Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn University football coach, endorsed by Donald Trump, took down former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Alabama’s Republican Senate primary runoff Tuesday, Fox News reports.
What We Know:
- Tuberville defeated Jeff Sessions Tuesday, putting to rest the former AG’s fight to return to his Alabama Senate seat. He now heads to the general election in November to face Sen. Doug Jones, who is seen as the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate in this year’s election cycle.
- Tuberville’s win also shows the influence of President Donald Trump, who endorsed the former college football coach, describing him as a “winner who will never let you down.”
Big Senate Race in Alabama on Tuesday. Vote for @TTuberville, he is a winner who will never let you down. Jeff Sessions is a disaster who has let us all down. We don’t want him back in Washington!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 11, 2020
- Sessions was quick to respond to the president’s tweet, noting that Washington shouldn’t play a part in Alabama’s election.
I’ve taken the road less travelled. Not sought fame or fortune. My honor and integrity are far more important than these juvenile insults. Your scandal ridden candidate is too cowardly to debate. As you know, Alabama does not take orders from Washington. https://t.co/1I6ROih43E
— Jeff Sessions (@jeffsessions) July 11, 2020
- Contention between President Trump and Sessions stretches long before the 2020 election. Then Senator Sessions was the first Republican Senator to support Trump in the 2016 election and was later named Trump’s first Attorney General.
- Their relationship turned sour when Sessions opted to recuse himself from the investigation into Russia’s influence in the 2016 election, being ousted as AG in November of 2018. Sessions has taken heat from the president ever since.
- Tuberville’s victory is a big one for Trump, who was previously 0 for 2 in Alabama senate races with candidates he endorsed.
Wow, just called! @TTuberville – Tommy Tuberville WON big against Jeff Sessions. Will be a GREAT Senator for the incredible people of Alabama. @DougJones is a terrible Senator who is just a Super Liberal puppet for Schumer & Pelosi. Represents Alabama poorly. On to November 3rd.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2020
The Alabama Senate general election is a big one for both Democrats and Republicans. Republicans are hoping to hold onto their 53-47 majority, and an Alabama victory makes Democrats chances of taking over the chamber more difficult.
