Yesterday, the Alabama GOP selected Roy Moore as their nominee in December’s special senate election. In the weeks leading up to GOP primary runoff, Luther Strange, the interim senator appointed by Governor Robert Bentley after President Trump picked former Senator Jeff Sessions to be the U.S. Attorney General, had received Trump’s endorsement. It wasn’t enough as Moore’s Ten Commandments celebrity proved too strong among Alabama’s conservatives. Moore carried the vote by a 54.6-45.4 margin.
In December’s general election, Moore is expected to be a weaker Republican candidate than Strange would have been. Nevertheless, Alabama’s deep red hue should carry him to victory. Polls are scarce at the moment, but one firm, Emerson, has tested this race twice in September. Early in the month, Moore held a 4-point lead over Democratic nominee Doug Jones. That edge ballooned to 23 points last week. I expect the final margin to be somewhere in between.
Race Rating: Strong GOP Hold
