Montgomery, Ala. (EETV) - Roy Moore has won tonights United States Senate primary runoff.
The seat was vacated when Jeff Sessions was appointed as U.S. Attorney General by President Trump.
Moore took to Twitter following his win to thank supporters.
CONSERVATIVE VICTORY HAS COME TO #ALSEN!
— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) September 27, 2017
Because of you, tonight, the establishment has been DEFEATED in Alabama!
THANK YOU!
While the general election will not be held until December, large amounts of money from outside of Alabama have poured into the state for this race.
Moore faced off against former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange who was appointed to the seat by former Alabama Governor Robert Bently.
When appointed to the office, Strange was in the middle of an active investigation into criminal wrongdoing by the Governor. Following Strange's appointment charges were brought against Governor Bently causing him to resign and plead guilty to ethics charges.
Many in the state viewed Strange's appointment to the Senate as a cover-up tactic by Bently.
President Donald Trump has been actively campaigning for Luther Strange including making a visit to Alabama.
ALABAMA, get out and vote for Luther Strange - he has proven to me that he will never let you down! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017
Trump also appeared on Alabama's popular radio show Rick and Bubba to discuss the race.
Since the results have been published, Trump has adjusted course, now encouraging the state to vote for Roy Moore.
Congratulations to Roy Moore on his Republican Primary win in Alabama. Luther Strange started way back & ran a good race. Roy, WIN in Nov!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017
Governor Kay Ivey commented on the election moments after the announcement, “I appreciate Senator Luther Strange’s years of dedicated service to our state and thank him for his unwavering commitment to Alabama. Congratulations are also due to Roy Moore on his win, and I look forward to supporting him as our party’s nominee.”
Ivey has taken an active role in what she calls "steadying the ship of state" in Alabama, this election was part of that. “One of my first acts as governor was to move the special election date so it was held in compliance with the law. Now the people have had their say."
Roy Moore is no stranger to politics, he has been removed from his seat on Alabama's Supreme Court twice.
Moore has been suspended from the state Supreme Court after he refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Defending his choice, he said at the press conference, "I stood up for God....unless you understand what God has to do with the Constitution, you don't understand the Constitution."
In 2003, the Court of the Judiciary removed Moore from the chief justice's office for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument he had placed in the state judicial building after a federal judge ordered him to.
Moore also lost bids for the Republican ticket for Alabama governor in 2006 and 2010.
Moore will face off against Doug Jones in December in the statewide general election.
