Navy vet and food journalist joins heated race for former boss’ Senate seat

U.S. Navy Captain, national security official, and cookbook author Morgan Murphy announced a run for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat on Monday, joining a crowded GOP field of candidates to succeed his former boss, Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Murphy, a Republican, stated in his announcement that if elected, he will “continue the MAGA agenda.” His entry into the race comes as several other candidates are jumping to succeed Tuberville, who in May announced he would run for governor of Alabama instead of seeking reelection to the Senate.

“Our foreign enemies couldn’t defeat American power on the battlefield, so they tried to destroy America’s liberties from within,” Murphy said in his announcement. “The radical left gutted our military, they mocked prayer, they flooded our country with illegals, they declared war on the American family, infiltrated our media and cancelled free speech, warped higher education, and pushed radical ideologies on our children.”

Murphy mentioned Charlie Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination in his announcement, displaying an image of the slain Turning Point USA founder and stating that “it’s now more dangerous than ever for men of courage and integrity to stand up.”

“President [Donald] Trump is draining the swamp and has the woke mob on the run,” Murphy added. “We need a leader with the fight and the courage to make the American values of duty, honor, and country great again.”

While serving as Tuberville’s national security advisor, Murphy was the central figure behind the senator’s 2023 holds on military promotions in protest of the Biden-era Pentagon’s policy to use taxpayer money to fund abortions for service members — in defiance of the longstanding Hyde Amendment. Murphy also served as the press secretary to the Secretary of Defense during Trump’s first administration.

Murphy previously worked as a food critic for multiple publications, including Forbes and Southern Living. He is the author of multiple cookbooks focusing on Southern cuisine. The candidate also founded a social networking website for classic car enthusiasts.

Third-term Republican Alabama Rep. Barry Moore announced his candidacy for Tuberville’s seat in early August. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced his bid in late May. Also running in the primary to succeed Tuberville is former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, who has received the endorsement of women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines.

Murphy’s campaign did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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