Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Barry Moore in the contested GOP primary for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, Steve Marshall released a statement Sunday night saying he’s staying in the race.

Marshall has served as Alabama Attorney General since 2017.

“Alabama- you know me by now. I don’t back down, and I most certainly don’t back up,” Marshall wrote.

“Bold, conservative change isn’t easy. But as your Attorney General, I never sat back and I never played it safe. That isn’t who you are, that isn’t who I am, and that isn’t what you elected me to do.”

In addition to Moore and Marshall, the GOP field includes candidates Jared Hudson, a former U.S. Navy Seal and candidate for Sheriff of Jefferson County, cattle farmer and businessman Rodney Walker, and former Tuberville national security staffer and U.S. Navy veteran Morgan Murphy.

For most of the cycle before Trump made his pick, Marshall had been sitting in the pole position in the GOP primary polling. His statewide name ID was translating into being identified as an early favorite.

The Alabama Poll, a survey conducted most recently in mid-December 2025, showed Marshall on top at 29.7%, with Moore at 12.3% and Hudson at 8% – and an even larger 46% undecided.

Marshall also received the backing of the Alabama Farmers Federation, which was a major source of momentum for the campaign roughly one month after Moore announced his bid.

“I’m proud to have the support of the Alabama Farmers Federation, our 57 county strong Farmers Coalition, 50 DAs & Sheriffs as part of our Law Enforcement Coalition, campaign county chairmen leading grassroots efforts across our state, and more than 200 Alabama business leaders, elected officials, and conservative activists,” Marshall wrote.

“You honored me with the responsibility of serving as your Attorney General. I’m still that same man today. And you can count on me to take those same conservative values to D.C. and keep working alongside President Trump, this time as your United States Senator.”

Candidate qualifying for the 2026 cycle closes January 23, just four days away, and the Republican primary is May 19, now 120 days away.