Roy Moore defeats Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama Senate primary

Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Roy Moore, a twice-removed Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court, defeated Sen. Luther Strange in the Republican primary for one of Alabama's senate seats.

Moore, who was most recently removed from office last year after telling probate judges to disregard federal orders on same-sex marriage licenses, defeated Luther Strange, who took office after President Donald Trump nominated former Sen. Jeff Sessions to become Attorney General.

Strange conceded defeat around 9:30 p.m.

Trump endorsed Strange in the primary, citing the senator's support for initiatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Despite that endorsement, Trump told a crowd of rally attendees in Huntsville, Ala., last week that he would "be here campaigning like hell for" Roy Moore, if he won the Republican primary.

The Senate Leadership Fund, which backed Strange and spent millions of dollars into adds attacking his opponents, conceded defeat in a statement released at 9:10 p.m. Tuesday, AL.com reported.

"Senator Strange can hold his head high knowing that he played a critical role in cleaning up the corruption in Montgomery, confirming President Trump's choice for the Supreme Court, and strongly supporting the President's priorities on border security and repealing Obamacare," the leadership fund said. "While we were honored to have fought hard for Big Luther, Judge Roy Moore won this nomination fair and square and he has our support, as it is vital that we keep this seat in Republican hands."

Moore claimed victory in a tweet at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, writing that because of voters, "the establishment has been DEFEATED in Alabama!"