home to the senator and visitors on Tuesday.

“I am really excited to have him here,” Horn said. “When they approached me about having something for him, they suggested something at a local restaurant. On a Tuesday night, in Troy, that’s sort of hard to do, so I said ‘let me just have it at my home.’ … I am just overwhelmed with the crowd and just so honored that Senator Sessions is here.”

Sessions spoke candidly with those in attendance, addressing the group as a whole and fielding questions from the crowd. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions legalizing same-sex marriage, supporting Obamacare and addressing trade issues were prime topics.

“I think the American people are worried about trade, and we need to assure them that we are not signing any agreement that does not legitimately protect the interests of American workers on a world stage,” Sessions said. “I think also we might start getting votes from people who go to work everyday.”

In discussing the court’s ruling last week legalizing same-sex marriage, Sessions raised a common concern about the federal court’s jurisdiction in state issues. “The Tenth Amendment explicitly says all power that is not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people. Marriage is clearly not delegated to the federal government and without any doubt has been the sole province of states since the founding of the republic,” he said. “States set what age you can get married at, how it can be done, what a common law marriage is. The marriage decision to me was just a blockbuster violation of the role of the court.”

The group ended the Q&A with laughs as Sessions dispelled rumors of entering the 2016 presidential race.

“We’ve got some good people,” he said of the GOP field of candidates. “All of them approve regulations every day. All of them would seek to reform to Obamacare. There is a pretty big gap between all our nominees and the Democratic Party nominees. I have one advantage that the other people don’t have: I know I’m not qualified.”

Several elected officials were in attendance to the meet and greet, and Pike County Probate Judge Wes Allen said it was good to have Sessions come to Pike County and connect the gap between Troy and Washington, D.C.

“I’m proud of him and his service in Washington, D.C. representing our conservative ideas and conservative ideals for the state of Alabama,” Allen said. “It’s always good to get a chance to visit with a sitting U.S. senator, and have a chance to have a conversation with him and for him to hear the good people of Pike County.”