Luther Strange

Luther Strange
Born	Luther Johnson Strange III 3/1/1953
Birthplace	Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	United States Senator from Alabama (2017–2018), 47th Attorney General of Alabama (2011–2017)
Education	Tulane University (BA, JD)
Spouse(s)	Melissa Strange
Children	2
Awards	Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

Luther Johnson Strange III (born March 1, 1953) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Alabama from February 2017 to January 2018. Appointed to fill the vacancy left by Jeff Sessions upon Sessions's confirmation as United States Attorney General, Strange's brief tenure in the Senate became one of the more unusual chapters in recent Alabama political history — marked by a controversial appointment, a high-profile endorsement from President Donald Trump, and an ultimate defeat in the Republican primary runoff. Before his time in the Senate, Strange served as the 47th Attorney General of Alabama from 2011 to 2017, a period during which he pursued numerous lawsuits against the federal government and became one of the state's most prominent Republican officeholders. Standing six feet nine inches tall, Strange earned the nickname "Big Luther" throughout his political career and was a recognizable figure in Alabama politics for over a decade. His career has spanned roles in private legal practice, lobbying, and public service, and he has remained active in political circles following his departure from the Senate.

Early Life

Luther Johnson Strange III was born on March 1, 1953, in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood, Alabama, where he attended local schools and was active in outdoor and community activities. During his seventh-grade year, while biking with friends in Homewood, Strange was involved in a serious accident in which he was thrown from his bicycle, resulting in injuries that required emergency surgery at Children's Hospital at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The experience left a lasting impression on Strange, who has spoken publicly about the care he received at UAB and the impact it had on his life.

Strange was involved in the Boy Scouts of America during his youth, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He was later recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, an honor bestowed upon Eagle Scouts who have distinguished themselves in their careers and community service.

Strange's imposing height of six feet nine inches made him a notable physical presence from an early age. He played basketball during his school years, and his stature would later contribute to his widely used political nickname, "Big Luther," a moniker that followed him throughout his career in Alabama politics.

Education

Strange attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he earned both his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctor (JD). At Tulane, Strange was a member of the university's basketball team, taking advantage of his considerable height. After completing his legal education, Strange was admitted to the Alabama State Bar and began his career in the legal profession.

Career

Early Legal and Lobbying Career

After graduating from Tulane University, Strange entered private legal practice in Alabama. He worked as a lawyer and also became involved in lobbying activities. Records indicated that Strange had lobbied on behalf of various clients, including corporate interests, before entering the political arena. His background in corporate law and lobbying would later become a point of discussion during his political campaigns, with opponents characterizing him as closely aligned with business interests.

2006 Lieutenant Governor Race

Strange's first bid for public office came in 2006, when he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama as a Republican. In the Republican primary, Strange defeated George Wallace Jr., the son of former Alabama Governor George Wallace. However, Strange lost the general election to Democratic candidate Jim Folsom Jr., the son of another former Alabama governor, Jim Folsom. The race demonstrated Strange's ability to compete in Republican primary elections while also highlighting the challenges of winning statewide office in Alabama at a time when Democrats still held competitive strength in certain statewide races.

Attorney General of Alabama (2011–2017)

In 2010, Strange ran for Attorney General of Alabama and defeated the incumbent Republican Attorney General Troy King in the primary election. Strange then won the general election against Democratic nominee James Anderson, taking office on January 17, 2011. He was reelected in 2014, running unopposed in the Republican primary and winning the general election.

Federal Lawsuits and State Actions

As Attorney General, Strange became known for pursuing multiple legal actions against the federal government, particularly during the administration of President Barack Obama. In 2012, Strange joined with the Attorney General of Louisiana in filing a lawsuit against the federal government over issues related to offshore drilling regulations in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

In 2014, Strange led a coalition of six states in challenging a California law regarding egg production standards, arguing that the law unfairly burdened egg producers in other states. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by a federal judge, who ruled that the plaintiff states lacked standing to bring the challenge.

In 2016, Strange filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration over federal regulations, continuing his pattern of using the Attorney General's office to challenge federal policy through the courts.

Investigation of Governor Bentley

One of the most consequential actions during Strange's tenure as Attorney General involved the investigation of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. In November 2016, Strange announced that his office was investigating Bentley over allegations related to the governor's personal conduct and potential misuse of state resources. The investigation created an inherently complex political dynamic, as Bentley was the same governor who would later have the authority to appoint a replacement for Jeff Sessions's Senate seat. The timing and circumstances of the investigation became a significant point of controversy in Strange's subsequent political career.

Appointment to the United States Senate

On February 9, 2017, following the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as United States Attorney General, Governor Robert Bentley appointed Strange to fill the resulting vacancy in the United States Senate. Strange was sworn in on the same day, becoming Alabama's junior senator.

The appointment immediately generated controversy. Critics noted that Strange, as Attorney General, had been overseeing an investigation into Governor Bentley at the time of his appointment. Some observers suggested that the appointment may have been connected to the investigation, raising questions about a potential quid pro quo arrangement. Both Strange and Bentley denied that the appointment was linked to the investigation. Strange told reporters at a joint press conference with Bentley that there was "absolutely no prior conversation, prior prior understanding, prior prior prior deal" related to the appointment and the investigation.

The controversy surrounding the appointment attracted national media attention and became a central issue during the subsequent special election campaign. As The New York Times reported, the circumstances under which Strange obtained his Senate seat may have contributed to his difficulty in retaining it, with voters expressing skepticism about the nature of the arrangement between Strange and Bentley.

