He was repeatedly elected chief justice of Alabama (but essentially removed), and many of his most dedicated supporters maintain that he was wronged in 2017. But Mr. Moore, 72, remains the scarce Alabama Republican of recent years who has lost a statewide election to a Democrat. And the accusations of sexual misconduct, which Mr. Moore denied, are certain to be a campaign issue. John H. Merrill, a Republican who was re-elected last year as the Alabama secretary of state, is expected to announce his decision about a Senate campaign as soon as next week. In an interview after Mr. Moore’s announcement, Mr. Merrill, reflecting arguments that Republicans in Alabama and Washington have made repeatedly in recent weeks, pointedly said he expected Mr. Moore would lose a general election to Mr. Jones.

Source: New York Times June 20, 2019 18:45 UTC