Timeline of United States Senate special election in Alabama, 2017

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U.S. Senate Election in Alabama

Coverage

Overview • Timeline September 26 Republican primary runoff August 15 Democratic primary August 15 Republican primary

Quick Facts

First primaries: August 15, 2017 Runoff Election: September 26, 2017 General Election: December 12, 2017 Election Winner: Doug Jones (D) Incumbent: Luther Strange (R)

Race Ratings

Cook Political Report: Toss Up Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss Up Rothenberg & Gonzales: Toss Up

2017-2018 Special Elections

A special election for the U.S. Senate seat from Alabama was held in 2017.

Former U.S. attorney Doug Jones (D) defeated former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) in the general election on December 12, 2017. Jones topped Moore by 1.7 points, 50 percent to 48.3 percent. It was the only congressional special election in 2017 to result in a flipped seat.

Moore did not concede the race and said he considered requesting a recount.

Why was there no recount?

Under Alabama law, a recount is automatically ordered when a candidate wins by no more than 0.5 percent of all votes cast for the office. Jones led Moore by 1.5 percentage when the count was unofficial.

A recount could also be requested by the losing candidate in some races, but he must pay for the costs. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill estimated that the process would cost $1 to $1.5 million. The relevant state statutes also suggested that candidates for the U.S. Congress cannot petition for recounts.

Was there a delay in the certification of results because of voter fraud claims?

No. On December 27, 2017, Moore filed a complaint alleging potential voter fraud. His complaint stated the higher voter turnout in Jefferson County was anomalous and that out-of-state voters had participated in the election. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R) said the following morning that Moore's complaint would not affect Jones' certification, which proceeded that afternoon.

When was Jones sworn in?

The state certified the election results on December 28, 2017. Jones was sworn in on January 3, 2018, when the U.S. Senate returned from winter recess.

What happened in the final weeks of the race?

In December 2017, Moore regained some support in public opinion polls—leading or tying Jones in six of the nine polls released that month—and from his own party, in the aftermath of sexual misconduct and assault allegations against him. President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Moore on December 4, 2017, and the Republican National Committee reinstated its fundraising agreement with him on the same day. McConnell maintained, however, that Moore would face an ethics inquiry if he were seated in the Senate. For more on the responses to the allegations, please see the timeline of reactions to the allegations.

By the end of November, Jones had outspent Moore on advertising in the general election. According to Advertising Analytics, Jones had aired more than 10,000 television spots and spent $5.6 million. Moore aired one-tenth that number of ads and spent about $800,000 on them.

Jones also outraised Moore in individual contributions, $11.5 million to $5.2 million. This was significantly more than any other Democratic Senate candidate in Alabama in the previous 10 years—the previous high in this time period was Vivian Davis Figures in 2008 with $293,000.

Jones became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Alabama since Richard Shelby in 1992. Shelby later switched his party affiliation to Republican in 1994.

This page provides a chronology of major fundraising events, campaign ad releases, policy statements, and debates. For an overview of the election, click here.

Primary runoff election

September 26, 2017: Moore wins runoff, advances to general

Roy Moore defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama on September 26, 2017. Although he received an endorsement from President Donald Trump and the majority of the $13.9 million spent on the race by outside organizations went to support his run, including backing from the Mitch McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC, Strange was unable to pull ahead of Moore in any public opinion poll released since the August primary. He is the first incumbent senator to lose a primary since Indiana's Richard Lugar in 2012. Moore moves on to the general election against former U.S. attorney Doug Jones (D) and Arlester (Mac) McBride (I).

September 25, 2017: Independent spending in race nears $14 million

Twenty-five organizations spent $13.9 million collectively on the race by the eve of the primary runoff. Approximately 68 percent of that spending came from the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) to back incumbent Sen. Luther Strange.

By comparison, the average amount of money spent on Senate primaries by outside organizations in 2016 was $2.9 million; the median was $941,816. Four organizations spent less than $530,000 on Republicans in the Senate race in Alabama in 2016.

September 22, 2017: Trump campaigns for Strange in Huntsville, Ala.

During a campaign rally in Huntsville, Alabama, Trump promoted Strange as sharing the agenda of his administration, but described the endorsement as a risk. "I'll be honest, I might have made a mistake, because, you know, here's the story. If Luther doesn't win, they're not going to say we picked up 25 points in a very short period of time. They're going to say, ‘Donald Trump, the president of the United States, was unable to pull his candidate across the line. It is a terrible, terrible moment for Trump. This is total embarrassment.'" He added that he believed Moore would have a more difficult time in the general election, but described both Republican candidates as good men. In the more than hour-long speech, Trump also discussed healthcare and the border wall and criticized NFL athletes who protested racial oppression by kneeling during the national anthem.

