FAIRHOPE, Ala. – Firebrand jurist Roy Moore won the Alabama GOP primary runoff for U.S. Senate, defeating Trump-backed incumbent Sen. Luther Strange.
Strang and Moore faced off in a race that reverberated through the Republican Party and pitted President Donald Trump against his former strategist, Steve Bannon.
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Trailing in the polls, Strange looked to the White House to help make up ground against Moore, who is best known for defiant stands against gay marriage and for the public display of the Ten Commandments.
*Scroll down for the latest Alabama GOP Senate election results and updates*
Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Strange in Birmingham, Alabama, while Bannon, speaking at a Moore rally, argued Moore is a better fit for Trump's "populist" movement.
"All of Washington is watching to see what Alabama does," Moore said at a south Alabama rally attended by Bannon, Brexit leader Nigel Farage, and "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson.
Wearing a white cowboy hat and leather vest at a Monday night rally, Moore repeated the conservative Christian themes he has used his entire public career. He also lashed out at attack ads run against him in the race, including one suggesting he was weak on gun rights.
"I believe in the Second Amendment," Moore said as he pulled a handgun from his pocket.
A super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has pumped millions of dollars into the Alabama race on behalf of Strange. "Mitch McConnell needs to be replaced and your vote tomorrow may determine that," Moore said in a line that garnered some of his loudest applause of the night.
Bannon told the crowd that Alabama can show the world "that this populist, nationalist, conservative movement is on the rise."
Propelled by his support from evangelical voters, Moore led Strange by about 25,000 votes in the crowded August primary and runoff polls have shown him leading, or in a dead heat with, Strange.
Trump on Monday continued his push for Strange. Speaking to several hundred supporters at an airplane hangar in Birmingham, Pence said Strange had been a "real friend" to the Trump administration.
"I'm here tonight to say I stand with Luther. I stand with President Donald Trump -- and I will always stand for our national anthem," Pence said in a nod to Trump's criticisms of athletes who kneel in protest during the national anthem.
Trump called into a popular Alabama radio show on Monday morning to urge Republicans to pick Strange.
"Luther Strange is going to be a great senator. He already has, and he has already helped me," Trump said on the "Rick & Bubba" radio show. Trump predicted that Moore, whom he mistakenly called "Ray," would have a "hard time" in the December election against Doug Jones. A Democrat, Jones is a lawyer and former U.S. attorney during the Clinton administration.
"Tomorrow, there's a lot on the line," Strange said, speaking in front of a large American flag in the rally with Pence. "For the vice president and the president of the United States to come here on my behalf means more than I can possibly say."
In addition to the national backdrop, a number of state factors are at play in the race to fill the remainder of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' Senate term. Moore's loyal following is able to pack a greater punch in the low-turnout special election. Strange also has been dogged by criticisms for accepting the interim Senate appointment from a scandal-battered governor when Strange's office was in charge of public corruption investigations.
Walking into the humid hangar to hear Pence, 57-year-old Randy Beasley of Springville said he had been undecided in the race but was swayed to vote for Strange because of his backing from the National Rifle Association. Beasley said he also had concerns that the twice-ousted chief justice "might have more of a negative image for the state."
Although Trump has endorsed Strange, many in the crowd at the Moore rally wore Trump T-shirts or "Make America Great Again" hats.
Chu Green, 71, of Mobile said she arrived five hours early to snag a front row spot just feet from the speaker's microphone. She held up a sign reading: "Mr. President and Mr. V.P. I love you but you are wrong! America needs Judge Moore."
"It's how I feel in my heart," Green said. "I think (Trump) knows he made a mistake. He had an obligation to Strange."
Polls close Tuesday in Alabama at 7 p.m. CT, 8 p.m. ET.
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Strange campaign urges voters to get to polls
Sen. Luther Strange is urging voters to get the polls in Alabama's heated GOP runoff for the Senate seat.
"President Donald Trump needs you NOW!" the campaign wrote in a Tuesday message that was emailed to supporters at midday. The campaign urged people to get to the polls before they close at 7 p.m.
His campaign has emphasized his endorsement from Trump.
Strange voted early Tuesday morning in the race where he faces former state chief justice Roy Moore. Strange then greeted breakfast diners at nearby restaurants.
Trump makes final push in Alabama Senate race
President Donald Trump is making a final push for Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama's GOP primary.
Trump tweeted early Tuesday: "Luther Strange has been shooting up in the Alabama polls since my endorsement. Finish the job - vote for `Big Luther."'
The Alabama primary is being closely watched to see how much political sway Trump still has in the populist, conservative movement that helped send him to the White House.
Strange, the establishment-backed incumbent, is locked in a tight race with former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. Moore is a jurist known for pushing unsuccessfully for the public display of the Ten Commandments and opposing gay marriage. He is backed by some of Trump's most ardent supporters and has the support of Trump's former aide Steve Bannon.
Trump looms large in Alabama Senate race
U.S. Sen. Luther Strange and firebrand jurist Roy Moore face off in Alabama's GOP primary that has pitted President Donald Trump against a former top adviser.
Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Strange in Alabama ahead of Tuesday's runoff. Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon endorsed Moore, arguing he's a better fit for the "populist, nationalist, conservative movement."
The two Republicans are vying for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' former Senate seat. The winner will face Democrat Doug Jones in December.
Strange, the state's former attorney general, was appointed to the seat in February. Moore is the state's former chief justice. He was twice ousted from those duties over stands against gay marriage and for the public display of the Ten Commandments.
