Alabama’s Democratic and Republican nominees for U.S. Senate were finalized Tuesday after the state’s primary runoff elections.
On the Democratic ballot, Birmingham attorney Everett Wess defeated entrepreneur Dakarai Larriett with 54.7 percent of the vote. Wess finished first in the May 19 primary with 39.6 percent, while Larriett finished second with 29.1 percent.
Wess celebrated his victory in a public statement Wednesday morning.
“Today, I am honored and humbled to thank the people of Alabama for selecting me as the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate,” Wess said. “First and foremost, I thank God for placing me in a position to seek this office and for guiding me throughout this historic campaign. I am grateful for His grace, wisdom, and blessings every step of the way. I also want to thank my family, whose love, support, and sacrifice made this journey possible. They stood by me through every challenge and every victory.”
Wess also thanked the Alabama Democratic Conference, Alabama New South Coalition, and Alabama New South Alliance for their support.
He went on to outline a plan to provide “real solutions” to the issues facing Alabamians, including by “strengthening our economy, creating better-paying jobs, increasing wages, expanding educational opportunities, improving rural healthcare, and ensuring our veterans receive the quality healthcare and services they have earned through their sacrifice.”
“We must also address our nation’s immigration challenges in a lawful and practical manner, including properly funding immigration courts so that individuals seeking legal status can have their cases heard and resolved in a timely manner,” Wess added. “Most importantly, we must recommit ourselves to the principles of our Constitution and the system of government established by our Founding Fathers.”
Larriett congratulated Wess in a statement to APR on Tuesday night.
“The past year and a half of campaigning and connecting with Alabamians has been incredibly inspiring,” Larriett said. “I’ve learned about their challenges and how we can build a more just Alabama through effective leadership and policy. I’m deeply grateful to the donors, volunteers, and the voters who braved the rain today. Everyone put in tremendous effort, and we should take pride in our accomplishments.”
“Congratulations to our nominee, Everett Wess!” he said. “I urge everyone to rally behind him as we work to flip this seat in November.”
On the Republican ballot, U.S. Representative Barry Moore, R-Alabama, won the nomination with 55.8 percent of the vote, defeating former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. Moore finished first in the May 19 primary after receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump, while Hudson advanced to the runoff after narrowly finishing second ahead of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.
Moore celebrated his victory Tuesday night, emphasizing his loyalty and access to Trump.
“When I call [Trump], he takes my calls, and we can work together with the senators, that delegation, and certainly the president of the United States, to make sure that Alabama has an opportunity to bring the jobs back here that we need,” Moore said.
“We love serving the state of Alabama,” he said. “We look forward to working with Senator [Katie] Britt and Governor [Tommy] Tuberville, because the greatest days of Alabama are ahead of us.”
Wess and Moore will face each other in the November general election.
Meanwhile, Hudson asked his supporters to rally behind Moore as the Republican nominee despite a contentious campaign that saw him accuse Moore of misrepresenting his past military service.
“[It is] time to come together and make sure the Republican Party delivers for our Christian conservative values,” said Hudson. “Make sure that we hold our officials accountable when they do not do the things they are supposed to. It’s time to take the Democrats in November now.”
Wess and Moore will now advance to the November general election, where they will face each other as well as independent candidate Craig Jelks to determine Alabama’s next U.S. senator.
