By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA — The Republican race for United States Senate in Alabama is (still) on after Tuesday night’s results showed no candidate receiving a majority of votes. 

Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions are headed to a runoff election, which will be held on Tuesday, March 31. Congressman Bradley Byrne finished in third place. 

According to results provided by Decision Desk HQ, Tuberville held a narrow margin over Sessions, who held the seat for 20 years before serving as head of the Justice Department under President Trump, with 239,173 votes (33.39%) in his favor to Sessions’ 226,675 votes (31.65%). Both men are vying to face incumbent Democrat Doug Jones (D-AL) in November. 

In DeKalb County, Tuberville led the pack with 6,363 votes (53.80%), followed by Sessions with 2,821 (23.45%), Byrne at 1,563 (13.21%), and Moore at 875 votes (7.4%). No other candidate received more than five percent of the vote. 

On Wednesday morning, President Trump tweeted that, “this is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt. Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!”

Tuberville replied back with, “Mr. President I could not agree more, and in 27 days help will be on the way!” At the time of press, Sessions had not responded to either comment. 

The runoff election for United States Senate will be held on Tuesday, March 31. Due to Alabama state law regarding closed party primaries, voters who chose the Democratic ballot on Tuesday are not eligible to vote in the Republican runoff.