Editing Michael Durant (section)

===2022 U.S. Senate candidacy===
In September 2021, media speculation arose regarding a possible run for U.S. Senate by Durant.<ref name="YHN" /> He officially launched a campaign for the office on October 19, 2021, running to replace retiring incumbent senator [[Richard Shelby]] in [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama|2022]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whnt.com/news/mike-durant-businessman-and-black-hawk-down-veteran-enters-alabama-senate-race/|title=Mike Durant, businessman and 'Black Hawk Down' veteran, enters Alabama Senate race|last=Sanders|first=Jeff|work=WHNT|date=October 19, 2021|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=May 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526065904/https://whnt.com/news/mike-durant-businessman-and-black-hawk-down-veteran-enters-alabama-senate-race/|url-status=live}}</ref> A late entry to the race, Durant positioned himself as a political outsider and supporter of former president [[Donald Trump]], outlining an "Alabama First" campaign tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2022/01/04/durant-begins-alabama-first-campaign-tour/|title=Durant begins "Alabama First" campaign tour|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=January 4, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118093413/https://www.alreporter.com/2022/01/04/durant-begins-alabama-first-campaign-tour/|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant was supported by the More Perfect Union [[political action committee]], which supports the formation of a caucus of centrist senators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/new-pac-heavily-invested-in-alabama-to-support-mike-durants-u-s-senate-candidacy/|title=New PAC heavily invested in Alabama to support Mike Durant's U.S. Senate candidacy|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=January 18, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411180452/https://yellowhammernews.com/new-pac-heavily-invested-in-alabama-to-support-mike-durants-u-s-senate-candidacy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By March 2022, Durant began to lead in polls against the two major opposing candidates in the Republican primary, Shelby's former Chief of Staff [[Katie Britt]] and Representative [[Mo Brooks]]. Durant's lead expanded after Brooks was un-endorsed by Trump.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-senate-race-mike-durant-surges-to-double-digit-lead-poll-says.html|title=Alabama Senate race: Mike Durant surges to double-digit lead, poll says|last=Gattis|first=Paul|work=AL.com|date=March 30, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331051724/https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-senate-race-mike-durant-surges-to-double-digit-lead-poll-says.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, Durant expressed in interviews that he believed President [[Joe Biden]] was "not rightfully elected" in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] and that he would not have voted to certify the election results, as well as support for removing Biden from office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/exclusive-ala-senate-candidates-on-election-security-and-whether-2020-was-stolen/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Ala. Senate candidates on election security and whether 2020 was 'stolen'|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=March 29, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329211643/https://yellowhammernews.com/exclusive-ala-senate-candidates-on-election-security-and-whether-2020-was-stolen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2022, the [[Alabama Republican Party]] proposed a series of televised debates between Durant, Britt and Brooks. Durant's campaign did not agree to participate in these debates, and declined to comment when asked about the debates. Britt, Brooks, and other political analysts such as [[Quin Hillyer]] and [[Steve Flowers]] criticized Durant for an apparent refusal to debate. Brooks said that Durant "has the public policy chops of a snail," while Britt questioned if Durant had "something to hide."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/katie-britt-mo-brooks-agree-to-senate-debate-urge-mike-durant-to-participate.html|title=Katie Britt, Mo Brooks agree to Senate debate, urge Mike Durant to participate|work=AL.com|last=Gattis|first=Paul|date=April 13, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420170528/https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/katie-britt-mo-brooks-agree-to-senate-debate-urge-mike-durant-to-participate.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/mike-durant-silent-on-why-he-wont-debate-alabama-senate-rivals.html|title=Mike Durant silent on why he won't debate Alabama Senate rivals|work=AL.com|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|date=April 19, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419224626/https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/mike-durant-silent-on-why-he-wont-debate-alabama-senate-rivals.