Conservative grassroots Alabama Senate candidate Judge Roy Moore faces off against D.C. establishment Senator Luther Strange tonight, and all eyes will be on Alabama to see if Moore’s “grassroots muscle” will defeat Strange’s “corporate money.”
The D.C. establishment has poured at least $30 million into the race and reportedly gave President Donald Trump plenty of happy talk to convince him to campaign for Strange. The Swamp did so because they are reportedly terrified that if Moore wins tonight, other grassroots candidates will challenge, in former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s words, Swamp creatures “in their own states.”
Just hours before polls closed in Alabama, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), who would have faced a grassroots challenger in a primary, announced that he will retire at the end of his Senate term, essentially saying, “no mas.”
Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon campaigned for Moore in Alabama on Monday and said that a vote for Moore is a vote for the economic nationalist agenda that got Trump elected. Trump campaigned for Strange last Friday in the Yellowhammer State, but many voters who attended the rally indicated that though they still support Trump, they will vote for Moore, who has led in every poll leading up to tonight’s runoff.
Trump, who never admits making a mistake, openly told the crowd that he may have done so by going against his grassroots supporters and endorsing and campaigning for Strange on behalf of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and all of the establishment-aligned groups that have shown nothing but utter disdain for grassroots conservatives and working-class Trump voters.
Polls close at 7 p.m. CT. Stay tuned to Breitbart News for live updates throughout the evening. All times eastern.
***
12:00:
Bannon declares Moore's victory the start of "revolution" for GOP https://t.co/0gJ38wkDu4 pic.twitter.com/QaFA0c6jr2
— The Hill (@thehill) September 27, 2017
Final RESULTS in GOP primary runoff for Alabama’s US Senate seat:@MooreSenate 55% (262,204 votes) #RoyMoore@lutherstrange 45% (218,066)
— Jason Dennis (@JasonDennisWTVM) September 27, 2017
>The red is populist-nationalism.
>The yellow is the establishment. pic.twitter.com/ypmjg4zV2K— John Binder 👽 (@JxhnBinder) September 27, 2017
11:20: Trump Deletes Pro-Strange Tweets:
Trump deletes pro-Luther Strange tweets https://t.co/dRNiVaCseU
— Leada Gore (@LeadaGore) September 27, 2017
Trump has deleted his three final pro-Strange tweets, including the one where he falsely claimed Strange had gained support because of him.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 27, 2017
From Breitbart’s Matt Boyle: President Trump Call Judge Moore to Congratulate Grassroots Conservative Candidate
11:05: Breitbart News’ Matt Boyle reports that President Donald Trump called Judge Roy Moore tonight to congratulate him on the win. Judge Moore told President Trump: “I look forward to working with you.” Boyle reports that the phone call lasted about five minutes. More from Boyle: “The President conveyed to the Judge that he understands what he went through to win, and he closed the call by saying ‘God Bless You’ to the judge.”
https://twitter.com/MooreSenate/status/912878386271449088
11:00: A senior Congressional tells Breitbart News about the mood tonight up on Capitol Hill: “It’s like a funeral up here on Capitol Hill.”
10:42:
Congratulations Roy Moore! We are thrilled you ran on the #MAGA agenda & we are for you!
— Mike Pence (@mike_pence) September 27, 2017
10:40:
We have #3)! "Back Strange." It's officially a trend. Really, how much awful advice from his son-in-law is @RealDonaldTrump going to take? https://t.co/oMzMItWhnM
— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) September 27, 2017
Advice from Jared: 1) Fire Comey. Dems will love it! 2) Hire @Scaramucci to set up a professional operation. … You want to wait for #3?
— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) July 28, 2017
10:35:
Trump this morning: "Luther Strange has been shooting up in the AL polls since my endorsement. Finish the job- vote today for 'Big Luther.'"
