President Donald Trump may not have been directly on the ballot, but his influence was evident in Alabama’s Republican Senate runoff election. The candidate he supported, Rep. Barry Moore, secured the GOP nomination. Moore defeated his competitor Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper, according to the Associated Press.
The Republican contest featured Moore and Hudson, both of whom advanced to the runoff after a primary that didn’t see any candidate reaching over 50% of the vote. Moore had the endorsement of Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Barry Moore, after securing the nomination, becomes the favorite in the race to replace Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville, rather than seeking another Senate term, is running for governor this year. Moore’s political journey includes founding a waste management company and serving as a state lawmaker before joining the U.S. House in 2020. He was among the first to back Trump’s initial presidential bid in 2015.
His opponent in the runoff, former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, positioned himself as an outsider. Hudson managed to surpass state Attorney General Steve Marshall to reach the runoff stage. His background includes roles as a sheriff’s deputy, firefighter, business owner, and leader of a nonprofit for law enforcement training against human trafficking.
Despite receiving endorsements from figures such as then-Senator Markwayne Mullin, now Homeland Security Secretary, and backing from the National Association for Gun Rights PAC, Hudson came up short. Moore will face either Dakarai Larriett, a business owner, or attorney Everett Wess in November. The winner will represent a strong Republican district in Alabama.
Paul Steinhauser, reporting from New Hampshire, follows political campaigns nationwide.
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