September 21, 2017: Moore gets his ninth congressional endorsement from Rep. Steve King

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) endorsed former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in the U.S. Senate special election in Alabama on Thursday. He said in a statement, "Whether it’s defending the Ten Commandments, preserving the sanctity of traditional marriage, or fighting against entrenched political corruption in Montgomery and Washington, Roy Moore can be counted on to fight to advance our shared conservative values."

September 17, 2017: Poll shows Moore with 8-point lead over Strange

A poll from JMC Analytics conducted from September 16-17 showed Roy Moore with an 8-point lead over incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, 47 percent to 39 percent, in the race. Moore's lead had more than halved since the pollster's survey last month where he led Strange by 19 points.

September 16, 2017: Trump announces plans to campaign for Strange

President Trump announced on Twitter on September 16, 2017, that he planned to campaign for Luther Strange in Alabama on September 22, 2017, the Friday before the runoff election. “I will be in Huntsville, Alabama, on Saturday night to support Luther Strange for Senate,” Trump Tweeted. “‘Big Luther’ is a great guy who gets things done!”

September 16, 2017: Former candidate Rep. Mo Brooks endorses Moore

Brooks, the third-place finisher in the August 15 initial Republican primary, endorsed Judge Roy Moore at a rally in Huntsville on September 16, 2017. In a statement to Politico, Brooks said, "I can’t speak for anyone else, but, as for me, I stand with America. I have voted for Roy Moore because Roy Moore not only stands with America, he will fight for America! I urge you to join that fight."

September 14, 2017: Poll had Moore leading Strange by 1 point

A poll from GOP pollster Jan van Lohuizen for the Senate Leadership Fund had Moore leading Strange by one point: 41 percent to 40 percent.

September 13, 2017: Independent spending in race exceeds $8 million

As of September 13, 2017, 16 organizations had collectively spent $8.2 million on the race. Approximately 88 percent of that spending came from the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) to back incumbent Sen. Luther Strange. By comparison, four organizations spent less than $530,000 on the Senate race in the state in 2016.

September 6, 2017: Rep. Mark Meadows re-aligns endorsement with Roy Moore

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) endorsed Roy Moore in the race on September 6, 2017. Meadows, the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, endorsed third-place finished Mo Brooks in the August 15 primary election.

August 31, 2017: Senate Leadership Fund announces it would spend $3.6 million in runoff race

The Senate Leadership Fund announced that it would spend $3.1 million in TV and radio advertisements and $500,000 in digital advertising in the final weeks of the runoff race on August 31, 2017. Chris Pack of the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) spoke with Ballotpedia about the nature of their efforts in the final four weeks of the election. Click here to read more.

August 26, 2017: Moore's lead over Strange narrows according to Harper poll

A public opinion poll from Harper Polling has Moore leading Strange by 2 points, 47 percent to 45 percent, within the margin of error of 4 points.

August 26, 2017: Moore, Strange address Alabama Republican Party

Both Moore and Strange addressed the leaders of the Alabama Republican Party on August 26, 2017. Each gave a brief speech highlighting the differences between the two Republican primary runoff candidates. Read more about what both candidates had to say by clicking here.

August 24, 2017: Poll has Moore leading Strange by four percentage points

A poll from GOP pollster Jan van Lohuizen for the Senate Leadership Fund had Moore leading Strange by 45 percent to 41 percent, with a margin of error of 4 points.

August 23, 2017: U.S. Rep. Hice endorses Moore

U.S. Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) endorsed Moore, becoming the first member of Congress to back Moore over incumbent Strange.

August 23, 2017: Poll released has Moore with majority support

Moore was in the lead with 50.3 percent support in a poll released by Opinion Savvy on August 23, 2017. Strange trailed behind with 32.2 percent, while 17.5 percent of voters were undecided. These results were almost identical to those of a poll conducted by JMC Analytics several days earlier, which had Moore leading with 51 percent and strange at 32 percent.

August 23, 2017: Ballotpedia interviews Rep. Mark Meadows about the race

In an interview with Ballotpedia, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, discussed the primary runoff election and who supporters of Brooks were likely to support without him in the race. "We haven't endorsed anyone at this particular point, but my opinion is that most of Brooks' supporters will move to Moore. Judge Moore is seen as anti-establishment. For the people of Alabama, there's only one question: Is Alabama for sale? Luther Strange thinks it is," he said. For the full interview, click here.

