Luther "Big Luther" Johnson Strange III (born March 1, 1953) is an American attorney and Republican politician known for his service as Alabama's 49th attorney general and for a brief tenure in the U.S. Senate. His career blends private legal practice, state-level public service and a short term in national office following an appointment to fill a Senate vacancy.
Overview and public roles
Strange served as Attorney General of Alabama from 2011 until 2017, leading the state's legal division, representing Alabama in litigation, and supervising consumer protection and criminal appeals work. In 2017 he was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy created when Jeff Sessions joined the presidential administration. He subsequently contested the special election for the seat but did not win his party's nomination. He left the Senate when the elected successor assumed office.
Background and career
By training an attorney, Strange spent years in private legal practice and participated in state government matters before becoming attorney general. As Alabama's top lawyer, he managed legal actions on behalf of the state and worked on issues ranging from consumer and environmental matters to criminal justice and regulatory enforcement. His public profile grew through that work and through engagement with multistate legal coalitions on matters of federal policy.
Senate appointment and 2017 special election
When the state's U.S. Senate seat became vacant in 2017, the governor appointed Strange to serve temporarily in Washington. That appointment made him the junior senator from Alabama. He entered the special election to fill the remainder of the term but was defeated for his party's nomination in a competitive primary. The contest that followed drew wide attention and ultimately resulted in a different candidate winning the general election, at which point Strange's Senate service concluded.
Positions, significance and public image
Throughout his political career Strange has identified with mainstream conservative positions associated with Alabama Republicans, emphasizing law-and-order priorities, state authority in legal disputes with the federal government, and business-friendly approaches to regulation. As attorney general, he routinely represented the state's interests in multistate litigation and regulatory matters. His appointment to the Senate highlighted the influence of state executives in filling federal vacancies and underscored how interim appointments interact with subsequent special-election dynamics.
Offices held and notable facts
- Attorney General of Alabama, 2011–2017 (49th Attorney General)
- Appointed U.S. Senator from Alabama in 2017; served until the duly elected successor took office
- Known by the nickname "Big Luther" in some public references
For official biographical summaries and records, see the U.S. Senate biography, information about Alabama state government, and historical resources on the office of the Attorney General.