Trump-backed Moore wins Alabama Senate GOP nomination

President Donald Trump is a winner in Alabama's Republican Senate runoff even though he was not on the ballot. The candidate he backed captured the GOP nomination.

Trump-backed Rep. Barry Moore defeated rival Jared Hudson in Tuesday's Republican showdown for the nomination in solidly Republican Alabama, the Associated Press reports. Moore and Hudson finished first and second in last month's primary but neither reached 50 percent, forcing a runoff.

Moore, who was also endorsed by Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune, is now the clear frontrunner to succeed Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville is running for governor rather than seeking re-election to the Senate.

The congressman founded a waste hauling company, served in the state legislature and won election to the U.S. House in 2020. He was among the first politicians to endorse Trump in 2015.

Moore represents Alabama's 1st Congressional District and belongs to the House Freedom Caucus. Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper, advanced to the runoff after edging out state Attorney General Steve Marshall. He has also worked as a sheriff's deputy, firefighter and small business owner and now heads a nonprofit that trains law enforcement to combat human trafficking.

Hudson received endorsements from then-Sen. Markwayne Mullin, now Trump's Department of Homeland Security secretary, Sen. Tim Sheehy, the National Association for Gun Rights PAC and conservative activist Riley Gaines. Moore will face either Dakarai Larriett or Everett Wess in November.