{"id":92982,"date":"2017-09-27T06:06:42","date_gmt":"2017-09-27T06:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/alabama-senate-primary-what-to-know.html"},"modified":"2017-09-27T06:06:42","modified_gmt":"2017-09-27T06:06:42","slug":"alabama-senate-primary-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/political\/alabama-senate-primary-what-to-know.html","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Senate primary: What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t
\n\t \"Jonathan<\/a><\/p>\n

Roy Moore defeats Luther Strange in Alabama Senate runoff<\/a><\/h4>\n

Jonathan Serrie reports from Republican primary winner’s headquarters<\/p>\n

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore won the Alabama GOP primary runoff Tuesday night for a seat in the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Sen. Luther Strange.<\/p>\n

Strange, who was appointed to finish out Jeff Sessions\u2019 term when he was tapped as the U.S. attorney general, was strongly backed by President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both visited Alabama over the past week to campaign for Strange.<\/p>\n

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon pitted himself against Trump in the race as he backed Moore and campaigned for him on the eve of the election. In Alabama Monday night, Bannon also praised Trump as \u201cone of the most courageous individuals\u201d in an apparent move to alleviate fears Trump\u2019s own base may have over siding with a different candidate.<\/p>\n

Moore also received the support of \u201cDuck Dynasty\u201d star Phil Robertson, Brexit leader Nigel Farage and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.<\/p>\n

Despite having Trump\u2019s support, being buoyed by millions of dollars in advertising by a super political action committee tied to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Moore\u2019s past controversies, Strange was unable to avoid a runoff during a primary last month.<\/p>\n

The special general election is slated for Dec. 12. Here\u2019s a look at the election.<\/p>\n

Roy Moore<\/b><\/h3>\n

Called the \u201cAyatollah of Alabama\u201d by critics who believe he too closely marries his political and judicial responsibilities with religion, Judge Roy Moore emerged as the leader of the Republicans vying for the Senate seat.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Former\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore speaks to supporters in Montgomery, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0(AP Photo\/Brynn Anderson)<\/span><\/p>\n

Known as the \u201cTen Commandments Judge,\u201d Moore has garnered the support of many anti-establishment conservatives.<\/p>\n

Despite his popularity, Moore is mired in controversy. He was twice removed from Alabama\u2019s Supreme Court. The first time, he was removed when he refused to move a boulder-sized Ten Commandments monument from the statehouse; he was permanently\u00a0suspended in 2016 after he instructed probate judges to deny marriage licenses to gay people.<\/p>\n

LUTHER STRANGE SAYS TRUMP\u2019S NFL COMMENTS MAY SECURE HIS ALABAMA SEAT<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Moore used those controversies to boost his support among conservative evangelicals while campaigning, and he told Republican voters that those cases were akin to battle scars for standing up for what he believes. On his\u00a0campaign website<\/a>, Moore said he was suspended for \u201cupholding the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moore was also\u00a0called racially insensitive<\/a>\u00a0when he used dated terms to seemingly describe Asian people and Native Americans during a recent campaign speech.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we have blacks and whites fighting, reds and yellows fighting, Democrats and Republicans fighting, men and women fighting. What\u2019s going to unite us? What\u2019s going to bring us back together? A president? A Congress? No, it\u2019s going to be God,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also suggested the 9\/11 terrorist attacks were a punishment from God and suggested that God was upset with the U.S. because \u201cwe legitimize sodomy\u201d and \u201clegitimize abortion,”\u00a0CNN reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"OnVideo<\/span><\/p>\n

At his rally on the eve of the election, Moore said \u201call of Washington is waiting to see what Alabama does.\u201d Wearing a white cowboy hat, Moore doubled down on his support of the Second Amendment and brandished a handgun during the event.<\/p>\n


\n \"CandidateVideo<\/span>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

STRANGE: ROY MOORE HAS NO RECORD OF CONSERVATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Many supporters in the crowd wore the iconic red \u201cMake America Great Again\u201d hats from Trump\u2019s campaign or other pro-Trump clothing. Chu Green, of Mobile, Ala., told the Associated Press that she thinks Trump \u201cknows he made a mistake\u201d in endorsing Strange.<\/p>\n

At Moore\u2019s rally, she held a sign that said \u201cMr. President and Mr. V.P. I love you but you are wrong! America needs Judge Moore,\u201d according to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n

