For two decades, Jeff Sessions has represented Alabama in the United Senate Senate. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump chose Sessions to be Attorney General, and a special election is being called to fill his vacant seat.

Both parties held their primaries on August 15. Doug Jones won the Democratic primary outright, so a runoff is unnecessary. The Republican contest is going to a September 26 runoff. Former Chief Justice Roy Moore (who is considered the favorite of evangelical conservatives) finished first with 39% of the vote.  He faces appointed senator Luther Strange (who is being supported by both President Trump and the U.S. Senate leadership), who received 33% of the primary vote, while the remaining eight “also rans” received 28% of the vote.

The poll can be viewed here, and there are three main takeaways: (1) former Chief Justice Roy Moore surges into an early runoff lead due to support from a substantial number of those who supported one of the eight “also rans” in the August 15 primary, (2) evangelical support is fueling Moore’s initial runoff lead, and (3) both President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s endorsements are not helping Senator Strange.