Burton Backs Moore in Alabama Senate Race

From Seth Burton, former Alabama Senate candidate

After four months on the campaign trail, I changed my mind. That's why I'm supporting Barry Moore Republican for U.S. Senate.

We are less than a week away from the Alabama Senate runoff, and I want to reiterate my support for Congressman Barry Moore to be our next United States Senator.

If you had asked me in January, when I entered the race, who I would support in a runoff between Jared Hudson and Barry Moore, I would have told you Jared Hudson without hesitation.

However, after four months of campaigning across Alabama, observing the candidates firsthand, watching how the campaigns operated, and learning more about the individuals and interests surrounding each effort, my perspective changed. I realized that the public image presented by the Hudson campaign did not match what I observed firsthand on the campaign trail.

Several observations led me to that conclusion:

1. In my observation, Jared rarely took opportunities to speak freely in unscripted settings; nearly every appearance seemed tightly controlled and scripted.

2. His speeches changed very little, regardless of the audience, setting, or how many times he had spoken to a group.

3. He often did not stay to hear other candidates speak after his own remarks, missing opportunities to engage with different perspectives and demonstrate respect for fellow candidates.

4. He declined multiple opportunities to share the stage with fellow candidates in unscripted settings, missing opportunities to help voters better understand the important differences in policy positions among the candidates.

5. When voters sought clarity on important issues, he often chose not to address their concerns directly. In my view, this did not reflect the level of accountability Alabamians deserve from those seeking to represent them.

6. Finally, the conduct of his campaign during the closing days of the runoff reinforced concerns I had developed throughout the campaign. The candidate who frequently reminded voters that he was not a politician ultimately embraced the same political tactics he often criticized.

The political attacks against Congressman Moore in the final week of the campaign only reaffirmed my decision to support him. When campaigns focus on personal attacks rather than substantive differences, confidence in our system of representative government is weakened.

The effort to make Congressman Moore's military record a central issue in the final days of the campaign—despite the underlying information having been publicly available for years—struck me as a distraction from the issues Alabama voters most need to hear discussed. Candidates seeking the trust of the people should strive to elevate the conversation rather than deepen division.

Taken together, these experiences convinced me that, when compared to Congressman Moore, Jared Hudson has not demonstrated the depth of experience, independence, or command of the issues that are necessary to earn my vote in this runoff to represent Alabama in the United States Senate. The highly controlled nature of his campaign did not give me confidence that he would consistently exercise the level of knowledge, experience, and independence I believe Alabama voters should expect from their Senator.

No candidate is perfect, and Congressman Moore is no exception. But after four months on the campaign trail, I have a clear understanding of where he stands on the issues and confidence in how he will govern and vote. I have far greater confidence in Congressman Moore's record, judgment, and independence than I do in Jared Hudson's.

Next week, Alabama voters will make their choice. Regardless of the outcome, I will support our future Senator because the challenges facing our state and nation are too important for us to remain divided.

I encourage you to join me in supporting Congressman Barry Moore for United States Senate.

- Seth Burton

Person, Citizen, Sailor and Former Candidate for U.S. Senate

The above was originally published on Facebook, and is reprinted here by permission.

Seth Burton is a Huntsville native, retired U.S. Navy nuclear submarine captain, and former Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. He spent more than 30 years in the Navy, including service as a two-time submarine commander, where he led national security missions and managed complex nuclear-powered operations. Burton grew up in North Alabama along the Tennessee River and in his Senate campaign described himself as a political outsider focused on accountability, individual liberty, border security, and limited government. 

Use of Burton’s military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of War.