Roy Moore defeats Luther Strange in Alabama in huge blow to Republicans in DC

Source: Washington Examiner | September 26, 2017 | David M. Drucker

Roy Moore defeats Luther Strange in Alabama in huge blow to Republicans in Washington

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Roy Moore defeated Sen. Luther Strange on Tuesday in a closely watched special election for an Alabama Senate seat, as frustrated Republican voters rebuked their party’s leadership in Congress for failing to repeal Obamacare and deliver other marquee promises.

Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, removed twice for ignoring federal court orders, won despite President Trump’s endorsement of Strange. Angry Republicans in this low-turnout election sided with the candidate they perceived as the political outsider, versus the appointed incumbent who was defined by the support he received from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

The votes were tallied just as McConnell pulled the plug, yet again, on Senate legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, because it lacked Republican support. Voters here, not to mention GOP insiders involved in the race, said Strange suffered for it — even though he was aligned with Trump and for the package, while Moore pledged to oppose it.

“I am sick — up to here — with these do-nothing Republicans,” said Moore supporter Johnny Creel, 56, who lives and runs a small insurance agency in upscale, suburban Birmingham, the heart of Strange’s electoral base and just down the road from where he resides. “I love the judge because he doesn’t back down. Luther has jumped in bed with Mitch McConnell.”

Moore led Strange 56.9 percent to 43.1 percent, with 42 percent reporting, when the GOP primary runoff was called Tuesday night, and he will be favored to win the special general election in December against Democrat Doug Jones. Moore led in most public opinion polls heading into Election Day, but his victory is still somewhat of an upset. His only previous statewide victories were for chief justice of the state supreme court, an elected position in Alabama; in 2012, he ran behind Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the state.

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