United States Senate election in Alabama, 2020

Elections in Alabama, 2020

* Election date: Nov. 3
* Registration deadline(s): Oct. 19
* Online registration: Yes
* Same-day registration: No
* Recount laws

* Early voting starts: N/A
* Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 2 (postmarked); Nov. 3 (received)
* Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
* Voter ID: Photo ID
* Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* * *

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2022 →

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U.S. Senate, Alabama

Democratic primary
Republican primary
Republican primary runoff
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: November 8, 2019
Primary: March 3, 2020
Primary runoff: July 14, 2020
General: November 3, 2020

* * *

Pre-election incumbent:
Doug Jones (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Alabama
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Lean Republican
Inside Elections: Lean Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
See also
U.S. Senate, Alabama
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th
Alabama elections, 2020
U.S. Congress elections, 2020
U.S. Senate elections, 2020
U.S. House elections, 2020

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Tommy Tuberville (R) defeated incumbent Doug Jones (D) in the U.S. Senate election in Alabama on November 3, 2020. Primary elections took place on March 3, 2020, and a Republican primary runoff took place July 14.

Jones was first elected in 2017, receiving 50% of the vote to Roy Moore (R)'s 48%. Jones was the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Alabama since 1992. Major independent observers rated the general election as Lean Republican or Likely Republican. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) defeated Hillary Clinton in Alabama 62% to 34%.

The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. Senate. Thirty-five of 100 seats were up for election, including two special elections. At the time of the election, Republicans had a 53-45 majority over Democrats in the Senate. Independents who caucus with the Democrats held the two remaining seats. Republicans faced greater partisan risk in the election. They defended 23 seats while Democrats defended 12. Both parties had two incumbents representing states the opposite party's presidential nominee won in 2016.

Click here for coverage of the July 14, 2020, Republican primary runoff.

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

This election was a battleground race. Other 2020 battlegrounds included:

* Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
* New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020 (July 7 Republican primary)
* United States Senate election in Michigan, 2020

|

## Contents

* 1 Election procedure changes in 2020
* 2 Candidates and election results
* 3 Candidate profiles
* 4 Polls
* 5 Noteworthy endorsements
* 5.1 Runoff endorsements
* 5.2 Primary endorsements
* 6 Timeline
* 6.1 2020
* 6.1.1 November
* 6.1.2 October
* 6.1.3 August
* 7 Campaign advertisements
* 7.1 Doug Jones
* 7.2 Tommy Tuberville
* 8 Campaign themes
* 8.1 Doug Jones
* 8.2 Tommy Tuberville
* 9 Runoff elections in Alabama
* 10 Campaign finance
* 11 Race ratings
* 12 Ballot access requirements
* 13 Election history
* 13.1 2017
* 13.2 2016
* 13.3 2014
* 13.4 2010
* 14 See also
* 15 Footnotes

## Election procedure changes in 2020[edit]

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Alabama modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

* Absentee/mail-in voting: Any qualified voter could cast an absentee ballot in the general election.
* Candidate filing procedures: The petition deadline for unaffiliated presidential candidates was extended to August 20, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

## Candidates and election results[edit]

#### General election

##### General election for U.S. Senate Alabama

Tommy Tuberville defeated incumbent Doug Jones in the general election for U.S. Senate Alabama on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Tommy Tuberville (R) |

60.1

| 1,392,076

| Doug Jones (D) |

39.7

| 920,478
|  | Other/Write-in votes|

0.2

| 3,891

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 2,316,445

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Michael Parrish (Unaffiliated)
* Marcus Jejaun Williams (Independent Conservative Democratic Party)

#### Republican primary runoff election

#####  Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate Alabama

Tommy Tuberville defeated Jeff Sessions in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate Alabama on July 14, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Tommy Tuberville|

60.7

| 334,675

| Jeff Sessions|

39.3

| 216,452

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 551,127

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Doug Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Alabama.

#### Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for U.S. Senate Alabama

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Alabama on March 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Tommy Tuberville|

33.4

| 239,616

| Jeff Sessions|

31.6

| 227,088

| Bradley Byrne|

24.9

| 178,627

| Roy Moore|

7.2

| 51,377

| Ruth Page Nelson|

1.0

| 7,200

| Arnold Mooney|

1.0

| 7,149

| Stanley Adair|

0.9

| 6,608

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2

| Total votes: 717,665

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Chase Anderson Romagnano (R)
* John Paul Serbin (R)
* Marty Preston Hatley (R)
* John Merrill (R)

## Candidate profiles[edit]

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[1] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Doug Jones

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office:

* U.S. Senator (Assumed office: 2018)
* U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Alabama - Appointed (1997-2001)

Biography: Jones received a B.S. from the University of Alabama and a J.D. from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law. He served as staff counsel to Sen. Howell Heflin (D-Ala.) on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Jones was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama before being appointed U.S. attorney by President Bill Clinton (D).

* * *

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

* * *

Jones emphasized the themes of unity and bipartisanship. He said, "The people of Alabama have more in common than we have that divides us." Jones said he led several bipartisan bills that became law, including bills related to rural health, farmers, economic recovery, and the military.

* * *

Jones' campaign ads said Tuberville supported privatizing Social Security, cutting Medicare, and removing protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

* * *

Jones said he worked to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and to expand Medicaid amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

* * *

Show sources

Sources: Doug Jones' 2020 campaign website, "Priorities," accessed August 27, 2020; YouTube, "Doug Jones for Senate," accessed August 27, 2020; Senate.gov, Doug Jones, "About Doug," accessed August 27, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Alabama in 2020.

Tommy Tuberville

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography: Tuberville graduated from Southern Arkansas University. He was head coach for several college football teams between 1995 and 2016, including at Auburn University and the University of Cincinnati. He retired in 2016, when he became a member of ESPN's broadcast staff.

* * *

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

* * *

Tuberville said he was a conservative outsider, emphasizing his background as a coach.

* * *

Tuberville said Jones was a liberal and that he stood with Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden. Tuberville said, "It is time we have a senator who represents Alabama values. Not New York values. Not Chicago values. Not liberal Democrat values."

* * *

Tuberville said he would help Trump "secure the border, protect life, and get folks back to work."

* * *

Show sources

Sources: Tommy Tuberville's 2020 campaign website, "Tuberville Attending President Donald Trump’s Republican Nomination Acceptance Speech at the White House," August 27, 2020; YouTube, "Tommy Tuberville's victory speech after GOP Senate runoff," July 14, 2020; YouTube, "Tommy Tuberville," accessed August 27, 2020; Tommy Tuberville's 2020 campaign website, "About," accessed January 30, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Alabama in 2020.

## Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
U.S. Senate election in Alabama, 2020: General election polls

Poll  | Date  |  Jones  |  Tuberville  | Other  | Margin of error  | Sample size  | Sponsor
Data for Progress | Oct. 27-Nov. 1 | 44% | 56% | 0% | ± 3.0 | 1,045 | \--
Morning Consult | Oct. 22-31 | 39% | 51% | \-- | ± 3 | 850 | \--
Auburn University Montgomery | Oct. 23-28 | 43% | 54% | 3% | ± 4.4 | 853 | \--
Cygnal | Oct. 21-23 | 41% | 55% | 4% | ± 3.9 | 645 | Ready Education Network
Auburn University Montgomery | Sept. 30-Oct. 3 | 42% | 54% | 4% | ± 4.0 | 1,072 | \--

## Noteworthy endorsements[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Noteworthy endorsements

Endorsement  | Jones (D)  | Tuberville (R)
Elected officials
President Donald Trump (R)[2] |  | ✔
Former President Barack Obama (D)[3] | ✔ |
2020 vice presidential nominee/Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)[4] | ✔ |
Individuals
Retired Marine Corps Gen./Former Joint Chiefs of Staff member Charles Krulak (R)[5] | ✔ |
Former Sen./2020 Republican primary runoff candidate Jeff Sessions[6] |  | ✔

Click here to see a list of endorsements in the July 14, 2020, Republican primary runoff and the March 3 Republican primary.|

|

#### Runoff endorsements[edit]

Endorsements made after the March 3, 2020, primary election and ahead of the July 14, 2020, runoff are shown in the table below. The "Previous endorsee" column shows when a runoff endorsement came from a person or group that endorsed a different candidate in the primary election.

