Crumpton announces he will challenge Luther Strange

By Brandon Moseley

It has been 20 years since Alabama had a new U.S. Senator, that was until Friday when Governor Robert Bentley appointed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange (R) to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions (R) confirmation as U.S. Attorney General. Already one candidate has come forward to challenge Strange for the seat. Marijuana legalization activist, Ron Crumpton (D), who has already run for Senate in 2016, against Sen. Richard Shelby (R), has announced that he will run against Senator Strange.

Crumpton said in a statement, “I would like to take this opportunity to announce that I will pursue the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat formerly held by Jeff Sessions.”

Crumpton continued, “Governor Robert Bentley has appointed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the position. It is ironic that Governor Bentley would appoint Strange. According to press reports, the Attorney General’s office is currently investigating the governor for multiple ethics violations.”

Crumpton said, “The people of Alabama deserve a Senator who will represent the people, not one who was appointed through the Montgomery “good ole boy” network. Strange is not that person. He has wasted millions of our dollars pursuing lawsuits that were unwinnable to further his own political future.”

Ron Crumpton also attacked President Donald J. Trump (R). Crumpton said, “We currently have a president, who is willing to throw out the constitution to advance his racist, misogynistic and xenophobic agenda. The last thing the people of Alabama need is another Senator who supports Trump’s Un-American plan for our country.”

Crumpton promised. “I will fight for the people of Alabama. I will bring the issues to the public and confront the lies that have been sold as fact to the people of Alabama by politicians who use these lies as a means of advancing an agenda that does not serve the best interest of their constituents. I will sponsor new legislation designed to keep jobs at home and provide incentives for bringing American jobs back to America, I will support legislation to raise the minimum wage, I will fight for students and do everything that I can to ensure that big business pays its fair share, but I cannot do this without your support.”

The biggest question for Ron Crumpton is: can he raise enough money to battle Luther Strange dollar for dollar in a state arguably seven media markets. Strange had raised over $340,000 before he was even appointed looking ahead to the 2018 race.

Crumpton told potential supporters, “Your early support will go a long way to ensure that we have funds necessary to defeat Strange and deal a blow to Trump’s support in the U.S. Senate.”

Sen. Strange may also have a Republican Primary opponent.

Ron Crumpton also previously ran for the state Senate, losing to then state Representative Jim McClendon (R from Springville).

No Democrat has won a statewide race in the state of Alabama since the 2008 election. In 2016, Ron Crumpton was the only Democrat on the ballot running statewide, besides former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ran for U.S. President (unsuccessfully).