Jeff Sessions loses Alabama Senate primary runoff to Tuberville, Twitter says 'didn't know when to stop'
Former attorney general Jeff Sessions, one of the most discussed names in America’s political circles in the era of President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, July 14, lost an Alabama Senate GOP primary runoff to former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville. The latter has the backing of Trump who tweeted “A GREAT WIN!” in reaction to Tuberville’s victory. He will now advance to the November general election as the GOP candidate to take on the incumbent senator from the deep red state, Doug Jones, who is considered to be the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election this year. Jones pulled off a close and upsetting win over former Alabama Supreme Court judge Roy Moore after the seat fell vacant following Sessions’ becoming the AG.
Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump in the 2016 presidential race and became one of the most prominent figures of the Republican’s administration that took over in January 2017. He started as the AG in February 2017 but soon had a clash with the maverick president and became his target after recusing himself from the FBI probe into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election campaign. He stepped down in November 2018, a day before the midterm elections that year and was succeeded by the current AG, William Barr.
Trump endorsed Tuberville, 65, in March and called him a “REAL LEADER who will never let MAGA/KAG, or our country, down!” Very recently, he targeted Sessions once again and described him “a disaster who has let us all down” in a tweet. He clearly said that Sessions is not wanted again in Washington. Sessions replied to the president in a tweet saying his attack was like “juvenile insults” and that Alabama “doesn’t take orders” from Washington. He even called Tuberville a “scandal ridden candidate”. Sessions might still have a conservative following but the defeat to the former football coach might have dented the aging politician’s prospects.
Reactions poured in on social media after Sessions’ loss. David Mack, deputy director, breaking news at BuzzFeed News, said Sessions ended his career in lieu of endorsing Trump as the president. In a tweet, he said: “jeff sessions was the first senator to endorse trump. in exchange, he ends his political career with trump saying appointing him AG was the biggest mistake of his presidency and losing the primary to retake his old seat.”
Actor-producer-activist Alyssa Milano said in a tweet: “If you think Jeff Sessions was bad for our nation, wait until you hear about Tuberville.” Author Ryan James Girdusky sympathized with Sessions to say in his tweet: “I love Jeff Sessions. He’s a class act, a gentleman, and a champion for the forgotten American. His loss is unfortunate... but what he started will continue.”
But not all did sympathize with Sessions. Newsmax’s White House correspondent Emerald Robinson said in a post on Twitter: “Alabama voters just recused Jeff Sessions - permanently.” Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko, said: “Jeff Sessions is Reek without the redemption part. Have you ever seen someone with such little self respect?!”
Calling Sessions “weak”, Trump’s former adviser George Papadopoulos tweeted: “Jeff Sessions could have prevented a lot of pain, division and the worst attempt to cover up (Mueller) a spying scandal (Brennan/Comey) in history. He decided to be weak instead. He deserved to lose his Senate race, and lose he did. The great people of Alabama have spoken.”
Politico journalist Tim Alberta wrote: “Jeff Sessions’ defeat is unique. But his humiliation is broadly indicative of a problem w/ longtime pols who become convinced they are exclusively qualified to hold a certain office; who never know when to walk away; who have nobody to tell them, 'It’s time. Have some dignity'.”