The 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Alabama, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent senator Doug Jones, first elected in a 2017 special election in what was widely labeled a major upset, ran for a full term, facing Tommy Tuberville in the general election. This race was one of two Democratic-held U.S. Senate seats up for election in 2020 in a state President Trump won in 2016.The other was in Michigan, where Senator Gary Peters was re-elected over Republican John James
Jones was widely considered the most vulnerable senator among those seeking re-election in 2020 due to Alabama's heavy Republican lean, with analysts predicting a Republican pickup; Jones's 2017 win was in part due to sexual misconduct allegations against his Republican opponent Roy Moore.
As was predicted, Tuberville easily defeated Jones, whose 20.36% margin of defeat was the largest for an incumbent U.S. Senator since Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln in 2010. Tuberville received the highest percentage of the vote for any challenger since Joseph D. Tydings in 1964. Jones became the first Democratic senator to lose a general election in Alabama, and the only Democratic senator to be defeated in 2020. However, he outperformed Biden in the state by about five points. This was the only Republican flip of the 2020 U.S. Senate elections.
Democratic primary The candidate filing deadline was November 8, 2019. Jones ran unopposed.
Candidates Nominee Doug Jones, incumbent U.S. senator
Declined John Rogers, state representative Randall Woodfin, mayor of Birmingham (endorsed Jones)
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn Tigers football head coach
Eliminated in runoff Jeff Sessions, former United States attorney general (2017–2018), former holder of this seat (1997–2017), and former attorney general of Alabama (1995–1997)
Eliminated in primary Stanley Adair, businessman Bradley Byrne, incumbent U.S. representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district Arnold Mooney, state representative Roy Moore, former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, former candidate for Governor of Alabama in 2006 and 2010 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2017 Ruth Page Nelson, community activist
Withdrew Marty Preston Hatley John Merrill, Secretary of State of Alabama John Paul Serbin
Declined Robert Aderholt, incumbent U.S. representative for (ran for re-election) Will Ainsworth, Alabama lieutenant governor Mo Brooks, incumbent U.S. representative for and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2017 (ran for re-election) Will Dismukes, state representative Matt Gaetz, incumbent U.S. representative for (ran for re-election) Del Marsh, president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate Arthur Orr, state senator (endorsed Byrne) Martha Roby, incumbent U.S. representative for Heather Whitestone, former Miss America
Endorsements
First round Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error StanleyAdair MoBrooks BradleyByrne DelMarsh JohnMerrill ArnoldMooney RoyMoore RuthPageNelson GaryPalmer JeffSessions TommyTuberville Other UndecidedWPA IntelligenceWPA Intelligence February 18–19, 2020 607 (LV) ± 4% <1% – 17% – – <1% 5% – –29%32% <1% 15%WPA IntelligenceWPA Intelligence February 10–12, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4% <1% – 17% – – 1% 6% <1% –34%29% – 15%Harper PollingHarper Polling February 8–9, 2020 609 (LV) ± 3.97% – –26% – – – 5% – – 31% 24% – 14%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon February 4–6, 2020 400 (LV) ± 5.0% – – 17% – – – 5% – – 31%29% 2% 16%OnMessageOnMessage January 13–15, 2020 700 (LV) ± 2.5% – –22% – – – – – –43%21% – –OnMessageOnMessage December 3–5, 2019 700 (LV) ± 3.7% – – 14% – – 1% 7% 1% – 44%21% – 12%Cherry CommunicationsCherry Communications December 1–3, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 1% – 12% – – 1% 8% – – 35%31% – –WPA IntelligenceWPA Intelligence October 29–31, 2019 511 (V) ± 4.4% – – 11% – 6% 2% 11% – – 36% 23% – –CygnalCygnal October 10–12, 2019 536 (LV) – 1% – 18% – 9% 2% 11% – – – 32% – 28%Tommy for SenateTommy for Senate Released onOctober 5, 2019 – (LV) –1% –13% –9%1%15% – – –36% –26%Moore InformationMoore Information August 11–13, 2019 400 (LV) ± 5.0% – –17% – 13% 1% 15% – – – 33% 3% 17%CygnalCygnal June 22–23, 2019 612 (LV) 4.0% – – 21% – 12% 2% 13% – – – 29% – 22% – – 13% – 8% – 9% – –29% 21% – –Moore InformationMoore Information June 10–11, 2019 650 (LV) ± 4.0% – – 16% – 7% 2% 18% – – – 23% 6% 28%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon April 9–11, 2019 400 (RV) ± 5.0% –18% 13% 4% – –27% – 11% – – 2%25%Victory PhonesVictory Phones Released inFebruary 2019 400 (LV) ± 5.0% – 30% 17% 7% – – – – 12% – – 6% 27%
Primary results