August 22, 2017: Moore receives endorsements from 14 Alabama legislators

See also: Endorsements in the United States Senate special election Republican primary runoff

Fourteen Republican members of the Alabama State Legislature endorsed former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate special election on August 22, 2017. Among them was Rep. Ed Henry, who endorsed former candidate Mo Brooks in the primary election. Henry said in a statement released by Moore's campaign, "When I look at this senate race, there is only one clear choice. Only one of these men has proven time and time again that he is unwavering in his devotion to our Creator and has put that devotion ahead of his own well being."

Primary election

August 15, 2017: Moore, Strange advance to runoff; Jones wins outright

With no candidate receiving more than 50 percent in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore and incumbent Sen. Luther Strange advanced to the Republican primary runoff scheduled September 26, 2017. On the Democratic side, former U.S. attorney Doug Jones managed to fend off primary challenger Robert Kennedy Jr.

August 14, 2017: Strange leads in Emerson poll

A poll released by Emerson College had Luther Strange leading Republicans in the race with 32 percent. Roy Moore and Mo Brooks followed with 29 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

August 13, 2017: Moore leads in Trafalgar poll

A poll released by the Trafalgar Group showed Roy Moore leading the Republican field in the race with 38 percent. Strange followed with 24 percent and Brooks came in third with 17 percent.

August 11, 2017: Joe Biden endorses Doug Jones (D)

Former vice president Joe Biden endorsed Democratic candidate Doug Jones on August 11, 2017.

August 9, 2017: Brooks questions Trump endorsement of Strange, asks him to reconsider

Brooks questioned the endorsement and said that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had misled Trump. He said, "Perhaps President Trump is unaware that Luther Strange wants to keep the Senate's 60 percent rule that empowers Chuck Schumer and the Democrats to kill the entire conservative, Republican, and President Trump legislative agendas. ... In any event, while Mitch McConnell and the Swamp managed to mislead the President last night, I still support the America First Agenda, and all the polls show we have momentum."

Brooks also asked President Trump to reconsider in a tweet: "I agree completely, Mr. President. McConnell & Strange don't support your agenda. I do. Reconsider endorsement."

August 8, 2017: Trump endorses Strange

Trump endorsed Strange on August 8, 2017, tweeting, "Senator Luther Strange has done a great job representing the people of the Great State of Alabama. He has my complete and total endorsement!"

August 7, 2017: Poll shows Moore in the lead

A FOX10 News/Strategy Research poll taken on August 7 had former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore leading the Republican field in the U.S. Senate special election in Alabama with 35 percent support. Incumbent Sen. Luther Strange and Rep. Mo Brooks followed with 29 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

August 4, 2017: Candidate forum held; Brooks, Moore respond to Strange ads

A Republican candidate forum hosted by the Shelby County Republican Party was held on August 4, 2017. All nine Republican candidates attended. Media coverage highlighted the responses of Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and Judge Roy Moore to the ads launched opposing each of them by the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a super PAC associated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who backed Luther Strange in the race.

“	In this campaign, both myself and Congressman Brooks have been attacked by scurrilous, false, and deceiving and misleading ads out of Washington, DC, by a super PAC designed to keep people there they want to keep there.	”
—Roy Moore (August 4, 2017)

Moore went on to say, "You shouldn’t be in a race where you just condemn your opponents all the time...I’ll tell you this – I love that woman out there, and it hurts me very badly to see her attacked and see the foundation that we worked so hard for." He was referring to the ad released by the SLF criticizing him and his wife Kayla Moore of taking $1 million from a charity they both ran.

Later in the forum, Brooks attempted to align himself with President Trump:

“	Well who is the swamp? It's K Street, it's lobbyists, it's the people who are funding one candidate's campaign to the exclusion of all others. You can determine who the swamp's candidate is.	”
—Mo Brooks (August 4, 2017)

August 4, 2017: Article released stating Moore's organization didn't file tax returns for 2015 and 2016

An article published by AL.com stated that Roy Moore's organization, the Foundation for Moral Law, did not file tax returns for either 2015 or 2016. The executive assistant for Kayla Moore stated in explanation: "The accountant that normally does our tax returns has been sick and almost died,...He has since spoken with the IRS and the missing 2015 return will be filed in the next few days. And we have an extension on the 2016 return."