If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Links below are for endorsement lists from candidate websites, where available:

* Jeff Sessions

| Runoff election endorsements

Endorsement  | Sessions | Tuberville | Previous endorsee
Elected officials
President Donald Trump (R)[2] |  | ✔ |
Individuals
Ed Meese, former U.S. attorney general, Ronald Reagan administration[7] | ✔ |  |
John Ashcroft, former U.S. attorney general, George W. Bush administration[8] | ✔ |  |
Organizations
National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund[9] | ✔ |  |
Eagle Forum PAC[10] | ✔ |  |
American Workers Coalition[11] | ✔ |  |
Club for Growth PAC[12] |  | ✔ |
National Association for Gun Rights PAC[13] |  | ✔ |

#### Primary endorsements[edit]

Republican primary endorsements

Endorsement  | Byrne | Mooney | Moore | Sessions | Tuberville
Elected officials
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)[14] |  |  |  | ✔ |
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)[15] |  | ✔ |  |  |
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.)[16] |  | ✔ |  |  |
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)[16] |  | ✔ |  |  |
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.)[17] | ✔ |  |  |  |
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)[16] |  | ✔ |  |  |
Individuals
Economist/Club for Growth co-founder Stephen Moore[18] |  |  |  | ✔ |
Organizations
Senate Conservatives Fund[16] |  | ✔ |  |  |
Protect Freedom PAC[19] |  | ✔ |  |  |
Family Research Council Action PAC[20] |  |  |  | ✔ |
National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council[21] |  |  |  | ✔ |

## Timeline[edit]

### 2020[edit]

* November 2020 (click to collapse)

#### November[edit]

* Nov. 1, 2020:
* A Data for Progress poll showed Tuberville with 56% to Jones' 44%. The margin of error was +/- 3 percentage points.
* A robocall went out featuring former President Barack Obama (D) urging voters to vote for Jones.[3]

* October 2020 (click to expand)

#### October[edit]

* Oct. 31, 2020: A Morning Consult poll showed Tuberville with 51% to Jones' 39%. The margin of error was +/- 3 percentage points.
* Oct. 28, 2020: An Auburn University Montgomery poll showed Tuberville with 54% to Jones' 43%. The margin of error was +/- 4.4 percentage points.
* Oct. 23, 2020: A Cygnal poll showed Tuberville with 55% to Jones' 41%. The margin of error was +/- 3.9 percentage points.
* Oct. 20, 2020: Republican Charles Krulak, a retired Marine Corps general and former Joint Chiefs of Staff member, endorsed Jones.[5]
* Oct. 15, 2020: Campaign finance reports showed Jones had raised $25 million to Tuberville's $7.5 million as of September 30.
* Oct. 3, 2020: An Auburn University Montgomery poll showed Tuberville with 54% to Jones' 42%. The margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points.[22]

* August 2020 (click to expand)

#### August[edit]

* Aug. 18, 2020: Tuberville reported having raised $4.2 million by this date. Jones had reported raising $14.5 million as of June 30.[23]

