Senate Race Heats Up

Senate Race Heats Up

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The race for U.S. Senate continues to heat up as money is raised and more candidates enter the ring. 

This month, the race was rated by The Washington Post as the seat most likely to flip in the 2020 elections. Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), the current occupant of the Senate seat that formerly belonged Jeff Sessions, has one of the lowest approval ratings of any U.S. Senator in the nation, according a poll by Morning Consult. 

The poll found Jones’ approval in the state of Alabama was 39 percent approval, 37 percent disapproval and 24 percent undecided. 

Despite these numbers, Jones towers over the field of candidates in both parties in the fundraising race. Jones reported that he raised $1.8 million for his re-election campaign for the period of April 1 through June 30, which brings his total amount raised for the race up to $7.23 million. 

The field of candidates in the Republican primary, which will be held on March 3 of next year, now includes: businessman Stanley Adair, U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, schoolteacher Marty Hatley, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, state Rep. Arnold Mooney, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, John Paul Serbin, and former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville.

The Republican candidates reporting the following fundraising numbers to the Federal Election Commission: 

  • Adair — $134,431
  • Byrne — $685,635 in this period, $2.75 million total
  • Merrill — $217,561
  • Moore — $16,964
  • Serbin — $450
  • Tuberville — $421,251 in this period, $1 million loan from himself

Both Hatley and Mooney reported no contributions. The next fundraising hauls will be reported at the end of September. 

At a campaign stop this week, Coach Tuberville said he would not take a salary, if he is elected to the U.S. Senate. 

“I’m a politician’s worst nightmare. I don’t need the money, I don’t need the job and I ain’t going to be politically correct,” stated Tuberville. “We’re in trouble. We don’t need people who are going up there and taking paychecks. It means a lot to me to give back.” 

The Alabama Senate election will coincide with next year’s presidential election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.