Former State Representative Barry Moore endorsed President Trump but didn't vote for him in 2016

Montgomery, Ala. - Former State Representative Barry Moore may have been the first elected official in Alabama to publicly endorse Donald Trump for president, but he didn’t vote for him - or any candidate in the 2016 primary election. Caroline Beck of Alabama Daily News (ADN), citing public voting records, reported on Monday that Moore, now a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Alabama’s second congressional district, did not vote in the presidential primary.

This news comes as Moore’s campaign messaging appears to focus almost entirely on his support of President Trump. The Club for Growth showed their support for his candidacy last week by placing more than $167,000.00 of television and digital advertising, touting Moore’s support of Trump in 2016.

When asked about his failure to vote, Moore told ADN that he didn’t realize he missed voting in the primary. “I honestly thought I had voted that day because I am a regular voter,” Moore said in a statement, “And I had some skin in the game for sure. After looking back in my social media and journals, I realize that the Alabama Legislature was in session that day. As a member of the Legislature, I was in Montgomery. I’m sure I thought I would be able to leave Montgomery in time to get back and vote. I was wrong. Records show that the session went long. I know now that I made the decision to stay in Montgomery and do my job for the people of District 91.”

Moore was arrested in early 2014 on charges of felony perjury and providing false statements in connection to the state ethics investigation that later led to the conviction of former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Moore was later found not guilty on all charges. 

Moore is running against Wiregrass area businessman, Jeff Coleman, chairman of Coleman Worldwide Moving. Both candidates have a host of endorsements:

Moore has been endorsed by Super PAC Club for Growth, Super PAC House Freedom Fund, Congressman Andy Biggs from Arizona, Congressman Jim Jordan from Ohio, Eagle Forum from Alabama, and America’s Workers Coalition.

Coleman has received endorsements from the Alabama Realtors, Alabama Retailers, Alabama Home Builders, Alabama’s Farmers Federation, Business Council of Alabama, The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, and the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Both men tout conservative policies. The winner of the Republican Primary runoff will face Democratic challenger Phyllis Harvey-Hall in the general election on November 3, 2020.