OPINION: Today Alabamians take to the polls to elect a new senator, and not just any senator. The race between Luther Strange and Roy Moore has been anything but procedural, and has garnered the attention of news outlets on a national level. Why is that? And why is it imperative for everyone to vote in the election and make their voices heard?
The primary reasons this election has become so sensational can be contributed to fact that incumbent Senator Strange has received an endorsement by Donald Trump, as well as some of the more sensational aspects of the election (The near total breakdown of the GOP debate, or Sen. Strange brandishing a gun during a campaign speech being some of the highlights) . While both candidates have similar ideologies on the major topics of foreign and domestic affairs, Strange represents the more traditional values held by the republican party. He has expressed a desire to reach out and work with more moderate senators like Mitch McConnell, as well as the white house and Republican party itself. On the other hand Moore has distinguished himself as an outsider unconcerned with upholding the status quo. He is most well known for defying Supreme court decisions to remove the 10 commandments from state court house, and for refusing to legalize gay marriage in the state back in 2015. He has positioned himself as the desired candidate for more staunch conservatives, and is primed to win the election barring a major upset.
Besides having an impact in the Senate itself, President Donald Trump also has a vested interest in the election. By investing himself personally in the elections, many critics and news sources such as ABC and Reuters have stated that Trump’s position will be weakened if Strange loses the election. Trump himself has even stated that “I might have made a mistake. I’ll be honest, I might have made a mistake,”.
The election is not as much a debate between two candidates, but rather between two ideologies. Strange can be seen to represent a more structured, organized conservatism while Moore steamrolls through any action that would limit the individualistic way he serves his constituents. Both candidates claim to serve their state, but this election (and its winner) will affect how local and state elections will be ran and viewed for years to come.
