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Sessions in Fight to Win Back His Senate Seat

Associated Press

   MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA - To reclaim the Alabama Senate seat he held for 20
   years, Jeff Sessions must first get through a competitive GOP primary
   with challengers eager to capitalize on his very public falling out
   with President Donald Trump.

   The former attorney general is banking on his long history in state
   politics as he tries to persuade Republican voters that he is the best
   candidate to advance Trump's agenda.

   "I am the same Jeff Sessions that faithfully and honorably and
   vigorously defended Alabama values in the U.S. Senate before. I am
   determined to be even more effective when I return to the Senate if the
   people allow me to," Sessions said in an interview.

   Sessions gave up the Senate seat when he was appointed Trump's first
   attorney general, a position he was forced to resignfromafter his
   recusal from the Russia inquiry sparked blistering criticism from the
   president.

   Sessions had been the first senator to endorse Trump-- donning a red
   Make America Great Again hat and infusing the 2016 campaign with
   Washington credibility. But in a twist of political irony, the
   president's public scolding now threatens Sessions' political comeback
   for a seat he held securely for two decades.

   No chance

   At a candidate forum in Florence, Alabama, that Sessions did not
   attend, retired restaurant owner Yara Ruther, 67, was shopping for
   someone else to support in the seven-person field.

   "He did not support Trump. That's a deal breaker," Ruther said, slicing
   her hand horizontally through the air to emphasize that she wouldn't
   vote for Sessions this time.

   Sessions said Trump wasn't happy about the recusal, but he did so
   because Department of Justice regulations required it. Still, Sessions
   has maintained his allegiance to the president.

   "Where were my opponents when Donald Trump was in a titanic,
   billion-dollar campaign for the presidency of the United States, where
   our court system was a stake, our taxes and regulations were all at
   stake?" Sessions said.

   "The people of Alabama rallied to Trump and I was leading the charge.
   And I haven't changed,"hesaid.

   He'll face former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville,
   U.S. RepresentativeBradley Byrne, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy
   Moore, state RepresentativeArnold Mooney, businessman Stanley Adair and
   community activist Ruth Page Nelson in the Republican primary Tuesday.
   The winner will face Democratic SenatorDoug Jones in November.

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