Luther Strange

Strange during his ceremonial swearing in by Vice President Mike Pence

Strange revealed his intention to seek the Senate seat to Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard on November 22, 2016, regardless of whether he was appointed by Bentley, calling a run "the right thing for me to do."[20] Strange filed paperwork for the potential special election one week later and made a public announcement of his candidacy on December 6. "The voters will make the ultimate decision about who will represent them, and I look forward to making my case to the people of Alabama in the months to come as to why they can trust me to keep protecting and fighting for our conservative values."[21] In January, the new Strange for Senate federal campaign committee reported raising more than $309,000 in the few weeks leading to the December 31 filing deadline.[22]

Bentley began interviewing candidates for the Senate appointment in mid-December.[23][24] On December 22, the Montgomery Advertiser reported a complete list of Alabamians who had been interviewed over a two-week period for the Senate seat (based on information released by the Governor's office). They included: Chief Justice Roy Moore, Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), and the following state legislators and justices: Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh (R-Anniston), Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster), Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile), Senator Trip Pittman (R-Montrose), Alabama House Ways and Means Education Chairman and Representative Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), Associate Justice Glenn Murdock, Representative Connie Rowe (R-Jasper), former Representative Perry Hooper of Montgomery (also Trump 2016 Chair in Alabama).[25]

Strange was not interviewed until the following week, along with U.S. Representative Martha Roby, Representative Gary Palmer, Tim James (son of former Governor Fob James), state Senator Greg Reed (R-Jasper), and state Senator Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City).[26] Three additional persons interviewed before January 6 were Representative Robert Aderholt, Revenue Commissioner Julie P. Magee, and Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard. The total number of interviews was 20 (which represented the limit the Governor would go).[27]

In January 2017, Governor Bentley announced the special election for the remainder of Sessions' term would not take place until 2018, giving the prospective new appointee a year of incumbency;[27] the election was ultimately held in December 2017. On February 2, Governor Bentley named six finalists for the appointment. The list included U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, Senate President pro tempore Del Marsh, Attorney General Strange; Bentley ACEA appointee Jim Byard, state Representative Connie Rowe, and former state Representative Perry Hooper Jr.[28]

Following the Sessions confirmation on February 8, 2017, Bentley announced Strange's appointment on February 9. "Let me tell you why I chose Luther Strange," Bentley said. "I truly believe Luther has the qualifications and has the qualities that will serve our people well and serve this state well." Speaking with his wife Melissa by his side, Strange called the appointment "the honor of my life," while citing his efforts with other Republican attorneys general to stop environmental, educational and labor regulations put forward by former President Barack Obama's administration. "Now we have the chance to go on the offense," he said. "Jeff Sessions as attorney general is the first step in that process."[29]

Strange's appointment was welcomed by fellow Republicans, such as Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge,[30] and Karl Rove.[31] Conservative activists, such as Chris W. Cox of the NRA, also hailed the appointment.[32] NPR Southern political analyst Debbie Elliott said that Strange's conservative politics are "very much in the mold of Jeff Sessions." She noted that as state attorney general: "He's been very active in state-led fights against federal environmental regulations, against Obamacare, against transgender bathroom directives. He's fought for Alabama's strict abortion laws. He defended the state's controversial immigration law. A good bit of it was struck down by federal courts."[33]

There was negative reaction from other Republicans who expressed concern about Strange's appointment. In early November 2016, prior to Election Day, he had requested that impeachment proceedings against Bentley be delayed.[34] Some saw a link between this and Strange's appointment. "There's going to be such an air of conspiracy hanging over our state and our new senator," said state representative Ed Henry.[35] "It's just one of those things where it appears there could have been collusion," said state representative Allen Farley.[35] "The whole thing stinks," said State Auditor Jim Zeigler. "It is outrageous. We have the potential for Gov. Blagojevich situation."[36]

This interpretation was disputed by Mike Jones Jr., House Judiciary Committee Chairman, who said he believes the appointment was done in good faith. Jones noted that the hearings were stopped before the election and before the senate seat was available. "I made it clear in November when we were asked to pause that did not mean this would not finish, that there would come a time when we would conclude this investigation and we would have a hearing. I still say that."[37] Jones and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said February 9 they would wait for word from the attorney general's office before resuming the committee's work. McCutcheon said he wanted the process to play out.[38]

Strange was quoted on February 9, 2017, as saying, "We have never said and I want to make this clear. We have never said in our office that we are investigating the governor. I think it's unfair to him and unfair to the process that it's been reported out there.[39] We have six years of a record of the highest caliber of conduct of people in our Attorney General's office. That's why we don't comment on these things and why I don't plan to comment on that anymore."[38] Governor Bentley later resigned after being indicted on criminal charges.

In 2017, Strange was one of 22 senators to sign a letter[40] to President Donald Trump urging the President to have the United States withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

• United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Nutrition, Agricultural Research and Specialty Crops (Chair)
• United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
  • Subcommittee on Seapower
• United States Senate Committee on the Budget
• United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining
  • Subcommittee on Water and Power

Source:[41]

Strange finished second to former Alabama Supreme Court judge Roy Moore, 38.87% to 32.83%, in the Republican primary on August 15, 2017.[42] In the run-off on September 26, 2017, Moore again defeated Strange, 54.89% to 45.11%.[43] Moore went on to lose the December 12 general election to Democratic nominee Doug Jones.

Strange was supportive of President Donald Trump, saying that he wants "his agenda passed" and that he "couldn't be more honored" to be given Trump's endorsement.[44] During Strange's tenure in the U.S. Senate, Strange voted in line with Donald Trump's stated position 91.1% of the time.[45]

Strange has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund for his opposition towards banning firearms and magazines and his consistent rejection of gun control efforts by the Democratic Party. Chris W. Cox describes Strange as being a "champion for gun owners in Alabama and across the country."[46]