August 3, 2017: Strange receives National Right to Life endorsement

National Right to Life endorsed Luther Strange on August 3, 2017. “National Right to Life is pleased to endorse Senator Luther Strange, whose position on life reflects the true values of Alabama’s voters,” said National Right to Life political director Karen Cross. “Senator Strange has a 100 percent pro-life voting record in the 115th Congress, including votes to confirm Neil Gorsuch to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.”

August 2, 2017: Seven of Trump's Alabama delegates endorse Brooks

Seven of President Trump's Alabama delegates announced their endorsements for Mo Brooks on August 2, 2017. Among them was Rep. Ed Henry (R-Ala.), the chairman of Trump's state campaign in 2016. "It becomes very apparent to me .. as to who has the best interest of our country in mind and who is trying to make America great again and wants to stand beside Donald Trump," Henry said. "The only individual that has the character to stand on the front line and take a full fight that's required to make this country great again is Mo Brooks."

August 1, 2017: Senate Leadership Fund releases ad targeting Moore

The Senate Leadership Fund released an ad targeting Roy Moore on August 1, 2017. The super PAC, which is associated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and which backed Luther Strange in the race, spent over $435,000 on the ad. "Roy Moore; there's so much more," a voiceover says as the ad opens. "Despite being one of the highest paid judges in the nation, raking in more than $170,000 a year, Roy Moore, wanted more. So, Roy and his wife took over $1 million from a charity they ran, paying themselves $1 million and spending even more on travel, including a private jet."

July 28, 2017: Brooks calls for McConnell to resign, Moore says he doesn't want his support

Mo Brooks said he would not vote for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a majority leader and called for him to step down after he was unable to negotiate the passing of a replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act.

During the same week, Judge Roy Moore released a fundraising appeal entitled "You & Me vs Mitch McConnell." In it, he said, "If Mitch McConnell is accusing me of being a ‘conservative rebel’ who won’t march in lockstep behind his Big Government, big-spending agenda, then I plead guilty as charged!" He added, "I don’t have — nor want — the backing of Mitch McConnell and his cronies in Washington."

July 28, 2017: Brooks comments on Scaramucci, criticizes New Yorker interview

Mo Brooks said that former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci did not add stability to the White House. He added that he would have fired Scaramucci for his interview with the New Yorker which had been published the day before. President Trump went on to remove Scaramucci from his position on July 31, 2017.

“	He's off the map. For him to use the kind of vulgar language he used with respect to Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon -- both conservatives and liberals in the White House -- I just don't get why Donald Trump would put him, Mr. Scaramucci, into that position, given his rather reckless style.	”
—Rep. Mo Brooks (2017)

Brooks added, "I don't think that is adding stability to the White House and right now the White House needs a lot stability. They need friendships they need to be able to work together and stop this behind the scenes leaking and backstabbing."

He also went on to say he would have fired Scaramucci for his interview with the New Yorker: "I would just from that one interview but keep in mind I'm from Alabama...We believe in a level of politeness that apparently was not a part of Mr. Scaramucci's upbringing. And I'm not real fond of people who try to show off the strength of their egos by using the profanity and vulgar language that Mr. Scaramucci used to describe Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus."

July 26, 2017: Brooks offers to leave race to allow Sessions to become nominee

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) proposed that he and the other eight Republican primary candidates simultaneously withdraw from the race to allow Attorney General Jeff Sessions to become the party's nominee and compete for his old seat in the general election. Brooks' offer came after Trump criticized Sessions for recusing himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential and not firing Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. "If President Trump wants a new Attorney General, he has that right. That is why today I am making the people of Alabama a 'win-win' promise: a 'win' for President Trump and a 'win' for Jeff Sessions," Brooks said in a statement.

July 24, 2017: Brooks releases ad featuring audio recording of shooting

Brooks released an ad featuring audio from the June 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball game practice where five individuals were injured, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). The following text appears on screen, "June 14: A Bernie Sanders supporter fires on Republican congressmen. Mo Brooks gives his belt as a tourniquet to help the wounded," before Brooks notes his commitment to protecting the Second Amendment.

Former and current Scalise staffers criticized the ad. "This makes my stomach turn," tweeted Scalise's chief of staff, Brett Horton. Brooks defended the ad, saying, "I believe that this ad, in a most compelling way, responds in a convincing way that Alabama voters will know that having lived through what I lived through and immediately thereafter being pressed by the news media on the Second Amendment right to bear arms, I stood my ground."