## Campaign advertisements[edit]

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

###  Doug Jones[edit]

Supporting Jones

"No Quit" - Jones campaign ad, released November 1, 2020

"Republicans for Jones" - Jones campaign ad, released October 21, 2020

"General" - Jones campaign ad, released October 20, 2020

"Earned my vote" - Jones campaign ad, released October 11, 2020

"Conscience" - Jones campaign ad, released September 26, 2020

"Uniter" - Jones campaign ad, released July 15, 2020

"Health care" - Jones campaign ad, released July 13, 2020

"For Each Other" - Jones campaign ad, released July 1, 2020

"Together" - Jones campaign ad, released June 23, 2020

"Running" - Jones campaign ad, released September 12, 2019

Opposing Tuberville

"Wrong for your health care" - Jones campaign ad, released October 28, 2020

"Doctor" - Jones campaign ad, released October 19, 2020

"Quitter" - Jones campaign ad, released October 11, 2020

"Your Health Care" - Jones campaign ad, released September 28, 2020

"Heroes" - Jones campaign ad, released September 16, 2020

"Hedge Fund" - Jones campaign ad, released August 25, 2020

"Club Scheme" - Jones campaign ad, released August 6, 2020

"Cuts" - Jones campaign ad, released August 5, 2020

* "Criminal Fraud Prosecutions" - Jones campaign ad, accessed September 11, 2020

###  Tommy Tuberville[edit]

Supporting Tuberville

"Proud" - Tuberville campaign ad, released September 21, 2020

"Eltoro Freeman" - Tuberville campaign ad, released September 16, 2020

"Tuberville The Choice" - Tuberville campaign ad, released September 8, 2020

"The Next Season" - Tuberville campaign ad, released May 4, 2020

"Bus Tour Trailer" - Tuberville campaign ad, released February 3, 2020

"Fighter" - Tuberville campaign ad, released February 2, 2020

"A Career Politician's Worst Nightmare" - Tuberville campaign ad, released January 26, 2020

"Coach" - Tuberville campaign ad, released November 22, 2019

Opposing Jones

"Madness" - Tuberville campaign ad, released October 26, 2020

"DECIDE" - Tuberville campaign ad, released October 23, 2020

"SWAMP" - Tuberville campaign ad, released October 12, 2020

"NEW - TUBERVILLE AD USES FIRST-PERSON TESTIMONY TO HIGHLIGHT EXTREME ABORTION VIEWS OF DOUG JONES" - Tuberville campaign ad, released October 8, 2020

"DOUG JONES’S OPPOSITION TO CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT" - Tuberville campaign ad, released October 2, 2020

## Campaign themes[edit]

See also: Campaign themes

###  Doug Jones[edit]

Jones' campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Education

Every child in Alabama deserves access to a quality education, regardless of his or her gender, race, socioeconomic status, or where he or she lives. From pre-K to college to job training and apprenticeships, our students need to be well prepared for the future.

Goals & Accomplishments

* Doug’s push for better rural broadband access is closely tied with education. He remains adamant that internet access is key to ending the “homework gap” between rural and urban school districts – and allowing rural students to be able to access the same resources online as their urban counterparts.

* Doug is dedicated to supporting our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs. Alabama boasts 15 HBCUs, more than any other state in the country. Doug is proud to have helped secure a 14% increase in federal funding for HBCUs in the 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill, bringing funding from $244.7 million in 2017 to $279.6 in 2018.

* Doug reaffirmed his commitment to supporting HBCUs and introduced the bipartisan FUTURE Act, which reauthorizes funding for all minority-serving higher education institutions and provides continued support for HBCUs, whose future funding faced an uncertain future.

* In December 2019, Doug’s bipartisan bill – the FUTURE Act – was signed into law and permanently renewed funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions. The FUTURE Act will also increase Pell Grant funding and take an important first step towards simplifying the FAFSA application to make the process less intimidating for students seeking a higher education.

* Doug also co-sponsored the Save The Internet Act, which seeks to reinstate net neutrality and safeguard a free and open internet.

Health care

We all want access to quality health care we can afford. Every Alabamian deserves high-quality, affordable health care, and we have to protect access to health care for those with pre-existing conditions. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Doug is working across the aisle to expand access to medical care while keeping costs for hard-working Alabama families low.

Goals & Accomplishments

* Doug introduced the Rural Health Liaison Act, a bill designed to improve rural health care by boosting communication and efficiency. The legislation achieved bipartisan support and was signed into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

* In a bipartisan effort with Senator Shelby, Jones helped secure more robust payouts for Alabama hospitals by fixing the Medicare Wage Index formula, which helps close a decades-old payment gap for our state’s hospitals.

* Doug remains committed to Medicaid expansion in Alabama, which could bring health care to as many as 340,000 Alabamians and generate much-needed funds for our rural hospitals. Doug has introduced a bill that would reset the clock for states that did not initially expand Medicaid, allowing states like Alabama to enjoy the full benefits of opting into the program.

* Similarly, Doug is committed to protecting the nearly one million Alabamians who live with pre-existing conditions and whose health care would be jeopardized by a repeal or gutting of the Affordable Care Act. Doug has spoken out against attacks to repeal the law, including the latest partisan lawsuit that would render the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional and gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

* Doug cosponsored the bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act, which would provide federal agencies with the resources to treat opioid addiction and help those recovering from substance abuse disorder effectively re-enter the workforce.

