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Who Might Replace Sessions?

Rep. Mo Brooks is interested in potentially open Alabama Senate seat

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions is a leading contender for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet, which would open up his Senate seat. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions is a leading contender for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet, which would open up his Senate seat. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

With Sen. Jeff Sessions’ name being floated as a potential member of Donald Trump’s administration, speculation is swirling about possible successors to the Alabama Republican.

Sessions has been mentioned as a possible pick for attorney general, Defense secretary or Homeland Security Department secretary. If he takes one of the posts, Alabama’s GOP Gov. Robert Bentley would appoint his replacement.

In a column for the Alabama Media Group, Cameron Smith, state programs director for Washington think tank R Street Institute, offered a few names: Rep. Martha Roby, state Attorney General Luther Strange and state Sens. Trip Pittman and Cam Ward.

Rep. Mo Brooks told AL.com that he would ask Bentley to consider him for the seat if Sessions leaves the Senate and doesn’t have a preference for his replacement.

Like Sessions, Brooks is known for his inflammatory rhetoric on immigration. In 2014, when federal officials were considering housing undocumented migrant children in Alabama, Brooks said immigrants see the U.S. as “their sugar daddy” because of government handouts from President Barack Obama.

Roby came under criticism for denouncing Trump toward the end of the campaign after the release of the 2005 “Access Hollywood” recording, in which Trump bragged about groping and kissing women. She called on him to step aside and said she would not be voting for him. 

She won re-election last week by a closer-than-expected 9 points, sparking speculation about a serious primary challenge in 2018.

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