July 17, 2017: Gentile and McGee withdraw from race

Republican Dominic Gentile withdrew from the race, narrowing the Republican primary field to nine candidates. Gentile said he was leaving to support his wife who had been diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks earlier. He endorsed Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), saying, "It's very rare to have a politician who is very smart, who is selfless and who does the right things, a good man, a family man, who's never had an ethics complaint."

Democrat Brian McGee also exited the race to consolidate support for Doug Jones. He said, "The reality is we need to, as Democrats, unite and get behind a good candidate. I believe Doug Jones is the one who can actually win."

July 8, 2017: Republican candidate forum

The Montgomery County Republican Executive Committee hosted a candidate forum attended by Luther Strange, Mo Brooks, Trip Pittman, Randy Brinson, James Beretta, Dominic Gentile, and Bryan Peeples. Brooks and Brinson placed first and second in a straw poll conducted at the event.

June 29, 2017: Moore leads in internal Brooks campaign poll

Politico reported that Roy Moore topped the Republican field in an internal Brooks campaign poll with 31 percent support. Strange and Brooks followed with 23 and 21 percent, respectively. No other candidate passed 5 percent support.

June 28, 2017: RNC pledges $350,000

The Republican National Committee approved $350,000 to be spent on the Alabama Senate race to boost Strange's campaign. According to Politico, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) played an active role for weeks to secure the funding. "The drawn-out nature of the talks became such a point of contention that in recent days the majority leader lobbied White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, a former RNC head who remains plugged into the committee’s operations, to help get the funds released. Strange himself spoke with President Donald Trump," Politico reported.

June 20, 2017: Republican candidate forum

The Republican Women of Huntsville sponsored a candidate forum on June 20, 2017, attended by Randy Brinson, Mo Brooks, Dominic Gentile, and Roy Moore. The candidates discussed partisan politics, healthcare, and immigration. Luther Strange declined to attend due to a previously scheduled commitment.

June 8, 2017: Senate Leadership Fund pays for first ad supporting Strange, reserved $2.6 million for advertisements

The Senate Leadership Fund spent close to $300,000 on its first ad supporting Luther Strange in the special election. The super PAC announced it had reserved $2.6 million for advertisements to support Strange in the special election on May 8, 2017. The money was earmarked for advertisements slated to appear between July 11 and August 15, 2017. According to Chris Pack, the organization's spokesperson, the spending was the first in a series of intended purchases supporting Strange. Pack said, "A lot of people in glass houses are throwing stones in Alabama, and they will quickly realize that this won't be going unanswered. This $2.65 million buy is just an initial down payment on Senate Leadership Fund's commitment to supporting Senator Strange."

April 19-26, 2017: Roy Moore's judicial suspension and candidacy

Moore was suspended from his position as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court due to charges filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission following his January 2016 order instructing Alabama probate judges to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. That order was found to be out of compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Moore was suspended for the remainder of his term and deemed ineligible for re-election due to Alabama's age limit of 70 for candidates for the court. He announced his candidacy for the Senate a week later.

April 18, 2017: Alabama governor moves special election date from 2018 to 2017

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) moved the special election to fill the seat left by Jeff Sessions from November 6, 2018, to December 12, 2017. "I promised to steady our ship of state. This means following the law, which clearly states the people should vote for a replacement U.S. Senator as soon as possible," Ivey said in a press release. The decision by former Gov. Robert Bentley to schedule the race to align with the 2018 general election had been opposed by the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus, Secretary of State John Merrill, and State Auditor Jim Zeigler.

February 9, 2017: Strange's appointment

On February 9, 2017, Gov. Robert Bentley (R) appointed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to the U.S. Senate following former Senator Jeff Sessions' confirmation as U.S. attorney general.

See also

• Special elections to the 115th United States Congress (2017-2018)
• United States Senate
• Jeff Sessions

External links

• Alabama Secretary of State
• FEC: Alabama, U.S. Senate (2017-2018)
• Judge Roy Moore for Senate
  • Roy Moore on YouTube
• Strange for Senate
  • Luther Strange on YouTube
• AL.com: Alabama Senate race: Your questions answered

Footnotes

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Alabama's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Katie Britt (R)

Tommy Tuberville (R)

Representatives

District 1

Barry Moore (R)

District 2

Shomari Figures (D)

District 3

Mike Rogers (R)

District 4

Robert Aderholt (R)

District 5

Dale Strong (R)

District 6

Gary Palmer (R)

District 7

Terri Sewell (D)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (2)