* Along with the nation as a whole, Alabama has clear racial disparities in maternal health and maternal mortality. Doug is working to address the maternal mortality crisis and co-sponsored Maternal Care Access And Reducing Emergencies Act.

Jobs and the Economy

We all want the opportunity to earn a living with a good wage and a secure retirement.

We need to build a strong economy for Alabama, one that both attracts new businesses while supporting the industries that have been in our state for generations. These businesses provide opportunities for Alabamians to make a living wage and have access to equal opportunity.

Goals & Accomplishments

* As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Doug’s work includes common-sense reforms that facilitate access to capital, reduce unnecessary regulations, and support new and growing businesses.

* Doug supported a bipartisan bill that eases regulatory burdens for small, community banks.

* As part of an effort to expand and introduce new apprenticeship programs nationwide, Doug is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act.

* Doug is strongly opposed to the current trade war, which is harming Alabama’s automotive and agricultural industries. Doug is committed to standing up for Alabama’s farmers and manufacturers who are vulnerable to the effects of the high tariffs and has introduced several pieces of legislation to protect Americans from the Administration’s trade policies that hurt auto manufacturers and farmers.

* Alabama is one of the nation’s most likely states where workers could lose their jobs to automation. In order to train workers for the jobs of tomorrow, Doug introduced the Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act to provide American workers with the tools they need to gain new skills and prepare for new jobs. This legislation would help retrain workers who may lose their jobs to automation.

Rural Issues

With all the chaos in Washington, it’s easy for politicians to lose sight of the issues that plague rural communities. Doug is committed to making sure no Alabamians are left behind, no matter where they live. From protecting rural hospitals and addressing nursing shortages in rural areas to working to improve rural internet access to taking on the challenges facing our farmers, Doug has a proven record of addressing the needs of rural Alabamians.

Goals & Accomplishments

* Rural communities in Alabama need access to high quality, affordable health care, which is why Doug supports expanding Medicaid in Alabama, which would have a tremendous impact on Alabama’s rural hospitals – 88 percent of which are operating in the red and struggling to keep their doors open.

* Doug worked across the aisle to successfully make the case to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to change the unfair Medicare wage index which disproportionately hurts Alabama’s financially strained hospitals.

* Doug introduced the SAME Act, which would ensure that holdout states receive the same levels of federal Medicaid funding as the states that have already expanded Medicaid after the passage of the ACA.

* In order to improve the coordination of federal resources for rural health care, Doug introduced the bipartisan Rural Health Liaison Act, which was signed into law as a part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

* Doug also introduced the Nursing Where It’s Needed (WIN) Act to address nursing shortages in underserved areas. And in order to address high infant and maternal mortality rates, Doug introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce the number of maternal deaths and improve the quality of care for moms during pregnancy and after childbirth.

* Doug co-sponsored the bipartisan Broadband Connections For Rural Opportunities Program Act, designed to increase broadband access in rural communities, which increased the USDA rural broadband loan program from $25 million to $350 million annually.

* Doug also co-sponsored the Community Connect Grant Program Act, included in the 2018 Farm Bill, which allocated $50 million in broadband grant money for rural, underserved households and businesses.

* Doug was an original cosponsor of the Next Generation In Agriculture Act, which was included in the 2018 Farm Bill, and works with small and upcoming farms to ensure that future generations have the education and support they need to thrive.

* Doug was an original cosponsor of the Assist Socially Disadvantaged And Veteran Farmers And Ranchers Act, which helps to ensure equitable access to USDA programs for historically underserved farming communities. This became law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

* Doug is working to improve the sanitation crisis in the Black Belt expanding funding for wastewater grant programs, including up to $15,000 for households in rural areas to install and maintain wastewater systems.

Veterans and Military Families

Those who serve our nation in the armed forces deserve more than our thanks and gratitude. Veterans deserve the best medical care and benefits possible when returning to civilian life, and Doug is committed to standing up for our veterans and their families to ensure they have the support and resources they need.

