Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed a proclamation to move the special election date for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by now-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The new schedule sets the primary on Aug. 15, 2017, runoff on Sept. 26, 2017, and the general election on Dec. 12, 2017, almost a year ahead of the previously schedule election date.

Luther Strange, who was appointed to the vacant seat by then-Gov. Robert Bentley, has already announced he would run, as has Perry Hooper Jr., and Rep. Ed Henry. Roy Moore, who was twice ousted from the office of chief justice, also is expected to be a candidate.