Polls open in special Alabama Senate race
Polls have opened in a special U.S. Senate election in Alabama where President Donald Trump is backing the establishment candidate to keep the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Trump supported Sen. Luther Strange with a Tweet sent before voting began Tuesday morning.
Strange is being opposed by former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, known for publicly displaying the Ten Commandments and opposing gay marriage. Former Trump aide Steve Bannon spoke at a rally in support of Moore on Monday night.
Moore led Strange by about 25,000 votes in the crowded August primary. Runoff polls have shown him leading, or in a dead heat with, Strange, who is a former state attorney general.
Poll workers in the heavily Republican Birmingham suburbs of Helena and Pelham said voter turnout was steady, with short lines at two places when doors opened Tuesday.
Strange supporter Hayden Lee, who works in insurance sales, said she didn't have an opinion of Moore but voted for the incumbent solely because Trump endorsed him.
"I'm just trying to make everything work," Lee said after voting in Pelham. "I think you've got to get along with the president to make it work."
A Win for Roy Moore Could Spell Trouble for Trump and the GOP
Strange calls himself 'true conservative'
Alabama Sen. Luther Strange is billing himself as the "true conservative" as voters go to the polls in the state's special GOP primary runoff election.
Strange called a supportive conservative talk show on Birmingham's WERC radio after voting Tuesday. He made a final plea for support in his race against former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.
Moore is casting Strange as being part of the problem in Washington since he's supported by the GOP establishment. But Strange denies that and says he's only trying to get President Donald Trump's agenda passed through Congress.
A super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has pumped millions of dollars into the Alabama race on behalf of Strange. But Strange says he only met McConnell a few months ago and denies being close to him.
The winner of the Republican runoff will face Democratic nominee Doug Jones in the general election.
Trump trashes McCain and McConnell on Alabama radio
President Donald Trump assailed two top Republican senators in a local Alabama radio interview aired Monday in which he sought to promote Luther Strange, who is running in a GOP Senate primary.
He took aim at Sen. John McCain for opposing the latest effort by Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for the "ridiculous filibuster rule" that he believes prevents his administration from having legislative accomplishments.
In what he said was his first radio interview since taking office, the President admonished two members of his own party Monday on "The Rick and Bubba Show" and said he's fighting with Republicans as much as Democrats.
On Strange and McConnell: 'He doesn't even know Mitch'
"He was sort of unfairly labeled. They have him as best friends with Mitch McConnell. He doesn't even know Mitch," Trump said. "I mean, he met him a few months ago. You know when he came into Washington, he got to know him a little bit, but he virtually doesn't even know him, but they tried to put that tag on him. You know politics is a dirty business. You guys might have figured that out by now."
Trump repeatedly referred to Roy Moore as 'Ray'
"(Luther) will absolutely win against the Democrat, whereas Ray's going to have a hard time," Trump said. "If Ray wins, they're going to pour in $30 million, like they did in Atlanta ... The good new is I'm 5-0. I want to make it 6-0. I'm doing it really for the country. We can't lose him."
The host later corrected Trump, and he began referring to Moore by his actual name.
"Roy Moore is going to have a very hard time getting elected against the Democrat," Trump said. "And Luther, they won't even be fighting. He's a guy that they understand, and you check out the polling, they understand he's going to win a very easy race against the Democrats ... It's going to be a tough race for Roy and it's going to be a no-contest for Luther."
Moore rides to poll on horseback in Alabama
Some have compared elections to horse races -- and Alabama Senate Republican primary candidate Roy Moore is literally galloping to the finish line of his runoff campaign.
The GOP candidate and his wife arrived to their polling place in Gallant, Alabama, Tuesday on horseback. Moore, sporting a cowboy hat and boots, rode a horse named Sassy, while his wife Kayla arrived on a horse named Sundance, according to Getty.
Moore faces off against Sen. Luther Strange in the special election for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' former seat in the US Senate. Strange currently holds the seat after being appointed by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to finish out Sessions' term; he has the backing of President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Moore is seen as the anti-establishment candidate and has been a lightning rod for controversy. He was removed from his state Supreme Court job twice and has a long history of making highly contentious comments about race and sexual orientation. In 2015, he shared a video promoting the conspiracy theory that former President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Moore has been endorsed by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Moore says it is a tradition for him to ride a horse to vote.
If elected, he wouldn't be the only politician to enjoy horseback riding. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke rode a horse to his first day of work at the agency in March. Vice President Mike Pence enjoyed a horseback ride in Rock Creek Park with Sen. Roy Blunt and Medicare Administrator Seema Verma in July.
Official projecting low turnout in Alabama race
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill says turnout for the state's Republican runoff for U.S. Senate is so far looking pretty low.
Merrill said he was projecting a 12 to 15 percent turnout for Tuesday's race.
Sen. Luther Strange and Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore are vying for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat that belonged to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Low turnout is largely considered to be positive for Moore, who has a loyal following among state evangelical voters.
Moore led Strange by about 25,000 votes in the crowded August primary, and runoff polls have shown him leading or in a dead heat with Strange.
Turnout for the August primary was 17 percent.
GOP Sen. Corker announces he won't seek re-election
Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee says he will not seek re-election.
In a surprise announcement, the two-term lawmaker says that after discussions with his family, "I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018."
Corker is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has tangled with President Donald Trump, both publicly and via Twitter. But Trump recently encouraged the senator to seek another term.
Corker criticized the president after he blamed both white nationalists and anti-racist protesters for the violence at an August rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Corker questioned whether Trump had shown the "stability" and "competence" to succeed in office. Trump responded by assailing the senator via Twitter.