Alabama: Run-off; Dem Wins

As polling predicted, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore placed first in the Republican primary last night, but came well short of majority support.  He now advances to a September 26th run-off against appointed Sen. Luther Strange.  US Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) finished a distant third.  Judge Moore captured 39% of the GOP primary vote versus Sen. Strange’s 33%, while Mr. Brooks notched 20%.  Judge Moore performed best in the rural areas and in southern Alabama, particularly in the Mobile, Montgomery, and Dothan areas.  Sen. Strange placed first in the Birmingham region, the state’s most populous metro area.  Rep. Brooks carried his home county of Madison with over 50% of the vote.
 
The survey research badly missed the Democratic result, however.  Most were suggesting a run-off would occur between retired Navy officer Robert Kennedy Jr. and ex-US Attorney Doug Jones, but the latter easily won.  Mr. Jones secured a 66-18% landslide victory over Mr. Kennedy and six others, thus earning him a ballot position in the December 12th general election.  More than 72% of more than 575,000 primary participants chose to vote in the Republican primary, which does not bode well for the Democrats in the upcoming special general.

--Jim Ellis