The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Attorney General Steve Marhsall
July 22, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - As the race for the United States Senate begins to take shape, newly released polling data has placed Steve Marshall firmly in the spotlight, positioning him as the early frontrunner in the early field of contenders. With voters across the state beginning to pay closer attention to the upcoming election, Marshall's campaign appears to be resonating with a broad coalition, at least in these initial stages. Political analysts caution that early leads are just that-early-but the current numbers are undeniably encouraging for Marshall and his supporters.
The Polling Results: A Strong Start for Marshall
According to the latest poll conducted by the reputable opinion research firm McLaughlin and Associates, Steve Marshall commands a significant share of support among likely Republican primary voters.
Marshall, currently serving as the state's Attorney General, garnered support from 35% of respondents when asked whom they would support if the election were held today. His nearest competitor, U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-AL01), trailed with just 12% support, followed by former Navy SEAL and businessman Jared Hudson at 9%.
The poll, conducted from July 14 to July 17, surveyed over 600 likely Republican primary voters statewide, employing a multi-modal approach was employed via live telephone calls and self-administered text messages. Interview selection was random, and interviews were stratified by area, race/ethnicity, age, gender, and vote history to correlate with actual voter turnout from previous even-year primary elections. This poll has an accuracy of +/- 4.0% at a 95% confidence interval.
Marshall's Appeal: Experience and Name Recognition
Observers note that Marshall's early lead is likely due in part to his strong name recognition and record as Attorney General. Over the past several years, he has been at the forefront of several high-profile legal battles with the Biden Administration as well as robust support for Trump's policy initiatives, often making headlines on issues such as public safety, opioid abuse, and consumer protection. This visibility has served him well in developing his name recognition.
Marshall had 82% name recognition with 47% having a favorable opinion versus just 27% unfavorable. Moore had just 56% name recognition with 23% of survey respondents having a favorable impression and 9% unfavorable. Hudson on the other hand had just 39% name recognition. 15% had a favorable impression of Hudson and 2% a negative view.
Campaign Strategies and Early Messaging
Marshall's campaign has leaned into his record as Attorney General, featuring testimonials from law enforcement officials and crime victims in recent advertisements. His first major campaign event-a town hall in the state capital-drew a sizable crowd and received significant local media coverage.
In a statement to supporters, Marshall emphasized his commitment to public safety and economic growth: "I am running for Senate to be a voice for hardworking families across our state, to protect our communities, and to ensure that our economy works for everyone. I am humbled by the early support and energized to continue meeting with voters in every corner of the state."
Meanwhile, his opponents have begun ramping up their own campaigns, with Moore set to make a major public announcement on August 15 in Sylvania, AL.
The growing Republican field suggests that the coming months will see an increasingly robust debate over the direction of the state and the nation.
Challenges Ahead: The Race Is Far from Over
Despite the positive polling numbers, Marshall's campaign is not without challenges. Political analysts point to the volatility of early polls, noting that public opinion can shift rapidly as new issues emerge, debates are held, and opponents ramp up their campaigns. Marshall himself has acknowledged the need to maintain momentum, telling reporters, "This is a marathon, not a sprint. We're honored by the early support, but we know there's a lot of work ahead."
Campaign Finance: Fundraising and Resources
Fundraising figures released at the end of June show that Marshall has raised $391,318 from individual contributions. He also raised $15,000 from three PACs. Marshall reports $23,364 in total spending, with $13,364 going towards his campaign's operating expenses. Marshall's campaign emphasized that 87% of his donations came from Alabamians. Marshall reports having $382,954 cash on hand at the end of June.
Jared Hudson raised $209,721.97 in June for his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign. Hudson only spent $8,596.23 leaving his with $201,125.74 in cash on hand.
Barry Moore as the U.S. House Incumbent in congressional district one had the advantage of already having a federal campaign account he has been building up for 18 months; but he reported raising just $135,884.96 in the most recent quarter and spending $78,718.04 . Moore ended the quarter with just $182,298.58 cash on hand.
Conclusion: A Promising Start, But Challenges Remain
In summary, the new poll numbers offer Steve Marshall a strong foundation as he seeks to secure his party's nomination and, ultimately, a seat in the U.S. Senate. While Marshall has the early lead the poll shows that 44 percent of the voters surveyed answered that they are still undecided – more than any candidate.
The coming months promise spirited debate and a heated campaign to win over those undecided voters.
For now, though, the numbers are clear: Steve Marshall has established himself as the early favorite in the Senate race. Whether he can translate this early momentum into lasting success remains to be seen-and voters across the state will be watching every step of the way.
The Republican primary is on May 19, 2026.
(A.I. contributed to this report.)
To ask a question or comment you can contact the writer at brandonmreporter@gmail.com
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