Civic Register
| 9.29.17

What They're Saying (Or Not): What Roy Moore's Win In Alabama Means For the GOP

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What’s the story?

Firebrand party outsider Roy Moore won the Alabama special election yesterday, despite his opponent Luther Strange having the support of the president and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Many are even suggesting that it was exactly Strange’s alliance with party leadership that heralded his defeat; possibly indicating deep fissures within the GOP between right-wing activists and traditional party leadership.

What are they saying?

In their article, Roy Moore’s Alabama Victory Sets Off Talk of a G.O.P. Insurrection, the New York Times writes:

"Republicans are confronting an insurrection on the right that is angry enough to imperil their grip on Congress, and senior party strategists have concluded that the conservative base now loathes its leaders in Washington the same way it detested President Barack Obama."

"If nothing else, divisive intraparty battles could cost party donors tens of millions of dollars and weaken Republicans’ position in a year when Democrats were already poised to make gains, at least in the House. They could also reshape the party’s agenda, driving it further in the direction of Mr. Trump’s strain of nationalism rather than the more conventional, business-oriented agenda espoused by Mr. McConnell and Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin.”

Fox News analyzed Moore’s appeal in Moore's path to victory in Alabama: God, guns and defiance:

"Roy Moore wouldn't stand a chance in many Senate races after defying federal court orders, describing Islam as a false religion, calling homosexuality evil and pulling out a revolver on stage before hundreds of supporters.”

"But in Alabama, he's now the odds-on favorite to join the nation's most exclusive political body. Moore prevailed Tuesday in a Republican primary runoff by defeating an opponent backed by both President Donald Trump and deep-pocketed allies of Sen. Mitch McConnell."

"As hard as it may be to understand in liberal cities such as New York or San Francisco, Moore is widely popular across a mostly white, Christian-dominated state where voters have repeatedly embraced outsiders who campaign on embracing God and rebuffing authority.”

Ousted White House Strategist and Breitbart head Stephen Bannon campaigned for Moore, and proclaimed that voting for Moore would help Alabama voters, "take their country back":

Unusual for a cabinet member, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson supported a different candidate than the president:

And many on the far-right of the party are hoping Moore’s win is just the beginning. Now, they’re setting their sights on Nevada Sen. Dean Heller and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, both of whom have criticized the president and taken more moderate positions on policy:

What do you think?

Do you think the GOP is splintering? Is that a good or bad thing, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Lawrence Tribe / Twitter)