Luther Strange facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luther Strange
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Official portrait, 2017
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| United States Senator from Alabama |
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| In office February 9, 2017 – January 3, 2018 |
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| Appointed by | Robert Bentley |
| Preceded by | Jeff Sessions |
| Succeeded by | Doug Jones |
| 47th Attorney General of Alabama | |
| In office January 17, 2011 – February 9, 2017 |
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| Governor | Robert Bentley |
| Preceded by | Troy King |
| Succeeded by | Steve Marshall |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Luther Johnson Strange III
March 1, 1953 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Melissa Strange |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Tulane University (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Luther Johnson Strange III (born March 1, 1953) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Alabama from 2017 to 2018. He was chosen for this role after Senator Jeff Sessions became the U.S. Attorney General.
Before becoming a senator, Strange was the 47th Attorney General for the state of Alabama. He held this position from 2011 to 2017. Strange ran for public office several times, including in 2006, 2010, and 2014. In 2006, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama. He won the Republican primary but lost the main election. In 2010, he won the election to become Attorney General.
When President Donald Trump appointed Senator Jeff Sessions to a new role in 2017, Alabama's Governor Robert J. Bentley chose Strange to fill the empty Senate seat. Strange then ran in a special election to keep the seat. He made it to the Republican primary runoff but lost to former state judge Roy Moore. Later, Doug Jones won the special election and became the new senator.
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Early Life and Education
Luther Strange was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He lived in Sylacauga until he was six. Then, his family moved to Homewood.
Strange finished high school at Shades Valley High School in 1971. He earned his first college degree from Tulane University. After that, he went to Tulane University Law School. Strange became a licensed lawyer in Alabama in 1981.
Early Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Strange's first job was as a lawyer at Sonat Offshore in 1980. This company was a part of Sonat Inc., which provided natural gas. In 1985, Strange became the head of Sonat's office in Washington, D.C.. He left the company in 1994. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worked as a lobbyist in Washington. A lobbyist tries to influence government decisions for a company or group.
Before he was elected Attorney General, Strange started his own law firm called Strange LLC in Birmingham, Alabama. Before that, he was a partner at another law firm called Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
Attorney General of Alabama
As Alabama's Attorney General, Luther Strange took legal action against the federal government many times. For example, he challenged rules about how states should calculate payments from offshore oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. He also joined other states in a lawsuit against the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan. This plan aimed to reduce pollution from power plants.
Strange also supported ExxonMobil when some state attorneys general investigated the company. They were looking into whether ExxonMobil had shared enough information about climate change.
Strange was the main lawyer for the Gulf Coast states in the legal cases related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This was a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
In April 2014, Strange spoke before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case called Lane v. Franks. This case was about a person who reported problems within Alabama's community college system. This was Strange's first time arguing a case at the Supreme Court.
In March 2014, Strange joined a lawsuit against California's egg production rules. These rules required certain conditions for hens that lay eggs. In October 2014, a judge dismissed the lawsuit. The judge said Alabama and the other states did not have the legal right to sue on behalf of their residents.
Strange led the Republican Attorneys General Association in 2016 and 2017.
U.S. Senate Service
When Senator Jeff Sessions became the United States Attorney General, his Senate seat for Alabama became open. Governor Bentley had to choose someone to fill the spot temporarily. Many people wanted the job.
Appointment to the Senate
Strange announced in November 2016 that he wanted to run for the Senate seat. He said he would run whether or not the Governor appointed him. He officially announced his candidacy in December. He said that voters would decide who would represent them.
Governor Bentley started interviewing candidates for the Senate seat in December. Strange was interviewed later, along with other politicians. In January 2017, Governor Bentley said the special election for the seat would not happen until 2018. This would give the person he chose a year in office.
On February 2, Governor Bentley named six finalists for the appointment. Strange was one of them.
How He Was Chosen
After Jeff Sessions was confirmed as Attorney General on February 8, 2017, Governor Bentley announced Strange's appointment on February 9. Bentley said he believed Strange had the right skills to serve the people of Alabama well. Strange said the appointment was "the honor of my life." He mentioned his work with other Republican attorneys general to stop certain rules from the previous presidential administration.
Reactions to His Appointment
Many Republicans welcomed Strange's appointment. These included Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and political strategist Karl Rove. Groups like the NRA also praised the choice. Political experts noted that Strange's conservative views were similar to those of Jeff Sessions.
However, some other Republicans were concerned. They pointed out that Strange had asked for a delay in certain government proceedings involving Governor Bentley before the Senate seat became open. Some people wondered if there was a connection between these events and Strange's appointment. State Auditor Jim Zeigler said the situation "stinks."
Others disagreed, saying the appointment was made fairly. They noted that the proceedings were paused before the election and before the Senate seat was available. Strange himself said his office had never investigated the governor. He stated that his office had a strong record of good conduct.
His Time in the Senate
In 2017, Strange was one of 22 senators who signed a letter to President Donald Trump. The letter asked the President to have the United States leave the Paris Agreement. This agreement is about fighting climate change.
Senate Committees
While in the Senate, Luther Strange served on several important committees:
- United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Nutrition, Agricultural Research and Specialty Crops (Chair)
- United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
- Subcommittee on Seapower
- United States Senate Committee on the Budget
- United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy
- Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining
- Subcommittee on Water and Power
Special Election for Senate Seat
In the special election, Strange came in second during the first round of the Republican primary. He then faced former Alabama Supreme Court judge Roy Moore in a runoff election on September 26, 2017. Moore defeated Strange in this runoff. Moore then lost the main election to Democratic candidate Doug Jones on December 12.
Political Views
Support for Donald Trump
Strange supported President Donald Trump. He said he wanted Trump's plans to succeed and was honored to have Trump's support. During his time as a U.S. Senator, Strange voted in line with Donald Trump's views most of the time.
Gun Policy
Strange has a high rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund. This is because he opposes banning firearms and certain gun parts. He also consistently rejected efforts by the Democratic Party to control guns. Chris W. Cox of the NRA called Strange a "champion for gun owners."
Personal Life
Luther Strange is married to Melissa Strange. They live in Homewood, Alabama.
At 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) tall, Strange is one of the tallest U.S. Senators ever to serve. He was also among the tallest members of Congress.
Strange is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Strange owns a part of a company called Sunbelt EB-5 Regional Center, LLC. This company helps connect investors with U.S. projects that need money. The company uses a special visa program that allows people from other countries to gain permanent residency if they invest a large sum of money in an American business that creates jobs. Strange earned money for helping with a hospital expansion project in Birmingham.
Awards and Honors
In 2011, the Boy Scouts of America honored Strange with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
Images for kids
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Luther Strange's signature
See also
In Spanish: Luther Strange para niños
