Veterans respond: Moore, Hudson military records in crosshairs in final ugly days of US Senate race

As the Alabama GOP U.S. Senate race heads into its final, contentious days before the June 16 runoff, a heated debate over military records has taken center stage. Candidates Barry Moore and Jared Hudson are facing scrutiny not just on their policy platforms, but on the validity of their claims to the title of veteran.

Service Records Under Scrutiny

The controversy centers on the military histories of both candidates. Moore served in the Alabama National Guard and the Reserves, eventually receiving an honorable discharge after fulfilling his contract. Hudson’s background includes service as a Navy SEAL. While Moore has asserted, “I’m proud of my service,” critics supportive of Hudson have spent weeks analyzing Moore’s records, questioning whether his service merits the veteran designation.

Stuart Hartley, an Army veteran who supports Hudson, challenged the nature of Moore’s time in uniform, while former JAG officer and U.S. Attorney Jay Town—a Moore supporter—dismissed the criticism as “absurd,” arguing that veterans should not quantify their service against one another. 205focus.com notes that Moore addressed the issue in a video posted to X, stating, “I was never in combat and I never claimed to be.”

The Battle of Narratives

The tension has escalated into legal and campaign skirmishes. Moore’s team issued a cease-and-desist demand to AL.com regarding reports on the issue, and successfully pushed for the removal of a television ad from station WVTM that accused the congressman of “stolen valor.” Meanwhile, Hudson has criticized his opponent’s lack of transparency, suggesting that Moore is leveraging the status of service members for political gain.

The discourse has drawn in national figures as well. President Donald Trump, in a recent tele-rally, reaffirmed his endorsement of Moore and referred to him as a “proud veteran.” Conversely, experts like Doug Sterner, a Vietnam veteran and co-author of the federal Stolen Valor Act, warn that this kind of internal infighting is a recurring challenge during election seasons.

Final Stretch to the Runoff

With the June 16 primary runoff approaching, voters like Birmingham-based Army veteran Jayson Jarrett continue to seek clarity on the candidates' service backgrounds. As the campaigns look toward the general election in November, they will face winners from the Democratic side, with candidates Dakarai Larriett and Everett Wess remaining in the hunt.