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Jeff Sessions Will Run to Reclaim Alabama Senate Seat Jeff Sessions Will Run to Reclaim Alabama Senate Seat
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — Jeff Sessions, the former senator from Alabama whose tumultuous tenure as President Trump’s attorney general lasted less than two years, will enter the race to reclaim his old seat in 2020, a Republican official said. WASHINGTON — Jeff Sessions, the former senator from Alabama whose tumultuous tenure as President Trump’s attorney general lasted less than two years, plans to announce on Thursday that he will enter the race to reclaim his old seat in 2020, a Republican official said.
Mr. Sessions plans to announce his candidacy on Thursday.
Mr. Sessions has remained largely out of the public eye, and has been effectively exiled from Republican politics, since he was forced out of the Trump administration last November. He had repeatedly clashed with the president over his decision to recuse himself from the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.Mr. Sessions has remained largely out of the public eye, and has been effectively exiled from Republican politics, since he was forced out of the Trump administration last November. He had repeatedly clashed with the president over his decision to recuse himself from the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Mr. Trump relentlessly attacked Mr. Sessions both in public and in private, calling him “scared stiff” and his leadership “a total joke,” among other insults, ultimately forcing him to resign. By choosing to run for office now, Mr. Sessions risks reigniting attacks from his former boss, who could undermine his standing among the Republican voters he needs to win next year’s crowded primary election on March 3. Mr. Trump won the staunchly Republican state in 2016 with 62 percent of the vote and remains incredibly popular there. Mr. Trump relentlessly attacked Mr. Sessions both in public and in private, calling him “scared stiff” and his leadership “a total joke,” among other insults, ultimately forcing him to resign. By choosing to run for office now, Mr. Sessions risks reigniting attacks from his former boss, who could undermine his standing among the Republican voters he needs to win next year’s crowded primary election on March 3.
The race is likely to be one of the most closely watched of the 2020 cycle, and not only because of the lingering tension between Mr. Trump and Mr. Sessions. Many Republicans are bracing for the possibility that Roy S. Moore, the former Alabama chief justice accused of fondling teenage girls in his 30s, could once again become the nominee. He entered the race in June. Mr. Trump won Alabama, a staunchly Republican state, with 62 percent of the vote in 2016, and he remains incredibly popular there.
Alabama Republicans picked Mr. Moore as their nominee in the 2017 special election to fill the seat Mr. Sessions had vacated. But after several women came forward, claiming he had abused them when they were underage, his campaign unraveled. He lost the general election to Doug Jones, who became the first Democrat in a generation to win a Senate seat in Alabama. The race is likely to be one of the most closely watched of the 2020 cycle, and not only because of the lingering tension between Mr. Trump and Mr. Sessions. Many Republicans are bracing for the possibility that Roy S. Moore, the former Alabama chief justice accused of fondling teenage girls in his 30s, could once again become the nominee.
Alabama Republicans nominated Mr. Moore in the 2017 special election to fill the seat Mr. Sessions had held for 20 years before becoming attorney general. But after several women came forward, claiming Mr. Moore had abused them when they were underage, his campaign unraveled. He lost to Doug Jones, who became the first Democrat in a generation to win a Senate seat in Alabama.
Mr. Moore announced in June that he would run again next year.
National Republicans are paying close attention to the race. Mr. Jones is one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the Senate, and Republicans have been counting on retaking his seat. Without it, their path to retaining their 53 to 47 majority in the chamber is more challenging.National Republicans are paying close attention to the race. Mr. Jones is one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the Senate, and Republicans have been counting on retaking his seat. Without it, their path to retaining their 53 to 47 majority in the chamber is more challenging.
It is not clear how Mr. Sessions’s entry into the race might affect some of the other more moderate Republican candidates who have already declared, including Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn University football coach, and Bradley Byrne, a congressman who represents a district near Mobile.It is not clear how Mr. Sessions’s entry into the race might affect some of the other more moderate Republican candidates who have already declared, including Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn University football coach, and Bradley Byrne, a congressman who represents a district near Mobile.
Mr. Sessions’s decision comes just before the Nov. 8 deadline to enter the race. People close to him have said he was pained at the possibility that his final act in public life could be his contentious 21-month tenure at the Justice Department. Mr. Sessions’s decision comes just before the Friday deadline to enter the race. People close to him have said he was pained at the possibility that his final act in public life could be his contentious 21-month tenure at the Justice Department.
Jeremy W. Peters reported from Washington, and Maggie Haberman from New York.Jeremy W. Peters reported from Washington, and Maggie Haberman from New York.