Alabama Republican Martha Roby Fends Off Challenge With Trump’s Help

  • Alabama representative survives runoff in GOP primary contest
  • Roby had rejected Trump during 2016 presidential election

Rep. Martha Roby

Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Republican Representative Martha Roby won her Alabama primary run-off election Tuesday, beating back a challenger who had criticized her rejection of President Donald Trump during the 2016 election.

Roby’s survival is a boon to the Republican establishment, which moved swiftly to back her in the wake of South Carolina Republican Representative Mark Sanford’s primary defeat last month. It’s also a sign of the president’s influence with his base -- while his rejection of Sanford may have hurt that campaign, his endorsement of Roby last month helped dispel attacks on her loyalty.