Senate hopeful Barry Moore files federal complaint, reports posts on military service

Rep. Barry Moore has taken his battle to the Federal Election Commission, filing a formal complaint against a cluster of social media accounts that have targeted his campaign and scrutinized his military record.

The complaint arrives during the final, high-stakes stretch of the Republican runoff for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat. Moore is currently squaring off against Jared Hudson to secure the party nomination.

Military Service Under the Microscope

The records of both candidates have become a focal point of the race. Moore served in the Alabama National Guard and the Reserves, while Hudson’s background includes service as a Navy SEAL.

Moore’s campaign alleges that various social media influencers and accounts engaged in coordinated attacks against him to boost Hudson’s profile. The filing argues that these efforts failed to include mandatory disclaimers required for paid political advertising, with some of the cited posts dating back to 2025.

The campaign explicitly stated that its goal is to ensure all parties adhere to federal election regulations.

Escalating Tensions

One specific account mentioned, @CollinRugg, drew fire for a June 6 post that highlighted allegations suggesting Moore may have inflated his military service record. When contacted by 205focus.com, Rugg did not provide an immediate response.

The Hudson campaign declined to directly address questions from 205focus.com regarding whether it had coordinated the social media content. Hudson spokesman Jake Rasmussen pushed back, stating, "Barry Moore, who has had millions in dark money funded by AI and cryptocurrency from outside Alabama spent on His behalf, is the highest hypocrite to file a complaint meant to intimidate and silence Hudson’s supporters."

Earlier this week, Moore dismissed the challenges to his service history as a "garbage swamp tactic," framing the scrutiny as an insult to all National Guard members.

Campaign Moves and Media Fallout

Beyond the FEC filing, the Moore campaign has aggressively targeted advertisements funded by Alabama Conservatives, a PAC backing Hudson. These takedown requests have already seen results; at least one station, WVTM, has pulled the advertisement in question.

With the primary runoff scheduled for June 16, both camps are entering the final sprint.

This story has been updated to clarify the content of the FEC complaint.