Goals & Accomplishments

* Doug introduced bipartisan legislation to eliminate the “Widow’s Tax” on veterans’ spouses. For decades, the military Widows Tax prevented military spouses from receiving their full survivor benefits if their deceased service member was enrolled in any additional survivor benefits programs. Doug’s bill received a record number of bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, and his legislation was included in the annual defense authorization bill passed by Congress in December 2019. There are over 2,000 military surviving spouses in Alabama who will benefit from this legislation, and over 67,000 nationwide.

* Doug also worked to secure paid parental leave for federal employees in the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2019. This change will provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for over 50,000 workers in Alabama.

* Doug also introduced the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, which would provide tax relief on survivor benefits for children who lose a parent during military service.

* Following a report that revealed substandard care at VA-run nursing homes–including facilities in Alabama–Doug filed an amendment that requires the VA to publish annual reports on the quality of care in their nursing homes. The amendment was cosponsored by Senator Cassidy (R-LA), and was signed into law by President Trump in 2018.

Civil & Human Rights

For his entire career, Doug has been committed to standing up for the rights of all Alabamians and all Americans. Doug is working to bring people together and combat hate and discrimination of any kind – from protecting the right to vote to advancing civil rights.

Goals & Accomplishments

* To help victims of hate crimes seek justice, Doug introduced the bipartisan Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act Of 2018, cosponsored by Senator Ted Cruz. This unanimously passed the Senate and was signed into law by President Trump in early 2019. Doug believes that no one should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love.

* Not only did Doug sign on to co-sponsor the bipartisan Equality Act, he also took to the Senate floor in June of 2019 to express his support for this important legislation. The Equality Act would finally guarantee protections for the LGBTQ community from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, and other federal programs and services.

* Doug co-sponsored the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which would help protect students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

* Doug co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which extends and strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the first piece of legislation to make wage discrimination illegal.

* Doug was an original co-sponsor of the Deceptive Practices And Voter Intimidation Prevention Act Of 2018, which would make it a federal crime to spread election-related disinformation in an attempt to deter eligible voters from reaching the ballot box.[24]

| ”

|
|

—Doug Jones' campaign website (2020)[25]

###  Tommy Tuberville[edit]

Tuberville's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED

Changing The Way We Treat Our Veterans

My father was a highly decorated WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient, and that is why I am so passionate about changing the way our nation treats its Veterans. President Trump is off to a good start – Veteran unemployment is at its lowest point in history: 2.3%. But we can and must do more to help our Veterans re-enter the workforce and society. We must provide them with high-quality care and job training, and ensure that those who need it get the psychological care and attention they need to deal with the issues they face being back home.

CORE VALUES

Tommy Believes the First Duty of Government Is to Protect Our Individual Liberty

I am running for the United States Senate because I believe liberals in Washington are out-of-control. I believe the first duty of government is to protect our individual liberty. I will be a leader in Washington fighting for smaller government, less taxes, and our national sovereignty. I am running to defend the Constitution, and I understand that the freedoms we enjoy must be protected and preserved for future generations.

As a father and husband, I understand that decisions made in Washington have an immediate impact on families and shape the world we will leave to our children. I understand the profound blessing it is to be a citizen of the United States, and I will be responsible to help conserve that blessing for future generations.

IMPROVING EDUCATION

The Federal Government Is Not the Solution to Improving Our Nation’s Education System

The best and most viable solutions come from the local level where parents, students, and local administrators can collaborate and work towards success together. And I believe that school choice, charter schools, and improving our existing public schools are all things that need to be a part of the education mix for Alabama children.

ECONOMY

Lower Taxes and Less Spending

Thankfully we have a President who thinks like we do: lower taxes create jobs and less spending reduces the size and scope of the federal government. After eight long years of a declining economy, we are now seeing record job growth across the board and the lowest unemployment rates for Veterans and African-Americans in history. President Trump’s tax cuts and economic policies have driven this success – and I will join in the fight and support our President as we continue to grow our economy.

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY

It’s Simple — A Secure Border Means a More Secure Nation

We must first secure our border as we attempt real immigration reforms that will impact our nation for decades to come. I fully support President Trump’s plan to build a wall and make our nation more secure. And I will make sure our border patrol, detention centers, and law enforcement officers along and near the border have the resources they need to fight the scourge of illegal immigration that brings drugs, terrorists, and criminals into our country on a daily basis.

