Dems crown Senate nominee in solidly red Alabama ahead of steep midterm climb

Former Judge Everett Wess has won the Democratic Senate nomination in solidly red Alabama, in the race to succeed Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor this year.

Wess defeated small business owner Dakarai Larriett in the Democratic Senate runoff, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday night.

Wess and Larriett finished first and second in last month's primary, in the four-candidate field. But since no one topped 50% of the vote, Wess and Larriett advanced to Tuesday's runoff election.

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Wess will be considered the clear underdog in the general election against the Republican nominee. Rep. Barry Moore, who was backed by President Donald Trump, defeated former Navy SEAL sniper Jared Hudson in the GOP nomination runoff election Tuesday.

Other than former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones' 2017 special election victory, it's been over three decades since a Democrat has won a Senate election in Alabama.

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Tuberville, a former Auburn University head football coach, is running for governor this year rather than seeking re-election to the Senate.