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/912866846390571009
10:30:
LIVE: Bannon reax at Moore party after seeing Trump tweet praising ROY pic.twitter.com/DflQ8DZMkl
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) September 27, 2017
McConnell's horrible day: health bill shelved, Corker decides to go, and "Big Luther" falls in Alabama @pkcapitol https://t.co/bgNqt45yso
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 27, 2017
Final Alabama election results show Trump losing to Steve Bannon with Moore victory https://t.co/RLCKd3Gu2U
— Matthew Cooper (@mattizcoop) September 27, 2017
"Steve Bannon and God spoke to me, and this morning when I went in I voted for Moore." https://t.co/vQkObYf89h
— Andrew DeMillo (@ademillo) September 27, 2017
10:17: Has Jared ever given Trump good advice?
Why'd Trump foolishly jump into AL race? "Jeff Roe, Strange’s top consultant, fed regular updates to Jared Kushner" https://t.co/GHk5LB6yQn
— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) September 27, 2017
Politico: “Trump was encouraged to pick Strange before the August primary by son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner as well as other aides, White House officials said. He was never going to endorse Alabama Republican Rep. Mo Brooks, who has at times opposed Trump’s agenda, and knew little about Moore, officials said.”
10:15: Flashback: Trump Advisers/Gatekeepers Gave Him Happy Talk, Bad Advice:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his gang of establishment Republicans implored President Donald Trump to campaign for establishment Republican Sen. Luther Strange (R-AL) against conservative frontrunner Roy Moore, the former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice, because they reportedly are terrified that more grassroots candidates across the country will challenge establishment Republicans if Moore defeats Strange on Tuesday.
Moore has led in every poll leading up to Tuesday’s runoff in what has been described as the “first proxy battle” between Trump and his former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, who has vowed to support the economic nationalist agenda that got Trump elected in the first place.
…
According to the Washington Post, Trump’s advisers “were deeply divided on whether” Trump “should risk jetting to Alabama to prop up” Strange. But GOP establishment forces reportedly waged “an intense behind-the-scenes campaign to convince Trump that he could carry Strange across the finish line with an appearance in Alabama.”
Though White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was reportedly hesitant about sending Trump to Alabama to potentially waste his political capital, establishment Senate Republicans were “unwilling to let the president turn his attention elsewhere” because they worried that a Strange defeat “could prompt some GOP senators to retire to avoid facing the wrath of anti-establishment voters and the likes of Bannon’s Breitbart News,” according to the Post’s Bob Costa.
He points out that Strange’s establishment consultant Jeff Roe “fed regular updates to Jared Kushner” while establishment consultant Ward Baker, who advises a pro-McConnell super PAC that has reportedly “poured more than $8 million into Alabama to support Strange,” updated Trump and Pence. Pence loyalist Kellyanne Conway reportedly “impressed upon Trump how much power his visit could have in Alabama and reminded him that all five of the candidates he backed in special elections this year won.” And establishment Republican Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), who just recently openly questioned Trump’s fitness to be president that in turn got him plenty of plaudits from the legacy press and vicious Never Trumpers, also begged Trump to campaign for Strange.
“You’ve got to go,” Corker reportedly told Trump, according to the Post. “We need you there.”
10:12: Moore says God can bring us back. He talks about his love for the Constitution.
https://twitter.com/MooreSenate/status/912861869668491266
Moore: "Protests, demonstration, mobs, racial strife, but we're all created in the image of God." #ALSEN #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) September 27, 2017
10:08: Moore thanks Almighty God. He says he has never prayed to win this campaign. He has only prayed that God’s will be done. Moore says he has spoken to Senators Paul, Lee, and Cruz. He says don’t let anyone in the press think that he does not support Trump because Trump supported Strange.
"I've never prayed to win this campaign, I've prayed for God's will be done" @wsfa12news pic.twitter.com/IXMHfwdFrj
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) September 27, 2017
Moore on Trump agenda "I will be supportive, as long as it's Constitutional"
— Jonathan Hardison (@FOX6Hardison) September 27, 2017
10:05: Bannon says Moore’s win shows economic nationalists do not need to raise millions from “fat cats” on Wall Street and Silicon Valley. He says Alabama answered today that the people–not money–is sovereign in Alabama.
