Former Political Rivals Head to Rematch in Alabama Governor's Race

Alabama will get a rematch between two high-profile nominees for governor while candidates of both major parties will head to runoff elections next month for an open US Senate seat, the AP reports. Republican US Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former US Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, easily won their respective primaries for governor on Tuesday, setting up their second head-to-head contest after Tuberville unseated Jones six years ago. Jones was elected to the US Senate in a special election in 2017 but his time in office was short-lived in the heavily Republican state. He is hoping voters' frustrations with their Republican-dominated government, including on issues like healthcare and the rising cost of living, will propel him to another rare Democratic victory in the Deep South.

"Change means rising wages, including raising the minimum wage," Jones said. "Change means expanding Medicaid to make healthcare affordable. Change means better jobs." Tuberville's decision to enter the governor's race ignited a rare and fierce battle among Republicans for an open Senate seat that is all but certain to stay red. The runoff for the US Senate slot for both Republican and Democratic nominees will be held on June 16. Congressional maps may soon change, based on the US Supreme Court's recent decision that severely weakened the Voting Rights Act. That opens the possibility of new primaries in August under a redrawn map, which has confused many voters.

US Rep. Barry Moore advanced to a runoff for the Republican nomination. He's a three-term congressman and member of the House's conservative Freedom Caucus who has said Alabama deserves a "Trump conservative" in the Senate. Trump endorsed Moore in the race giving him a boost in the crowded GOP field. During a brief telephone rally Monday night, Trump said: "Barry is going to do a fantastic job. He will fight for you in the Senate." Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson were in a tight race for the other runoff slot. On the Democratic side, business owner Dakarai Larriett and lawyer Everett Wess are heading to a runoff, but either of them would face an uphill climb in deep-red Alabama.