Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, sent out a plea to Democrats asking for aid after former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville won the Republican nomination to challenge Jones in the fall. Jones said he is being targeted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.
“The events of the last 24 hours made it clear: Mitch McConnell and his allies are trying to knock me out early,” Jones said in an email to Democratic donors. “You’re my best shot at stopping them, so I hope you’ll give me a second to explain how you can help in this critical moment.”
President Donald Trump strongly endorsed Tuberville over former Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama.
“Now that Trump’s handpicked candidate won the Republican primary, the GOP’s outside interest groups are on the attack,” Jones continued. “They just began a massive advertising campaign totaling $5 million — and with polling showing me and my opponent in a dead heat, it’s urgent to counter their attack with everything we have.”
“I’m counting on supporters like you to invest in my race and races like mine while there’s still time to fight back against these attacks,” Jones said in an email that the Democratic National Committee sent to their nationwide donor base.
“This moment in our country’s history is not a time for untested politicians who will back McConnell and his extreme policies without question,” Jones stated. “That’s why I need to keep this seat — Mitch McConnell is all-in to support Tuberville, so there’s no question where his loyalties would lie as a senator.”
“This team will need to fight hard in races just like mine,” Jones added. “The DNC has laid the groundwork for victory by upgrading tech and data infrastructure, training organizers, and hiring voter protection directors in the states that are most vulnerable to voter suppression efforts.”
Republicans meanwhile are trying to unify to defeat Jones.
Former State Rep. Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a member of the Alabama Republican Executive Committee and has a seat on Trump’s Victory national committee.
“Doug Jones has an 8-million-dollar war chest with more to come,” Hooper said in a statement. “He also has the national and state media on his side who will paint him as the smartest more virtuous Senator the state has ever seen. They may even start calling him Saint Doug. Fortunately, we have the facts on our side, his horrible voting record. This includes his vote to convict the President on both articles of impeachment and his vote against the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He can run but he cannot hide from his support of the radical Democrat Agenda.”
Jones won the Senate seat by defeating former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in a December 2017 special election.
