Analysis: Trump’s Endorsement Helped Tuberville Win Amid Low Turnout
Alabama Republicans have made their choice in the U.S. Senate primary runoff: Tommy Tuberville.
The former Auburn University football coach defeated former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday to win the Republican nomination for Senate. Unofficial results show Tuberville winning with about 60% of the vote. Turnout for the runoff was 17%. Tuberville now goes up against incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in November. For perspective on the runoff and a look ahead, WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with Samford University political science professor Marissa Grayson.
Nothing unexpected on results:
I’m not surprised that Tommy Tuberville won. I’m also not surprised by the low turnout. But I am a bit surprised how much he won by, especially just across the state, in basically every county. I thought Jeff Session had a good chance down in Congressional District One. [That district covers Mobile which is Sessions’s hometown] I expected turnout to be a little bit higher there given there was the runoff for [Congressman] Bradley Byrne’s seat. But still, Tommy Tuberville just did great across the state amongst a small amount of people, of course.
The impact of President Trump, who attacked Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation:
I think that the president did make a difference in regards to people willing to vote for Tommy Tuberville. Tommy Tuberville stayed pretty low throughout the race. He wasn’t out there. He didn’t want to debate Jeff Sessions. So Trump’s endorsement, I believe, helped him. But it didn’t really help bring a lot of people out to vote. Turnout was really low. There wasn’t that much excitement about Trump’s candidate that we saw.
How things look for Doug Jones in the general election:
I still think that Doug Jones has an uphill battle. I think that’s true for a few reasons. One is that Donald Trump will be on the ballot, which I think will energize more people to go out to vote and people are going to support his candidate. Two, we’re one of six states that has straight ticket voting. In 2018, about 65% of voters voted straight ticket voting. So if I were Doug Jones’s campaign, I would be thinking about ways that they can educate people that you can vote straight ticket in Alabama and still vote if you’re voting Republican on the straight ticket for Doug Jones.
How Tommy Tuberville might campaign:
I think Tommy Tuberville probably won’t debate. He’s probably going to focus on Doug Jones’s impeachment vote and you’re going to hear more of what he talked about last night in his speech about the Second Amendment and protecting Alabamians’ rights.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
How China, not the U.S., became the main climate solution story in 2025
The U.S. has become a "side character" in the global story of renewable energy, experts say. China dominates the sector, with positive implications for the climate and their economy.
Supreme Court to hear case that could vastly expand presidential powers
The Supreme Court hears arguments in a case about President Trump's firing of a Federal Trade Commissioner. At stake is a 90-year precedent limiting the president's power over independent agencies.
Republicans push high deductible plans and health savings accounts
A Republican call to give Americans cash instead of health insurance subsidies revives an old idea that has left millions with medical debt.
Zelenskyy heads to London for more Ukraine peace talks. Here’s what to know
The talks signal fresh support from European allies. But they follow stalled U.S. negotiations in Miami and comments from President Trump's son suggesting Washington is ready to pull back.
Tributes, not politics, play center stage as Trump hosts the Kennedy Center Honors
President Trump said he was closely involved with picking the honorees, and on Sunday he became the first president to host the Kennedy Center awards ceremony.
Thailand launches airstrikes along border with Cambodia as tensions reignite
Both sides accused the other of breaking a ceasefire that halted fighting earlier this year. Longstanding border disputes erupted into five days of combat in July that killed dozens.