The appointment also raised questions about the future of the investigation into Bentley. Strange's successor as Attorney General, Steve Marshall, was appointed by Bentley to fill the vacancy created by Strange's departure to the Senate, further complicating the political dynamics.

Senate Tenure

During his brief time in the Senate, Strange aligned himself closely with the Republican majority and with President Donald Trump. He supported conservative positions on issues including gun rights, and his appointment was noted favorably by organizations such as the National Rifle Association.

Strange served in the Senate from February 9, 2017, until January 3, 2018, a tenure of less than eleven months. During this period, he participated in votes on major legislation and nominations brought before the Republican-controlled Senate. His predecessor, Jeff Sessions, had held the seat since 1997, and Strange was widely seen as a placeholder who would need to win the special election to retain the position.

2017 Special Election

A special election was called to fill the remainder of Jeff Sessions's Senate term, with a Republican primary scheduled for August 2017 and a primary runoff in September. Strange entered the race as the appointed incumbent, and he received a significant political endorsement when President Donald Trump publicly backed his candidacy. Trump tweeted about Strange multiple times and traveled to Alabama to campaign on his behalf, making the race a test of the president's influence within the Republican Party.

Despite Trump's endorsement and campaigning, Strange faced a formidable challenge from former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who positioned himself as an anti-establishment candidate. The primary field also included Representative Mo Brooks and other candidates. Strange advanced to the runoff against Moore but ultimately lost the September 26, 2017, runoff election.

Following Strange's defeat, President Trump deleted several tweets in which he had endorsed Strange, an action that attracted attention and raised legal questions regarding the preservation of presidential records. NPR reported that the deletion of tweets by a sitting president raised issues under the Presidential Records Act, which requires the preservation of official communications.

The New York Times analyzed Strange's loss and concluded that the circumstances of his appointment by Bentley had significantly undermined his candidacy. The cloud of suspicion surrounding the appointment, combined with anti-establishment sentiment among Alabama Republican voters, proved insurmountable despite the president's support.

Roy Moore went on to win the Republican nomination but lost the December 12, 2017, general election to Democratic candidate Doug Jones, a former United States Attorney. Jones became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Alabama in twenty-five years, succeeding Strange when he took office on January 3, 2018.

Post-Senate Career

Following his departure from the Senate, Strange did not immediately return to Alabama politics. In February 2018, Politico reported that Strange was "quietly plotting a return to Washington," exploring opportunities to work as a lobbyist or in other capacities that would keep him connected to the capital's political scene. The report indicated that Strange was making contacts and considering options for a post-Senate career that would leverage his experience in government and his connections in Republican politics.

Personal Life

Strange is married to Melissa Strange. The couple has two children. Strange has resided in Alabama throughout much of his adult life and has been associated with the state's legal and political communities for decades.

Strange has spoken publicly about the impact that his childhood bicycle accident and subsequent emergency surgery at UAB Children's Hospital had on his life. In a 2024 feature by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Strange described his experience as a young patient and expressed gratitude for the medical care he received, characterizing the experience as formative.

An Eagle Scout, Strange has maintained involvement with the Boy Scouts of America and has been recognized with the organization's Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, which honors Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated distinguished service in their professional lives and communities.

Strange is a member of the Republican Party and has identified with conservative political positions throughout his career. His imposing physical stature — at six feet nine inches, he is among the tallest individuals to have served in the United States Senate — has been a frequently noted characteristic in media coverage of his career.

Recognition

Strange received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, recognizing his achievements in public service and his lifelong connection to the scouting movement.

His appointment to the United States Senate received national attention, and his endorsement by President Donald Trump during the 2017 special election was widely covered by major news organizations including CBS News, NPR, The New York Times, and others. The race between Strange and Roy Moore was framed by national media as a significant test of President Trump's ability to influence Republican primary elections, and Strange's loss was interpreted as an early indicator of the limits of presidential endorsements in intraparty contests.

During his time as Attorney General, Strange gained attention for his involvement in multi-state legal actions and for his office's investigation of Governor Robert Bentley. The Bentley investigation, while politically fraught, demonstrated the capacity of the Attorney General's office to pursue accountability at the highest levels of state government, though the entanglement of the investigation with Strange's subsequent Senate appointment complicated public perception of both actions.

Legacy

Luther Strange's political career is most often discussed in the context of the 2017 Alabama special Senate election, which became one of the most closely watched political events of that year. His appointment to the Senate by a governor who was himself under investigation by Strange's office created a situation that drew scrutiny from across the political spectrum. The subsequent chain of events — Strange's loss to Roy Moore in the primary runoff, Moore's loss to Doug Jones in the general election — resulted in a Democrat winning a Senate seat in a deeply Republican state, an outcome with national implications for the balance of power in the United States Senate.

The 2017 special election also contributed to broader discussions about the role of presidential endorsements in primary elections. President Trump's aggressive advocacy for Strange, which included multiple campaign appearances and social media posts, failed to overcome the anti-establishment currents within the Alabama Republican electorate. Political analysts cited the race as evidence that Trump's endorsement, while influential, was not determinative in contested Republican primaries, particularly when the endorsed candidate carried political liabilities.

Strange's tenure as Attorney General, spanning more than six years, represented a significant period in Alabama's legal landscape. His office participated in numerous multi-state lawsuits that reflected broader Republican opposition to Obama-era federal policies, a trend that was replicated by attorneys general across the country during that period. His investigation of Governor Bentley, regardless of the controversy it later generated, was part of a broader accountability effort that ultimately contributed to Bentley's resignation from office in April 2017.