This is Alabama politics: one day you’re in, the next day you’re out

Roy Moore is back, and Tommy Tuberville says goodbye, ya’ll. In the state of Alabama, this is how it goes.

In Case You MIssed It

Suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore announced today that he is running for the U.S. Senate. The seat was vacated by Jeff Sessions when President Trump appointed him as Attorney General. Moore will now face off  in a “high-profile primary fight” with appointed Senator Luther Strange.

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Moore filed paperwork to resign his seat as Chief Justice before announcing his plans at a brief press conference. He said he shares the vision of President Donald Trump and wants to make America great again.

Moore’s strong stances on religion and anti-LGBT rights have earned him a devoted following among Republicans but have kept him from gaining support outside of his base.

“As United State Senator, I will continue to stand for rights and liberties not only of this state, but of the people as well,” Moore said at the Alabama State Capitol Wednesday.

Moore In The Spotlight

Moore made a name for himself  as an Etowah County Circuit Judge by hanging the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. That move brought along legal challenges. When Moore was elected as State Chief Justice in 2000, he installed a granite monument depicting the Ten Commandments. That also led to legal troubles. He was ordered to remove the monument but refused, and that’s why he was removed from the bench in 2003. This short history of the controversy explains it all.

Moore also decided to run for governor twice and lost both times. In 2012, he was re-elected as Chief Justice and made headlines again in January 2016. After circulating an order telling probate judges not to issue gay marriage licenses, Moore found himself in the national spotlight again. The move led to his eventual suspension for the remainder of his term. During his press conference today, he told the crowd he had no regrets.

Tuberville Not Running For Governor

In other Alabama political news, former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has decided not to run for governor.

In March Tuberville announced that he was looking at options with backers and studying poll results to gauge public support for his potential bid to run as Alabama’s next governor. This decision comes after Governor Robert Bentley resigned amid a sex scandal, with Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey taking the reigns. He told Sirius XM College Sports Nation that Ivey was one of the reasons he changed his mind.