Paul DeMarco: Unpredictable U.S. Senate races in Alabama now the new normal

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Image source: Parsons, Lee & Juliano, P.C.

So the party primaries are over in Alabama and Katie Britt is now the Republican nominee for the United States Senate.

We could say this race was one for the history books, but candidly so have the last three U.S. Senate elections in Alabama. It used to be that Senate contest came along rarely in Alabama, but the past five years have proven otherwise. 

First, there was the 2017 special election with the Republican Primary between then-Attorney General Luther Strange that ended with former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore prevailing. The general election that year had the eyes of the Nation watch Moore then go on to lose to Democrat Doug Jones.

The 2020 election then came when former Auburn Football Coach bested former Senator Jeff Sessions for the Republican nomination. Coach Tuberville ousted then-Senator Doug Jones from his seat to return the seat to Republican hands. 

There have been tens of millions spent on races to represent Alabama in the United States Senate in the past five years, and this current election is still not over. However, count on Republican Katie Britt winning in the fall and being the next United States Senator to represent Alabama.

We cannot predict the next Senate race in Alabama, but based on recent history it will be another roller coaster ride for both candidates and state voters. 

Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be followed on Twitter @Paul_DeMarco.