Jessica Taylor drops out of Alabama Senate race

Businesswoman Jessica Taylor has dropped out of the Alabama Senate race, throwing her support behind fellow Republican candidate Mike Durant.

“After meeting Mike, I quickly realized he is an outsider with an inspiring life story and has the best shot at beating the establishment careerists,” Taylor wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. “We don’t need another career politician in Washington. We need a pro-Trump conservative with the guts to take on the establishment.”

“That’s why I’m asking y’all to vote for Mike Durant for U.S. Senate. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who supported our efforts. Now let’s go win this for Mike! #alpolitics #ussenate,” she added. 

After meeting Mike, I quickly realized he is an outsider with an inspiring life story and has the best shot at beating the establishment careerists. We don’t need another career politician in Washington. We need a pro-Trump conservative with the guts to take on the establishment. https://t.co/Qz111PISZL

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylorAL) January 4, 2022

Taylor, who owns a grant-writing business, finished third in the GOP primary in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in 2020, missing out on a potential runoff race.

Durant, who owns a Huntsville, Ala.-based aerospace company and is best known as the helicopter pilot who was shot down and held prisoner in the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” incident in Somalia, thanked Taylor for her support. 

“I am excited to accept the endorsement of @JessicaTaylorAL! I’d like to thank Jessica for all that she has done for conservatives in Alabama and for her support of our growing campaign,” Durant said in a tweet. 

I am excited to accept the endorsement of @JessicaTaylorAL! I’d like to thank Jessica for all that she has done for conservatives in Alabama and for her support of our growing campaign. #ALSen #ALPolitics pic.twitter.com/XmjDfufkzP

— Mike Durant (@MikeDurantAL) January 4, 2022

Durant, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and former Business Council of Alabama President Katie Boyd Britt, are vying to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby’s (R-Ala.) in the Senate, The Associated Press reported. 

Shelby announced last year that he will not seek reelection in 2022. 

The GOP primary for Shelby’s seat is set to take place on May 24, the AP noted.