The race to succeed Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) won’t be settled for another month after Republicans failed to coalesce around a candidate in Tuesday’s Senate primary in Alabama.
Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), backed by President Donald Trump, and ex-Navy SEAL Jared Hudson will advance to a June 16 runoff after failing to clinch an outright majority of the vote. When the race was called, Moore had 39.2% support, while Hudson received 25.6%.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall placed third with 24.5% of the vote.
The field included seven Republicans vying to replace Tuberville, who announced his retirement from the Senate to campaign for governor.
Alabama is a GOP stronghold that Trump won by 30 points in 2024, meaning the eventual nominee is expected to win a Senate term this fall. All of the leading candidates emphasized their support for Trump and promised to advance his agenda in the Senate.
Moore, a three-term congressman, was the first elected official to back Trump’s 2015 run for president, a fact that helped earn him the president’s endorsement. Trump held a tele-rally for Moore on the eve of the primary in a final show of support.
Primary voters were also choosing their nominees for the House on Tuesday night, although the outcome in four districts will be voided as Alabama makes a last-minute bid to redraw its map. The decision came after the Supreme Court handed Republicans a victory on redistricting last month.
CASSIDY LOSES SHOT AT REELECTION AS LOUISIANA SENATE RACE HEADS TO RUNOFF
Trump has a mixed endorsement record with Senate candidates in Alabama. Former Sen. Luther Strange lost to Republican Roy Moore in 2017 despite having the president’s support. Trump successfully backed Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) in 2022 after pulling his endorsement from then-Rep. Mo Brooks.
In the governor’s race, Trump endorsed Tuberville, a onetime football coach who built his political career on culture wars and his loyalty to the president.