U.S. Senate Luther Strange

1 u.s. senate

1.1 appointment

1.1.1 selection
1.1.2 reaction


1.2 2017 primary
1.3 tenure
1.4 committee assignments

u.s. senate

the appointment of senator jeff sessions united states attorney general in november 2016 created opening u.s. senate seat governor bentley fill appointment upon sessions’ confirmation. many aspirants publicly declared interest in appointive senate seat, , in running if not selected bentley.

appointment

strange revealed intention seek senate seat fred barnes of weekly standard on november 22, regardless of whether appointed bentley, calling run right thing me do. strange filed paperwork potential special election 1 week later , made public announcement of candidacy on december 6. voters make ultimate decision represent them, , forward making case people of alabama in months come why can trust me keep protecting , fighting our conservative values. in january, new strange senate federal campaign committee reported raising more $309,000 in few weeks leading december 31st filing deadline.

bentley began interviewing candidates senate appointment in mid-december. on december 22, montgomery advertiser reported complete list of alabamians had been interviewed on two-week period senate seat (based on information released governor’s office). included: chief justice roy moore, representative mo brooks (r-huntsville), , following state legislators , justices: senate president pro tempore del marsh (r-anniston), senator arthur orr (r-decatur), senator cam ward (r-alabaster), senator bill hightower (r-mobile), senator trip pittman (r-montrose), alabama house ways , means education chairman , representative bill poole (r-tuscaloosa), associate justice glenn murdock, representative connie rowe (r-jasper), former representative perry hooper of montgomery (also trump 2016 chair in alabama).

strange not interviewed until following week, along u.s. representative martha roby, representative gary palmer, tim james (son of former governor fob james), state senator greg reed (r-jasper), , state senator phil williams (r-rainbow city). 3 additional persons interviewed before january 6 representative robert aderholt, revenue commissioner julie p. magee, , department of economic , community affairs director jim byard. total number of interviews 20 (which represented limit governor go).

in january, governor bentley announced special election remainder of sessions term not take place until 2018, giving prospective new appointee year of incumbency. on february 2, governor bentley named 6 finalists appointment. list included u.s. representative robert aderholt, senate president pro tempore del marsh, attorney general strange; bentley acea appointee jim byard, state representative connie rowe, , former state representative perry hooper jr.

selection

following sessions confirmation on february 8, bentley announced strange s appointment on february 9. let me tell why chose luther strange, bentley said. believe luther has qualifications , has qualities serve our people , serve state well. speaking wife melissa side, strange called appointment honor of life, while citing efforts other republican attorneys general stop environmental, educational , labor regulations put forward former president barack obama s administration. have chance go on offense, said. jeff sessions attorney general first step in process.

reaction

strange s appointment welcomed fellow republicans, such arkansas attorney general leslie rutledge, , karl rove. conservative activists, such chris w. cox of nra, hailed appointment. npr southern political analyst debbie elliott said strange s conservative politics in mold of jeff sessions. noted state attorney general: s been active in state-led fights against federal environmental regulations, against obamacare, against transgender bathroom directives. s fought alabama s strict abortion laws. defended state s controversial immigration law. bit of struck down federal courts.

there negative reaction other republicans expressed concern strange s appointment. in november 2016, prior election day, had requested impeachment proceedings against bentley delayed. saw link between , strange s appointment. there s going such air of conspiracy hanging on our state , our new senator, said state representative ed henry. s 1 of things appears there have been collusion, said state representative allen farley. whole thing stinks, said state auditor jim zeigler. outrageous. have potential gov. blagojevich situation.

this interpretation disputed mike jones jr., house judiciary committee chairman, said believes appointment done in faith. jones noted hearings stopped before election , before senate seat available. made clear in november when asked pause did not mean not finish, there come time when conclude investigation , have hearing. still that. jones , house speaker mac mccutcheon said february 9 wait word attorney general s office before resuming committee s work. mccutcheon said wanted process play out.

strange himself said february 10, have never said , want make clear. have never said in our office investigating governor. think s unfair him , unfair process it’s been reported out there. have 6 years of record of highest caliber of conduct of people in our attorney general s office. s why don t comment on these things , why don t plan comment on anymore. governor bentley later resigned after being indicted on criminal charges.

2017 primary

strange finished second roy moore, 38.87% 32.83%, in republican primary on august 15, 2017. in run-off on september 26, 2017, moore again defeated strange, 54.89% 45.11%.

tenure

in 2017, strange 1 of 22 senators sign letter president donald trump urging president have united states withdraw paris agreement.

committee assignments

united states senate committee on agriculture, nutrition , forestry

subcommittee on rural development , energy
subcommittee on conservation, forestry , natural resources
subcommittee on nutrition, agricultural research , specialty crops (chair)


united states senate committee on armed services

subcommittee on readiness , management support
subcommittee on seapower


united states senate committee on budget
united states senate committee on energy , natural resources

subcommittee on energy
subcommittee on public lands, forests , mining
subcommittee on water , power

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