Steve Bannon takes stage in support of Moore. pic.twitter.com/D0EazHrM3S
— Lauren Walsh (@LaurenWalshTV) September 27, 2017
Bannon takes a victory lap on Corker's retirement today
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/912860336100904960
10:02: PALIN congratulates Moore and says we need more “happy warriors” in D.C.:
Congratulations Judge Moore and thank you Alabama!
We can win this war! This is what we need, the happy warriors who are in it for the right reason. They’re in it for a reason, not just a season and not just a business for them. They have a servant’s heart that we need in our government. I’ve followed Judge Moore’s career for many years, as I said, and the ups and downs and the battles that he’s had inside and outside of the party and always standing up for what he believes is right. Some of the things he’s done, I’ve just gotten a kick out of, and I think they need some of that in Washington—like when he showed up to vote riding a horse, I thought we’d probably do the same thing. He’s a good man and he’s got great character. Yes, this is what we need. We don’t need the lobbyist mentality in the Senate, because that lobbyist mentality has too often proven to the people that special interests that will enrich that lobbyist will come before the people’s interest. We can’t afford any more of that. That has led us to the $20 trillion debt that we’re in. That has led us to the government growth and overreach that we see. So, no, we don’t need to elect more of the problem—we’re not going to solve the problem by electing more of it. – Sarah Palin
10:00:
Moore’s win establishes Bannon and the Breitbart wing of the GOP as a major force in the Republican Party https://t.co/ZMPuuwwLbE
— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) September 27, 2017
Bannon 1, Trump 0
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) September 27, 2017
9:48: Strange now making his concession speech, says this is not the result he wanted and has congratulated Judge Moore. Strange says his team left everything out on the field/court and is proud of the campaign he ran … and there are a lot of political winds blowing right now. He says he won’t lose any sleep. Gets golf claps from audience. Strange thanks his Senate office staff, many of whom are present at the event.
Luther Strange doesn't take questions from the media as he departs #alpolitics
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 27, 2017
Strange thanks supporters. Employs a few more sports analogies about losing last-second games, overtime games #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/zcYZtcSbtU
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 27, 2017
Strange thanks Trump for support — "I can't explain why he was willing to take that risk" #alpolitics
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 27, 2017
Establishment just flushed $30 million down the drain. Congrats!
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) September 27, 2017
9:47:
— Adelle Malka Nazarian (@AdelleNaz) September 27, 2017
In major defeat for Trump and McConnell, Roy Moore beats Luther Strange in #alsen runoff, prompting new fears among Washington GOP
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 27, 2017
BREAKING: Bannon defeats Trump in Alabama. Roy Moore is the projected winner in #ALSEN https://t.co/ktqUcTTqjo
— Andrew Desiderio (@desiderioDC) September 27, 2017
9:45:
Luther Strange arrives at his event #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/Bw7Yj1ECDH
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 27, 2017
Luther Strange: "I congratulate Roy Moore on the result this evening." pic.twitter.com/I2UBN9bRRa
— Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) September 27, 2017
9:40:
https://twitter.com/MooreSenate/status/912851816005734403
9:38:
No reaction at Luther event as race is called. Maybe they saw it coming. Imbibery continues, however… pic.twitter.com/WVZjRPMip9
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 27, 2017
9:28: Race called for Moore:
BRAKING: Firebrand jurist Roy Moore wins Alabama GOP primary runoff for U.S. Senate, defeating Trump-backed incumbent.
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 27, 2017
9:15: These people…
Senate Leadership Fund concedes before the AP calls it!!!! pic.twitter.com/2mj8dzD5Yz
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 27, 2017
9:10:
Just arrived at the Luther Strange event. Some light imbibing is underway #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/EEMjeKE3Ry
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 27, 2017
A close one Talladega Co, now reporting 100%, another Moore victory @wsfa12news
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) September 27, 2017
9:05: Decision Desk, Cook Political Report’s Wasserman Project Moore Victory:
Projection: Roy Moore (R) defeats Sen. Luther Strange (R) in #ALSEN GOP runoff.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) September 27, 2017
Projection: Roy Moore wins the #ALSen R runoff. Will go on to face Doug Jones (D) in the general election.