NATIONAL SECURITY

The First Role of Government Is to Protect Citizens

The first role of our government is to protect its citizens and that is why I will support a strong and robust military. I know we must provide our Armed Forces with the tools and resources they need to protect Americans at home and abroad. Alabamians are proud and we stand with our military and our Veterans who have given so much for our nation.

PROTECTING LIFE

Stand for the Right to Life

A Christian conservative, I will always stand up for those who can’t do so on their own. I will fight to protect the sanctity of every human life because future generations may very well look back at the current wave of infanticide sweeping across our nation as this generation’s holocaust.

GUN RIGHTS

Defending The Second Amendment

While we are fighting out-of-touch liberals to protect life and liberty, we must also stand up for the time-honored traditions we hold dear in Alabama. Being a sportsman has always been a part of my life. That is why I will always vote to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights.

INVESTIGATE THE INVESTIGATORS

Tommy Will Stand With President Trump

If I was in U.S. Senate today, I would be calling for a full and thorough investigation into the now-disproved Russian collusion probe of the 2016 elections. I believe that this witch-hunt was a political stunt to try and call into question President Trump’s legitimacy. I will stand with President Trump and fight any attempt to discredit his Presidency.

HEALTHCARE

Reforming A Broken Healthcare System

Obamacare must go. This failed experiment has led to higher costs, less quality care, and a system that hurts patients and doctors more than it helps. I believe that we need a return to the free-market where companies compete for your business, while ensuring that pre-existing conditions are not a deterrent to obtaining quality insurance and care.[24]

| ”

|
|

—Tommy Tuberville's campaign website (2020)[26]

## Runoff elections in Alabama[edit]

In Alabama, a primary election candidate for congressional, state, or county office must receive a majority of the vote (more than 50%) to be declared the winner. If no candidate wins the requisite majority, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.[27]

As of 2020, the Alabama Secretary of State office stated that "if you vote in a primary election and want to vote in a primary runoff election, you must vote in the primary runoff election of the same political party that you chose in the primary election. However, if you did not vote in a political party's primary election and would like to vote in the primary runoff election, you may choose which political party's primary runoff election you would like to vote in."[28]

## Campaign finance[edit]

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[29] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[30]

Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date

|
|
|
|
|

Doug Jones | Democratic Party | $31,053,566 | $32,710,699 | $474,033 |  As of December 31, 2020
Tommy Tuberville | Republican Party | $9,605,815 | $9,432,335 | $173,480 |  As of December 31, 2020

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

## Race ratings[edit]

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

* Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
* Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
* Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[31]
* Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[32][33][34]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Alabama, 2020

Race tracker| Race ratings
| November 3, 2020| October 27, 2020| October 20, 2020| October 13, 2020
The Cook Political Report| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican| Lean Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball| Likely Republican| Likely Republican| Likely Republican| Likely Republican
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season.

## Ballot access requirements[edit]

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Alabama in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Alabama, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020

State  | Office  | Party  | Signatures required  | Signature formula  | Filing fee  | Filing fee formula  | Filing deadline  | Source
Alabama | U.S. Senate | Democratic | N/A | N/A | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 11/8/2019 | Source
Alabama | U.S. Senate | Republican | N/A | N/A | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 11/8/2019 | Source
Alabama | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 51,588 | 3% of votes cast for governor in the last election | N/A | N/A | 3/3/2020 | Source

## Election history[edit]

### 2017[edit]

U.S. Senate, Alabama General Election, 2017

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democrat  | Doug Jones | 50% | 673,896
| Republican  |  Roy Moore  | 48.3% | 651,972
| Independent  |  Write-in  | 1.7% | 22,852
Total Votes | 1,348,720
Source: Alabama Secretary of State

### 2016[edit]

U.S. Senate, Alabama General Election, 2016 Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes

|
|
|

| Republican  | Richard Shelby Incumbent | 64% | 1,335,104
| Democratic  |  Ron Crumpton  | 35.9% | 748,709
| N/A  |  Write-in  | 0.2% | 3,631
Total Votes | 2,087,444
Source: Alabama Secretary of State

### 2014[edit]

See also: United States Senate elections in Alabama, 2014

On November 4, 2014, Jeff Sessions won re-election to the United States Senate. He ran completely unopposed in both the primary and general elections.

