Former Trump official and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) staffer Morgan Murphy announced on Monday that he is leaving the U.S. Senate race and redirecting his efforts towards flipping one of Alabama’s two U.S. House seats occupied by a Democrat.
In a video message on why he’s exiting the race, Murphy deferred to his former boss, “President Trump is the leader of our party and has sacrificed more than anyone to Make America Great Again. He deserves the senator he wants in Washington, D.C.”
Murphy stressed that “Republicans don’t need to waste time or money fighting each other” as the reason he chose to bow out of the race and endorse U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) for the Senate seat.
Trump endorsed Moore in January.
Murphy vowed to help Republicans maintain their slim, four-seat margin in the House, stating, “I plan to flip a blue House seat right here in ruby-red Alabama.”
“The United States cannot afford to lose the House and spend the next two years of President Trump’s administration battling radicals on the left who care more about nursing their Trump Derangement Syndrome than they do about the country or our state,” he added.
Alabama could redraw congressional district lines again soon, depending on the timing and decision from the United States Supreme Court in Louisiana v. Callais, which is expected by early summer.
Congressional Districts 2 and 7 are held by U.S. Reps. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) and Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham). Qualifying has closed for 2026 races, but could be reopened if the Supreme Court finds “race-based” Congressional redistricting unconstitutional and opens up a path to a 7-0 Republican congressional map.
Murphy also proved he can raise money at the national level, with the largest total in the fourth quarter among all 2025 candidates at $1,105,331. The total included $350,000 in bank loans and Murphy’s personal funds. According to the Murphy campaign, he has $837,014 in cash on hand across his campaign, victory fund and Alabama Forever PAC.
Murphy is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves, which he has served for the past 26 years. He worked in both Trump terms, and in between, as Tuberville’s national security advisor and as a senior fellow for the America First Policy Institute. A Birmingham native, Murphy lives on Red Mountain and has an 11-year-old son. This is his first run for public office.
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