The New York Times reports:
Roy S. Moore, a former chief justice of the State Supreme Court, and Senator Luther Strange emerged from a crowded Republican field on Tuesday in a special Senate primary in Alabama, according to The Associated Press. They will face off for their party’s nomination next month in a runoff election, a contest that will test President Trump’s clout in a deeply conservative state.
Neither Mr. Strange, backed by Mr. Trump and millions of dollars in spending by outside groups, nor Mr. Moore, a favorite of evangelical voters, received more than 50 percent of the vote in a race that evolved into seeing who could embrace Mr. Trump more when the leading contenders were closely aligned on policy.
Mr. Strange, appointed this year to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, now faces a contest in which the nomination may be determined in large part by how many voters Mr. Trump can swing toward the incumbent.
We are projecting the Democratic Senate nomination for Alabama will go to Doug Jones.
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) August 16, 2017
It’s Strange v Moore in #ALSen — a six-week runoff as Dems ponder whether to help nominee Doug Jones. https://t.co/y2kzm6FqgB
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) August 16, 2017
Dems gonna get Doug Jones, their preferred #ALSEN nominee, sans runoff
Fun fact: he was Biden ’88 AL co chair https://t.co/jCraluF47x
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) August 16, 2017
Alabama currently with a 6.23% voter turnout in the special election.
— Jason Upton (@jasonupton) August 16, 2017