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/katie-britt-says-mike-durant-debate-refusal-shows-he-clearly-has-something-to-hi-04-20-2022|title=Katie Britt says Mike Durant debate refusal shows he 'clearly has something to hide'|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=[[1819 News]]|date=April 20, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420130206/https://1819news.com/news/item/katie-britt-says-mike-durant-debate-refusal-shows-he-clearly-has-something-to-hi-04-20-2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Alabama Republican Party chair [[John Wahl]] stated that the debates were unlikely to occur without Durant's participation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whnt.com/news/alabama-gop-u-s-senate-debate-unlikely-durant-wont-confirm-participation/|title=Alabama GOP: U.S. Senate debate unlikely, Durant won't confirm participation|last=Biertempfel|first=Maddie|work=WHNT|date=April 19, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420052211/https://whnt.com/news/alabama-gop-u-s-senate-debate-unlikely-durant-wont-confirm-participation/|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant broke the silence on the debates on April 21, 2022, stating that he was open to debating but also cited scheduling issues with his own campaign schedule.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/politics/2022/04/mike-durant-breaks-silence-on-debating-alabama-us-senate-rivals-wed-be-glad-to-do-it.html|title=Mike Durant breaks silence on debating Alabama US Senate rivals: 'We'd be glad to do it'|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|work=AL.com|date=April 21, 2022|accessdate=April 22, 2022|archive-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422012800/https://www.al.com/politics/2022/04/mike-durant-breaks-silence-on-debating-alabama-us-senate-rivals-wed-be-glad-to-do-it.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant then officially declined the proposed dates for the debates later that month, shuttering the plans for the debate series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2022/05/02/durant-declines-offer-to-debate-katie-britt-mo-brooks/|title=Durant declines offer to debate Katie Britt, Mo Brooks|last=Burkhalter|first=Eddie|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=May 2, 2022|accessdate=May 2, 2022|archive-date=May 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503134540/https://www.alreporter.com/2022/05/02/durant-declines-offer-to-debate-katie-britt-mo-brooks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Durant began to slip in polls around May, in the weeks before the primary election. Durant was the subject of multiple negative attack ads that contributed to a rising unfavorable rating among voters in polls. Additionally, Durant was the subject of speculation that he did not actually live in Alabama, which ''[[The New York Times]]'' called "a false claim."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/22/us/politics/alabama-senate-mo-brooks.html|title=Scorned by Trump, Mo Brooks Rises in Alabama Senate Race|last=Gabriel|first=Trip|work=The New York Times|date=May 22, 2022|accessdate=May 24, 2022|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523234131/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/22/us/politics/alabama-senate-mo-brooks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant's views on immigration also attracted attention shortly before the primary; he claimed in a radio interview that increased legal immigration was "[[America First (policy)|America First]]" while also touting that he was "the toughest on illegal immigration."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/mike-durant-doubles-down-says-more-legal-immigration-is-america-first|title=Mike Durant doubles down, says more legal immigration is 'America First'|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=1819 News|date=May 14, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606171038/https://1819news.com/news/item/mike-durant-doubles-down-says-more-legal-immigration-is-america-first|url-status=live}}</ref> On the night of the primary on May 24, Durant conceded the election after incoming results showed him in third place behind Britt and Brooks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/05/alabama-primary-election-2022-live-updates-results-from-senate-governor-other-races.html|title=Alabama Primary Election 2022: Results, live updates; Durant concedes in US Senate race|work=AL.com|date=May 24, 2022|accessdate=May 24, 2022|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524125635/https://www.al.com/news/2022/05/alabama-primary-election-2022-live-updates-results-from-senate-governor-other-races.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although there was media speculation that Durant would endorse Brooks after losing a spot in the runoff,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/durant-hints-at-mo-brooks-endorsement-if-he-misses-runoff-calls-britt-campaign-corrupt|title=Durant hints at Mo Brooks endorsement if he misses runoff, calls Britt campaign 'corrupt'|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=1819 News|date=May 24, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603020941/https://1819news.com/news/item/durant-hints-at-mo-brooks-endorsement-if-he-misses-runoff-calls-britt-campaign-corrupt|url-status=live}}</ref> in June, Durant officially declined to endorse Brooks or Britt, lambasting the political process and the two remaining candidates. Durant also stated that his campaign would be his last foray into politics, blaming his loss on "blatant" untrue attack ads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-mo-brooks-congress-alabama-aa92861e4b4b273b65fd2ecbf67a6e87|title=Durant won't endorse in Alabama's Senate runoff|work=Associated Press|date=June 4, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605174015/https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-mo-brooks-congress-alabama-aa92861e4b4b273b65fd2ecbf67a6e87|url-status=live}}</ref>