A GOP Congressman launches a critical race in the Alabama Senate

The Republicans on Wednesday landed a high-level rookie in a crucial race for their hopes of holding the Senate in 2020, when GOP representative Bradley Byrne launched into the campaign against the most vulnerable Democrat, Alabama , Doug Jones.

The Senate is clearly at stake in two years: at least half a dozen Republican deputies are in danger, including two in President Donald Trump, lost in 2016, and Democrats have already begun recruiting competitors in many of these races . After his shocking electoral victory in the 2017 Conservative election in Alabama, defeating Jones is the best opportunity for the GOP to reverse a Democratic-held seat – making the contest a vital insurance policy for the party, which currently holds 53-47 years.

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Jones narrowly won the Alabama seat after Republicans named Roy Moore, the controversial former Supreme Court Justice of the state, accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with teenage girls. State Republicans are desperate to avoid the mistakes of this race, while a fractional primary allowed Moore to pass over the Senate's favorite candidate, Senator Luther Strange.

But another cluttered and unpredictable primary might be on the way. Byrne, a Congressman for the third term who had been elected governor in 2010 and had lost the primary, hinted that he would challenge Jones for more than a year. During his official launch at Mobile on Wednesday, he highlighted his support for the Trump Wall on the southern border, the Second Amendment, his anti-abortion stance and his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, whom Jones opposed.

"Look at Washington and tell me you do not see a gap between your values ​​and the values ​​you see up there," said Byrne at his launch, appearing with his family. Later, he added: "The race will not be easy, the people who currently occupy this seat intend to keep it and will not stop at anything."

In an interview that followed his announcement, Byrne cited the same four issues as those for which he was convinced that Jones was the most vulnerable facing Alabama voters.

"The other big difference between the last time and this time is that Doug Jones now has a record, and that's not a good result to beat in Alabama," Byrne said.

"He is against President Trump and Alabama loves Donald Trump," added the Congressman.

Jones' campaign reported Byrne's loss at the 2010 governor's primary and called him a "career politician" in a statement.

"It does not matter if Senator Jones has one or more opponents," says Jones campaign release. "His goal is to work for the people of Alabama, that it is to protect our jobs in the auto sector and farmers against dangerous tariffs or to build new jobs. health care infrastructure in rural communities of Alabama. "

Byrne is unlikely to have a clear path to appointment to the GOP. Del Marsh, acting president of the state Senate, told POLITICO Tuesday that he "is seriously considering" a campaign after the success of the 2017 special election. Some Republicans are calling on Governor Will Ainsworth to come forward, although he has not publicly discussed a potential bid and that some Republicans doubt that he is engaging in the race. Representative Gary Palmer "seriously considers" the race, according to a source familiar with internal deliberations.

Terry Lathan, president of the GOP of Alabama, said that Republicans who are still shocked by their defeat two years ago are ready to "block the arms of a candidate" against Jones, little Anything will come out of a potentially cluttered primary and divisive source.

"We are anticipating a war," said Lathan, predicting massive financial investments from both parties flooding the state. "There will be a busy and noisy race. But with Donald Trump on the ballot in one of Trump's highest approval states, it will be a "GOP benefit". "

The primary itself could become a war. Marsh, in an interview on Wednesday, spoke of a line of potential attack against Byrne: his previous critics of Trump. Byrne criticized Trump and asked him to leave the presidential race in 2016 after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, although he stated prior to the election that he was still considering voting for him.

"I think we will need someone there who has always supported this president, will continue to support him, in his efforts to build this wall," said Marsh. "I do not think it has to be another DC politician. Honestly, I think he is a businessman who has business experience and who understands this president. "

Byrne, in the interview, dismissed this criticism. "I am happy and proud to be a supporter of President Trump since taking office, even before he took office," Byrne said. "If you look at my voting record, I am one of the most ardent supporters of the president."

Meanwhile, the conservative Club for Growth published a survey showing Palmer tied with Byrne in a hypothetical primary primary confrontation (the poll did not include any other candidates and counted 46% undecided). David McIntosh, club president, said that Palmer would be the most powerful candidate and that Byrne was "not a conservative", thus calling him "a fake politician".

Republicans hope to avoid a scenario in which a competitive primary primary would pave the way for a controversial candidate to pass through the primary without majority support, making the general election much more difficult.

"There is a lighthouse when it comes to Alabama and it's just to make sure you have an eligible candidate," said Republican strategist Josh Holmes, one of Major Allies Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Holmes called the race "imperative victory" for the majority of the GOP.

Palmer was encouraged to intervene by Republicans across the state and "seriously" consider the race, according to a person familiar with his deliberations. The person said Palmer was undecided, but Byrne's announcement "does not affect his considerations."

A potential representative who appears to be outside is the representative Mo Brooks, who lost the GOP primary in the 2017 special. Brooks said on Wednesday that although he did not rule out an offer, he was not likely to intervene unless it was clear that he would be a favorite of the primary.

"It would take a seismic political event to get into the Senate race," Brooks said.

The Democrats hope to hold their own seismic senate in 2020, renouncing the majority by beating a handful of Republican deputies across the country. Democrats are likely to target at least half a dozen states where Republicans could be vulnerable, including Maine and Colorado, where Trump was beaten in 2016 and will be voting again next year.

In Colorado, GOP Senator Cory Gardner already has two Democratic challengers who have already run in national elections and several other Democrats are studying offers, indicating that they are confident in the party that they have a good chance of defeating Gardner.

And the Democrats have already started recruiting top-level candidates elsewhere. Mark Kelly, former astronaut and captain of the navy and husband of the former Rep. Gabby Giffords, launched her campaign in Arizona last week and quickly raised more than $ 1.1 million for her challenge to Republican Senator Martha McSally.

Kelly can still face a tough Democratic primary against Rep. Ruben Gallego, who plans to run his own campaign. McSally was appointed to the Senate after losing his run against Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema in November, and Democrats once again see the state as a priority target.

It is still unclear who could intervene for Democrats in two other key states of the Senate, Maine and North Carolina. The Democrats are also trying to add Georgia to the list of leading races on the field by recruiting Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the race for governor of Georgia last year, to challenge Senator GOP, David Perdue. Abrams said she would decide in March whether to show up or not

Minority leader Chuck Schumer recently met with former representative Beto O'Rourke, who is considering a presidential campaign but has not yet given up on the Senate's candidacy in Texas after a close defeat by Senator GOP Ted Cruz last fall.