2020 Election

Alabama Delays Senate Runoff Race Between Sessions And Tuberville

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey postponed the election until July 14, saying in a statement, "the safety and wellbeing of Alabama citizens is paramount."

Alabama Delays Senate Runoff Race Between Sessions And Tuberville
Vasha Hunt / AP
SMS

Alabama's GOP Senate runoff race has been pushed back until this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak. 

The runoff between former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville was originally scheduled to take place March 31. 

But on Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey postponed the election until July 14, saying in a statement, "the safety and wellbeing of Alabama citizens is paramount."

She continued, "Maintaining a 6-foot distance between one another is paramount. This guidance alone would be making an election day a hotbed for spreading the virus."

At least 150 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S. and more than 9,400 Americans are infected. More than 100 people have recovered. 

Both Tuberville and Sessions are Republican. Whoever wins the July runoff race will face U.S. Sen. Doug Jones — a Democrat — in the November general election.