The race to fill Alabama’s second U.S. Senate seat is heating up, and a recent informal poll could spell bad news for the incumbent.
Nine candidates, both Republican and Democrat, vying for Jeff Sessions’ former Senate seat participated in a candidate forum and straw poll last night in Huntsville. Al.com reports the event was organized by the Christian Citizen Task Force, with over 300 people in attendance.
After the ballots were cast, Huntsville native and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks was the clear winner with over 100 votes. Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore finished second with nearly 75 votes. And Luther Strange, the former Alabama Attorney General currently serving as Alabama’s second U.S. Senator on appointment from former Governor Robert Bentley, finished tied for last in the straw poll with just three votes. Strange did not attend the forum.
On the Democratic side, educator and Vietnam veteran Brian McGee won with 19 of the 40 votes cast. Former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, who did not attend the forum, finished third.
Primaries for the Senate special election will be held August 15.