Alabama’s Shelby easily beats tea party candidate in race for GOP nomination to US Senate

Shelby easily wins Ala. GOP Senate primary

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Four-term Republican Sen. Richard Shelby has emerged the lopsided favorite to win a fifth term in the fall against Democrat Bill Barnes.

Shelby and Barnes won their party primaries Tuesday, but Shelby’s longtime role in Washington and massive campaign treasury make odds long for Barnes, a Birmingham lawyer.

Barnes had about 60 percent of the vote in the unofficial count Tuesday to beat out Mobile school teacher Simone De Moore.

Shelby easily beat his primary challenger, tea party activist N.C. “Clint” Moser.

Shelby, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 as a Democrat and re-elected in 1992. He switched to the GOP in 1994 when Republicans took control of Congress and won re-election in 1998 and 2004 by 2-to-1 margins against Democrats.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Four-term Alabama Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby easily beat his primary challenger, tea party activist N.C. “Clint” Moser.

Shelby was drawing more than 80 percent of the votes in the unofficial count Tuesday evening.

Two first-time candidates, Bill Barnes of Birmingham and Simone De Moore of Mobile, are running to become the Democratic nominee. Shelby is favored over either one.

Shelby, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 as a Democrat and re-elected in 1992. He switched to the GOP in 1994 when Republicans took control of Congress and won re-election in 1998 and 2004 by 2-to-1 margins against Democrats.