Luther Strange<\/b><\/h3>\n

Despite being backed by GOP senators and Trump, Luther Strange failed to avoid a runoff and came in second to Judge Roy Moore.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"FILE\t\t\t<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Luther Strange in a special primary election next week.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0(AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump was in Alabama Friday to campaign for Strange<\/a> \u2013 sometimes called \u201cBig Luther\u201d because of his 6-foot-9-inch frame. In his wide-ranging speech \u2013 which touched on the North Korea conflict and NFL players who protest during the national anthem \u2013 Trump said Strange would \u201cdefend your interests, fight for your values and always put America first.\u201d<\/p>\n

The president has tweeted his support of Strange multiple times, including on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuther Strange has been shooting up in the Alabama polls since my endorsement. Finish the job \u2013 vote today for \u2018Big Luther,\u2019\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

BANNON MAKES BEST PITCH FOR ROY MOORE FOR ALABAMA SENATE<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Strange, who was tapped by Alabama\u2019s former governor to finish out Sessions\u2019 term, was the state\u2019s attorney general and had joined a lawsuit against the Obama administration that challenged the former president\u2019s executive order on amnesty for undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n

Aside from the president, Strange\u00a0also racked up endorsements<\/a>\u00a0from the National Rifle Association of America, National Right to Life and the Alabama Farmers Federation.<\/p>\n

Although a favorite of the establishment, Strange\u2019s struggles raised concerns among GOP members of Congress.<\/p>\n


\n \"AlabamaVideo<\/span>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

“There are probably a number of incumbents on both sides of the aisle who should take notice of another demonstration that voters still want change,” Greg Strimple, a Republican pollster for a political action committee aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan,\u00a0told the Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The takeaway is that Washington is very unpopular,” Strimple said, and that overrides even Trump’s endorsement, because he cannot simply “transfer his brand” to candidates, like the lobbyist-turned-politician Strange, who fail to establish their own outsider credentials.<\/p>\n

Doug Jones<\/b><\/h3>\n

A former U.S. attorney during the Clinton administration, Jones beat out seven other Democrats to secure the party\u2019s nomination.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"FILE\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Senate candidate Doug Jones chats with constituents before a forum in Decatur, Ala.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0(AP Photo\/Jeronimo Nisa)<\/span><\/p>\n

Jones has been openly critical of Trump \u2013 particularly when it comes to Trump\u2019s wish to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate change agreement \u2013 and picked up key endorsements from liberal lawmakers.<\/p>\n

BEN CARSON PRAISES ROY MOORE IN APPARENT BREAK FROM TRUMP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Former Vice President Joe Biden\u00a0endorsed Jones in the primary\u00a0and lent his voice to robocalls made to voters.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoug Jones will make a great U.S. senator so please make sure you get out and vote on Tuesday \u2013\u00a0and I\u2019m hoping you\u2019ll vote for my friend, Doug Jones,\u201d Biden said.<\/p>\n

Jones was also endorsed by Reps.\u00a0John Lewis<\/a>, D-Ga.,\u00a0Cedric Richmond<\/a>, D-La., and\u00a0Terri Sewell<\/a>, D-Ala.<\/p>\n

While a Republican candidate is widely expected to win the seat, Alabama Democrats are\u00a0reportedly feeling optimistic<\/a>\u00a0about their candidate.<\/p>\n

Jones is perhaps best known for successfully prosecuting two members of the Ku Klux Klan accused of bombing a Birmingham church in 1963 that killed four little girls.<\/p>\n

His\u00a0campaign website<\/a>\u00a0touts his progressive ideals and plans for health care reform and protecting Planned Parenthood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe shenanigans around the 2016 campaign must be pushed aside and full equality for women made the law and the norm in America,\u201d Jones said on his website.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n

Article source: http:\/\/feeds.foxnews.com\/~r\/foxnews\/politics\/~3\/E9_9mf4MpIU\/alabama-senate-primary-what-to-know.html<\/a>\r\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Roy Moore defeats Luther Strange in Alabama Senate runoff Jonathan Serrie reports from Republican primary winner’s headquarters Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore won the Alabama GOP primary runoff Tuesday night for a seat in the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Sen. Luther Strange. Strange, who was appointed to finish out Jeff Sessions\u2019 term when he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[84],"class_list":["post-92982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-political","tag-political"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92982\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}