Alabama: Election Day

Republicans and Democrats will go to the polls today to take the first step in permanently replacing Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R) in the Senate.  For the GOP, it appears that former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore will place first tonight and advance to a September 26th run-off.  Appointed Sen. Luther Strange (R) and US Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) fight for the second position.  The Trafalgar Group, which previously projected a tighter race for second, finds in their final pre-primary survey (8/12-13; 870 AL likely GOP primary voters) that Judge Moore and Sen. Strange are getting stronger.  Their late ballot test shows Moore topping 38% with Sen. Strange pulling 24% and Rep. Brooks dropping to 17 percent.  Nine Republicans on the ballot virtually ensure that no one will capture the necessary majority to win nomination in today’s vote. 
 
Democrats are likely to head to a run-off, too, as marketing executive and retired Navy officer Robert Kennedy Jr. and ex-US Attorney Doug Jones are projected to advance.

--Jim Ellis