The Republican primary to replace Senator Tommy Tuberville, the G.O.P. former football coach who is leaving his Senate seat to run for governor of Alabama, is headed to a runoff, according to The Associated Press.
Representative Barry Moore got enough votes to advance to the runoff. It was not yet clear who his opponent would be, as Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL, and Steve Marshall, the state attorney general, vied for second place. The June runoff will take place because no candidate received a majority of the vote.
The primary race has flown under the radar in part because Alabama is seen as a solidly Republican state. But the race for the Republican nomination, which will effectively anoint the winner in the fall, has attracted significant money: More than $11 million in super PAC funds poured into the first round of the primary, led by more than $5 million from a super PAC aligned with the crypto industry that supported Mr. Moore, who has served in the House since 2020.
All three leading candidates ran as strong allies of President Trump, with Mr. Hudson leaning into his military service to cast himself as a “warrior” outsider in the mold of the president.
Mr. Moore received Mr. Trump’s endorsement in January, with the president calling him “a good friend, fighter, and WINNER,” but the race has not appeared to be a major focus for the president.
Mr. Trump’s effort to lift Mr. Moore with another social media post this month initially said he was endorsing Mr. Moore for re-election to his House seat. It was quickly deleted and replaced with a post hailing his Senate candidacy.
The runoff will be held on June 16.
Shane Goldmacher is a Times national political correspondent.
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