Former Auburn University soccer coach Tommy Tuberville defeated former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the second round Tuesday night for the Republican nomination for the US Senate.
Tuberville, who was making his first run for public office, will face Democrat Doug Jones in November.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:19 pm, just over an hour after the polls closed. With 774 of 2,281 precincts reporting, the unofficial results show that Tuberville garnered 88,015 votes, or 62%, to Sessions’ 53,277, or 38%.
You can see the full results of the elections here.
You can see detailed Senate results here.
The race pitted Tuberville, who was backed by President Donald Trump, against Sessions, who left the Senate before being named Attorney General of the Trump administration in 2017. Sessions resigned a year later after falling out with Trump over the AG decision to recuse itself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Sessions defended his decision while on the campaign trail.
“You know, I don’t focus on regrets,” Sessions said. “I say my prayers and try to do the right thing. I believe that Donald Trump has been a president who has promoted the interests and values that I believe in. As attorney general, President Trump and I had a disagreement. ”
In the first state referendum held amid the coronavirus pandemic, turnout in Tuesday’s primaries was extremely light in most places. Secretary of State John Merrill originally predicted a turnout of up to 22%, but changed that on Election Day to 15-10%.
Tuberville will face Jones in the November 3 general election.
Tuberville contemplates a big step to become Alabama’s next senator
