A recent poll conducted independently of either campaign showed that former Auburn University head football coach Tommy Tuberville has a major lead over former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Alabama’s U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff race.
Cygnal, a Montgomery-based, nationally respected polling firm, conducted a survey from May 7-10 among 607 likely GOP primary voters. The survey was paid for by Cygnal, which is not involved in the race for either candidate or any outside group. The margin of error was ±3.98%, utilizing a multi-mode methodology of live phones, text messages and email.
Yellowhammer News on Tuesday obtained the topline results from the survey.
On the all-important ballot test (when respondents were asked who they would vote for if the election were held today), Sessions garnered 31.8%, with 19.4% total specifying they would definitely vote for Sessions.
Tuberville, meanwhile, garnered 55.1% of respondents, with 36.5% total saying they would definitely vote for Tuberville.
President Donald J. Trump’s opinion of his former attorney general is expected to be a key factor in the runoff, with the president having endorsed Tuberville shortly after the primary.
Sessions’ recusal as attorney general from matters related to Russia has been a constant talking point, even as of late. Sessions has utilized op-eds and interviews to defend his actions, while Trump and Tuberville have continued to slam him for it.
Cygnal’s survey showed that Tuberville led Sessions 56%-31% among GOP primary voters with a favorable opinion of the president. Among men, 62% chose Tuberville, compared to 29% for Sessions.
Sessions’ best voter group in the survey was those age 70+; however, he was still losing that demographic with 38% compared to Tuberville’s 49%.
A Cygnal survey, previously reported by Yellowhammer News, that was conducted March 6-8 showed Tuberville at 52% and Sessions at 40%.
The U.S. Senate runoff will be held July 14. The Republican nominee will face U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) in November.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