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) September 27, 2017
Houston, Limestone Cos at 100% reporting, both decisive victories for Roy Moore #ALSEN #alpolitics @wsfa12news
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) September 27, 2017
9:00 PM:
16% in Moore up by 11k https://t.co/U23PxNjZzv
— PatR (@NoParty2016) September 27, 2017
11% in and Roy Moore is really surging. Moore leads Strange now 57.9%-42.1%. Wow! #ALSen pic.twitter.com/MTdP93DK7h
— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) September 27, 2017
8:50 PM:
It's party time for Senator Luther Strange, all we need are the people! @abc3340 Senator Strange is expected to show up soon. pic.twitter.com/IfvMlwTGep
— Andrew Donley (@Andrewabc3340) September 27, 2017
Roy Moore
8,814-54.6%
Luther Strange*
7,317-45.4% —
4% reporting (85 of 2,286 precincts)— DanRiehl (@DanRiehl) September 27, 2017
8:45 PM:
EARLY RESULTS: Several counties absentees in. Moore up 58-42. Led 37-35 in these counties in primary. Very bad for Luther.
— John Couvillon (@WinWithJMC) September 27, 2017
A good sign for Moore may be that he's cleaning up in areas that Mo Brooks (eliminated in the primary) represents. #ALSen pic.twitter.com/k1vCSUWOlD
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) September 27, 2017
Roy Moore greeting supporters in Montgomery. pic.twitter.com/kejvvX8guM
— Vince Hodges (@WSFA12DESK) September 27, 2017
8:30 PM: Very few votes in. More leads with 58% of the vote, but there are fewer than 2,000 votes in so far.
https://twitter.com/JackRoyer/status/912835018875183104
Roy Moore is making the rounds at his election night party here in Montgomery. #ALSen pic.twitter.com/FKAffYqVgZ
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) September 27, 2017
Crowd grows and cheers for Jesus. Roy Moore just entered room. pic.twitter.com/1VUz3GpARA
— Lauren Walsh (@LaurenWalshTV) September 27, 2017
RTR:
Fmr AL football player Siran Stacy brings crowd to its feet, Moore greets supporters @wsfa12news #ALSen #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/kSaKMwzszW
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) September 27, 2017
Former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Siran Stacy is speaking at Roy Moore's party in Montgomery: "He's a good God! He's a loving God!"
— Alan Blinder (@alanblinder) September 27, 2017
8:00 PM: Polls have closed in Alabama, and exit polling looks good for Moore.
BOOM: Final results from our Alabama Exit Poll tonight, n800: We show Roy Moore 56, Luther Strange, 44. Tough night for McConnell. #ALSen
— Jordan Gehrke (@jmgehrke) September 26, 2017
Ten Commandments on display at entrance to election night watch party for U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore. pic.twitter.com/1rjAR8fboo
— Jonathan Serrie (@jonathanserrie) September 26, 2017
Roy Moore has entered the building. #ALSEN #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) September 26, 2017
Roy Moore arrives at the RSA Activity Center. pic.twitter.com/sa7LXVJsyz
— Vince Hodges (@WSFA12DESK) September 26, 2017
7:30 PM:
Moore campaign and backers pretty confident pic.twitter.com/jmhEvk7Ski
— Alan Collins (@fox6alancollins) September 26, 2017
Large media turnout for Roy Moore Victory Party pic.twitter.com/OZYlM5olCQ
— Alan Collins (@fox6alancollins) September 26, 2017
The Associated Press notes: “Low turnout is largely considered to be positive for Moore, who has a loyal following among state evangelical voters.”