U.S. Senate, Alabama General Election, 2014 Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes

|
|
|

| Republican  | Jeff Sessions Incumbent | 97.3% | 795,606
| N/A  |  Write-in  | 2.7% | 22,484
Total Votes | 818,090
Source: Alabama Secretary of State

### 2010[edit]

On November 2, 2010, Richard Shelby won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated William Barnes (D) in the general election.[35]

U.S. Senate, Alabama General Election, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Richard Shelby incumbent | 65.2% | 968,181
| Democratic  |  William Barnes  | 34.7% | 515,619
| N/A  |  Write-in  | 0.1% | 1,699
Total Votes | 1,485,499

## See also[edit]

* United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2020
* United States Senate elections, 2020

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Twitter, "Donald Trump on March 10, 2020," accessed March 11, 2020
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alabama Political Reporter, "President Obama pushes support for Doug Jones in robocall," November 2, 2020
4. ↑ AL.com, "Senator Harris on Jones: 'Please send him back, Alabama,'" March 8, 2020
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Alabama Political Reporter, "Retired U.S. Marines general endorses Doug Jones," October 20, 2020
6. ↑ YouTube, "Tuberville and Sessions Joint Video Release" October 15, 2020
7. ↑ YouTube, "Ed Meese Endorses Jeff Sessions in New Radio Ad," June 16, 2020
8. ↑ Facebook, "Jeff Sessions on July 10, 2020," accessed July 13, 2020
9. ↑ Facebook, "Jeff Sessions on March 13, 2020," accessed March 13, 2020
10. ↑ Eagle Forum PAC, "Eagle Forum PAC Endorses Jeff Sessions for U.S. Senate," March 10, 2020
11. ↑ Facebook, "Jeff Sessions on May 5, 2020," accessed May 7, 2020
12. ↑ Politico, "Club for Growth spurns Sessions, endorses Tuberville in Alabama," March 16, 2020
13. ↑ Yellow Hammer News, "National Association for Gun Rights endorses Tuberville in Alabama Senate race," June 30, 2020
14. ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 The Hill, "Eleven GOP senators sign open letter backing Sessions's comeback bid," November 8, 2019
15. ↑ Twitter, "Mike Lee on May 22, 2019," accessed January 24, 2020
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Yellow Hammer, "Rand Paul endorses Arnold Mooney for Senate — ‘True freedom-loving conservative,’" October 31, 2019
17. ↑ Twitter, "Liz Cheney on February 26, 2020," accessed February 27, 2020
18. ↑ Yellow Hammer News, "Trump tax cuts architect: Trump probably would not be president without Jeff Sessions," accessed February 24, 2020
19. ↑ Protect Freedom PAC, "Protect Freedom PAC Endorses ﻿Arnold Mooney for Senate in Alabama," November 1, 2019
20. ↑ Jeff Sessions' 2020 campaign website, "FRCA PAC Endorsement Jeff Sessions," February 19, 2020
21. ↑ Facebook, "Jeff Sessions on March 1, 2020," accessed March 2, 2020
22. ↑ Scribd, "AUM poll Oct 5 2020," October 5, 2020
23. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Alabama - Senate," accessed August 27, 2020
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
25. ↑ Doug Jones' campaign website, "Priorities," accessed August 27, 2020
26. ↑ Tommy Tuberville's campaign website, "Issues," accessed August 27, 2020
27. ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 17-13-18," accessed July 10, 2020
28. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "FAQs," accessed July 10, 2020
29. ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
30. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
31. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
32. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
33. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
34. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
35. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013

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[show]

Alabama's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Katie Britt (R)

Tommy Tuberville (R)

Representatives

District 1

Jerry Carl (R)

District 2

Barry Moore (R)

District 3

Mike Rogers (R)

District 4

Robert Aderholt (R)

District 5

Dale Strong (R)

District 6

Gary Palmer (R)

District 7

Terri Sewell (D)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (1)