Primary Results In For Trump-Backed Candidate In Alabama

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore won Tuesday’s Republican runoff for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, securing the GOP nomination after earning the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Moore defeated former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, a political newcomer who campaigned as an outsider and pushed the race into a runoff after a competitive first round of voting.

The seat is being vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who is running for governor this fall.

Democrats also held a runoff Tuesday to select their nominee for the Senate race. The Republican and Democratic winners will face each other in November’s general election, The Associated Press reported.

The Moore-Hudson contest became another test of Trump’s continued strength in Republican primaries. Trump-backed candidates have seen broad success in GOP races this year, though one of the president’s preferred candidates in Iowa’s gubernatorial contest lost earlier this month.

Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Moore leaned into his relationship with Trump and credited the president’s support as a major factor in the victory.

Moore noted that “when I call him, he takes my calls,” but also warned Republicans that they cannot afford to grow complacent heading into the November midterm elections.

“We’ve got the White House. We’ve got a delegation that’s pretty conservative, but it’s vitally important that we show up and vote,” Moore said.

Moore is a three-term congressman and member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. He was also an early backer of Trump’s first presidential campaign, a loyalty that helped define his political brand in Alabama.

Trump returned that support ahead of the runoff.

“Barry Moore has my complete and total endorsement. He’s the best America First candidate you can imagine,” Trump said ahead of the runoff.

Hudson entered the race with a different message, presenting himself as a fresh voice who could shake up Washington. He criticized Moore’s years in Congress and argued that Alabama needed someone who would not be absorbed by the political culture of the capital.

Hudson outperformed another major Republican contender, Steve Marshall, to advance to Tuesday’s runoff.

The former Navy SEAL promised to be “a warrior for President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda,” while making his military service and outsider profile central to his campaign.

“If you want the same thing over and over again, elect a career politician. If you want different results, somebody who can take your issues to Washington and not bring the stupidity of Washington back here to you, send a warrior to Washington,” Hudson said at a candidate forum last month.

Moore, however, defended his congressional record and argued that his votes proved his commitment to Trump’s agenda more than campaign slogans ever could. He pointed to his Trump endorsement, his House Freedom Caucus membership, and strong marks from conservative organizations that track lawmakers’ voting records.

“Look at my record, the most conservative member in the Alabama delegation, an ally of the president,” Moore said. “The president has endorsed me because he’s seen me in the fire. I never bow down.”

For many voters, Moore’s experience and conservative record carried the day, even as heavy rain hit much of Alabama on Election Day.

“He’s the best qualified, I can tell you that — no question,” said Bob Marshall, 91, who voted for Moore at a Methodist church, a suburb near the state capital of Montgomery.

Still, Hudson’s message appealed to voters looking for a political newcomer. Julian Metheny, who voted for Hudson in Shelby County, said he was drawn to the candidate’s Navy SEAL background, Christian values, and outsider status.

The race now shifts toward November, where Moore will try to keep the seat in Republican hands as Alabama conservatives prepare for a major election year.

Tuberville, meanwhile, launched his gubernatorial campaign last year during an appearance on Fox News’ The Will Cain Show.

“As you know, I coached, and it was a great time. We made some great friends. It’s been a lot of fun,” Tuberville said, referencing his successful football coaching career at Auburn University.

“So a few years ago, I decided to give back to this great country and fight. President Trump was a guy that really was behind me in doing the Senate race. He’s been behind me ever since and today I will announce that I will be the future governor of the great state of Alabama,” Tuberville said.

Moore’s runoff victory gives Trump-aligned conservatives another win in a deep-red state where America First politics remain central to the Republican base.

Hudson’s campaign showed there is still appetite for outsider candidates, but Moore’s victory demonstrated that experience, a conservative voting record, and Trump’s endorsement remain a powerful combination in Alabama Republican politics.