By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo by Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Thursday, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore announced that he would once again mount a campaign for the United States Senate.

Moore was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate during the 2017 special election to replace Jeff Sessions. Moore was defeated in that election by now-Senator Doug Jones (D-AL).

Despite the announcement today that he would run for the Senate again, Moore was urged against running for the office by President Donald Trump last month via Twitter.

President Trump stated:

“Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate in the Great State of Alabama. This time it will be for Six Years, not just Two. I have NOTHING against Roy Moore, and unlike many other Republicans leaders, wanted him to win. But he didn’t, and probably won’t…..

...If Alabama does not elect a Republican to the Senate in 2020, many of the incredible gains that we have made during my Presidency may be lost, including our Pro-Life victories. Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating….Judges and Supreme Court Justices!”

Moore stated in his announcement that national leaders were afraid of him running for Senate.

“Yes, I will run for the United States Senate in 2020,” said Moore, officially announcing his candidacy. “Can I win? Yes, I can win.”

Moore served two times as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 2001-2003 and again from 2013-2017. He served as Circuit Judge for the Sixteenth Circuit of Alabama from 1992 to 2000.

Moore joins a growing primary field of Republicans hoping to be the one to topple Sen. Jones, which includes U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne of Mobile, former Auburn Tigers football head coach Tommy Tuberville, Rep. Arnold Mooney, and businessman Stanley Adair. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill has filed paperwork with the FEC to run, but has not made a formal announcement.