Voter turn out pretty low so far according to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill. GOP Special Election Runoff for U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/tRUWIpx8Hz
— Sherri Jackson (@SherriJackson42) September 26, 2017
7:20 PM: Bannon expected at Moore’s watch party.
BREAKING: Steve Bannon is in Montgomery and will attend Roy Moore's watch party tonight, no word if he will greet supporters #ALSen
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) September 26, 2017
Large police presence at Moore Camp due to Steve Bannon appearance scheduled for later tonight, per Moore team @wsfa12news pic.twitter.com/Imr5dW2V14
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) September 26, 2017
7:15 PM: Bannon told Hannity that there needs to be a “real review” of how Trump got such bad information about this race if Moore wins the race. Chief of Staff John Kelly and his team of bureaucrats have reportedly worked overtime to control the information flow in the White House. Translation: They are preventing Trump from reading articles from right-of-center publications and isolating him from his base that has stood by him when his gatekeepers were running for the hills.
7:10: Read Jeff Poor’s preview of the runoff here:
‘The Hay Is in the Barn’ – What to Watch for as Alabama Voters Head to Polls in Moore-Strange Match-Up https://t.co/ZwmFzpwqai #alpolitics
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 26, 2017
7:00 PM ET: Polls close in less than an hour.
This was the Aug. 15 GOP map in #ALSEN. 10 biggest counties are Jefferson, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Shelby . . . (1) #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/6T6vAS2As1
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) September 26, 2017
Roy Moore campaign setting up at RSA Activity Center in Montgomery. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/NZrKMfutjn
— Mike Cason (@MikeCasonAL) September 26, 2017
Media already in place for Roy Moore election night event in Montgomery. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/60c9Ssw7bL
— Mike Cason (@MikeCasonAL) September 26, 2017
Precinct in Montgomery's Cloverdale @ Huntington College (Sessions alma mater) around 1k. Poll worker: Same or more than primary #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/8QF8UNV3MN
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 26, 2017
In Georgiana, home of Hank Williams, at "nutrition center,." 80 votes at 3:20 pm. Poll worker: Precinct 50/50 R/D. Turnout low #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/GVd1C5I2L6
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 26, 2017
Report from my mom: 347 votes at her precinct in Pelham. Poll worker told her 500 would be considered a big turnout #alpolitics
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 26, 2017
Poll in heavy Dem area in Conecuh Co.'s Evergreen. Total votes: 10. Worker says only 1 that voted in Dem primary tried crossover #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/zEaiExIVi1
— Jeff Poor (@jeff_poor) September 26, 2017
@aldotcom As of 4:48 pm the poll at Legion Field – one of Birmingham's largest polls – had 15 ballots cast all day. pic.twitter.com/OBvxT6THvg
— Kent Faulk (@krfaulk) September 26, 2017
As of 2:45 pm, 304 people had voted at the Woodstock, Alabama, voting place. There are an estimated 2600 registered voters here. #ALsen pic.twitter.com/EWB6cm2caU
— Christopher Harress (@Charress) September 26, 2017
Around 135 votes so far. More expected once people get out of work, according to the Clerk. pic.twitter.com/rYWP56nX7X
— Christopher Harress (@Charress) September 26, 2017
Judy Norman walking out of the Woodstock, Alabama, polling place. She voted for Judge Roy Moore because of his "Christian principles." pic.twitter.com/Uvh3O3xxaq
— Christopher Harress (@Charress) September 26, 2017
Just voted in Moody, AL for the #ALSen
Slim crowd and only 600-700 have voted so far pic.twitter.com/omAW8PoUcT
— Trent Baker (@MagnifiTrent) September 26, 2017
Judge Roy Moore arrives to vote in Gallant atop Sundance, a Paso Fino. pic.twitter.com/3ZFJ6IntyS
— WilliamThornton (@billineastala) September 26, 2017
WATCH: Roy Moore rides his horse to go vote in Gallant pic.twitter.com/hMn96pkk8T
— Jasmina Alston (@JasminaAlstonTV) September 26, 2017
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