Runoff The runoff for the Republican Senate nomination was planned for March 31, 2020, but it was delayed until July 14 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JeffSessions TommyTuberville Other /UndecidedAuburn University at MontgomeryAuburn University at Montgomery July 2–9, 2020 558 (RV) ± 6%31%47%22%OnMessage (R)OnMessage (R) May 26–27, 2020 600 (LV) ± 3.46% 43%49% 8%FM3 Research (D)FM3 Research (D) May 14–18, 2020 – (LV) – 32%54% 14%CygnalCygnal May 7–10, 2020 607 (LV) ± 3.98% 32%55% 13%FM3 Research (D) March, 2020 – (LV) – 36%54% 10%OnMessage (R)OnMessage (R) March 8–9, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.46%45%45% 10%CygnalCygnal March 6–8, 2020 645 (LV) + 3.86% 40% 52% 8%Moore Information GroupMoore Information Group March 5–7, 2020400 (LV)± 5%38%49%13%WT&S ConsultingWT&S Consulting March 5, 2020 1,234 (LV) + 3.29% 42% 49% 8%Mason-Dixon February 4–6, 2020 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 49% 42% 9%
with Bradley Byrne and Gary Palmer Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BradleyByrne GaryPalmer UndecidedWPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R) February 10–12, 2019 500 (LV) ± 4.4%27%27% 46%
with Bradley Byrne and Jeff Sessions Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BradleyByrne JeffSessions UndecidedAL Daily News/Mason-DixonAL Daily News/Mason-Dixon February 4–6, 2020 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 35% 48% 17%
with Mo Brooks and Bradley Byrne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MoBrooks BradleyByrne UndecidedWPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R) March 10–12, 2019 501 (LV) ± 4.4% 43% 32% 25%
with Mo Brooks and Roy Moore Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MoBrooks RoyMoore UndecidedWPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R) March 10–12, 2019501 (LV)± 4.4% 52% 32% 16%
Results
Independents Candidates Withdrawn Mike Parrish Jarmal Sanders, reverend Marcus Jejaun Williams
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 2, 2020Daily Kos October 30, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020RCPOctober 23, 2020DDHQNovember 3, 2020538November 2, 2020EconomistNovember 2, 2020
Post-primary endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) TommyTuberville (R) Other UndecidedSwayableSwayable October 27 – November 1, 2020294 (LV)± 8.5%42%58% – –Data for ProgressData for ProgressOctober 27 – November 1, 20201,045 (LV)± 3%44%56%0% –Morning ConsultOctober 22–31, 2020850 (LV)± 3%39%51% – –Auburn University At MontgomeryAuburn University At MontgomeryOctober 23–28, 2020853 (LV)± 4.4%43%54%3% –SwayableOctober 23–26, 2020232 (LV)± 8.7%46%54% – –CygnalCygnalOctober 21–23, 2020645 (LV)± 3.9%41%55% –4%Moore Information (R)Moore Information (R)October 11–14, 2020504 (LV)± 4.5%40%55% – –FM3 Research (D)FM3 Research (D) October 11–14, 2020801 (LV)± 3.5%48%47% –5%Auburn University at MontgomeryAuburn University at Montgomery September 30 – October 3, 20201,072 (RV)± 4.0%42%54%4% –Morning ConsultMorning Consult September 11–20, 2020 658 (LV) ± (2% – 7%) 34%52% – –Morning ConsultMorning ConsultJuly 24 – August 2, 2020609 (LV)± 4.0%35%52%4%9%Auburn University at MontgomeryAuburn University at Montgomery July 2–9, 2020 567 (RV) ± 5.1%36%44%7%14%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R) June 29 – July 2, 2020 509 (LV) ± 3.8% 40%50% – –ALG Research (D)ALG Research (D) June 18–22, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4.0%44%47%1%8%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R) June 13–16, 2020 530 (LV) ± 4.3%36%50%2%13%FM3 Research (D) May 14–18, 2020 601 (LV) ± 4.0% 44%47% – 9%Mason-Dixon February 4–6, 2020 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 42% 50% – 8%JMC AnalyticsJMC Analytics December 16–18, 2019 525 (LV) ± 4.3% 40% 47% – 13%
With Jeff Sessions Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) JeffSessions (R) Other UndecidedAuburn University at MontgomeryAuburn University at Montgomery July 2–9, 2020 567 (RV) ± 5.1%43%49%7%1%ALG Research (D) June 18–22, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4.0%43%45%3%9%Cygnal (R) June 13–16, 2020 530 (LV) ± 4.3%35%45%3%18%Mason-Dixon February 4–6, 2020 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 41% 54% – 5%JMC Analytics December 16–18, 2019 525 (LV) ± 4.3% 41% 46% – 13%
With Bradley Byrne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) BradleyByrne (R) UndecidedAL Daily News/Mason-Dixon February 4–6, 2020 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 42% 51% 7%JMC Analytics December 16–18, 2019 525 (LV) ± 4.3% 40% 44% 16%
With Arnold Mooney Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) ArnoldMooney (R) UndecidedJMC Analytics December 16–18, 2019 525 (LV) ± 4.3% 40% 34% 25%
With Roy Moore Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) RoyMoore (R) UndecidedJMC Analytics December 16–18, 2019 525 (LV) ± 4.3% 47% 33% 20%
With Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) GenericRepublican UndecidedMason-Dixon Apr 9–11, 2019 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 40%50% 10%
With Generic Opponent Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougJones (D) GenericOpponent UndecidedJMC Analytics December 16–18, 2019 525 (LV) ± 4.3% 34%48% 18%
with Generic Democrat and Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican UndecidedCygnalOctober 21–23, 2020645 (LV)± 3.9%38%55%6%
Results
By county