Trump-backed senator ousted in Alabama runoff

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore trounced incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama’s Republican Senate primary runoff Tuesday despite failing to secure top endorsements. Moore received 55 percent of the vote to Strange’s 45 percent. Strange took over the Senate seat held by Jeff Sessions earlier this year after Sessions became U.S. attorney general. Strange is the first sitting senator to lose a primary election since 2012. President Donald Trump endorsed Strange in August, a super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spent millions on pro-Strange advertising, and Vice President Mike Pence stumped for him in the days leading up to the runoff. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Moore’s grassroots appeal. “Together, we can make America great,” Moore said in his victory speech. “Don’t let anybody in the press think that because [Trump] supported my opponent that I do not support him.” Shortly after polls closed, Trump called Moore to congratulate him on his win and wished him well in December, when Moore will face off against Democrat Doug Jones in a special election.