After Judge Roy Moore was defeated in Alabama by his ultra-liberal opponent Doug Jones, many Republican strategists are saying that this unexpected defeat was Steve Bannon’s swan song. The Breitbart News executive editor was a huge Roy Moore backer, and lost big on Tuesday, but refuses to give up on his war against the GOP establishment.

According to a Newsweek report, Bannon described himself as “totally uncowed” following the election results despite the set-back. He plans to rush headlong into 2018, but wants to make sure that future candidates express his message of economic populism more forcefully than Judge Moore.

Bannon, expressing a sentiment similar to most tea party republicans following the election, felt that House Freedom Caucus member Mo Brooks would have been a better candidate than Judge Moore. Brooks came in third in the primary behind Moore and incumbent Luther Strange.

“Judge Moore has never been, really, an economics guy,” Bannon said. “If Mo Brooks had been running here, immigration and trade would’ve been at the top of the agenda – and bringing jobs back to Alabama.”



Bannon plans to get behind candidates such as former State Sen. Kelli Ward in Arizona. She previously lost to John McCain in a primary election last year, but has set her sights on the seat currently occupied by Jeff Flake. Flake announced his retirement earlier this year.

Since leaving the White House where he formerly served as chief strategist, Bannon has been having the time of his life rallying people against the GOP establishment.

“I’m just not built to be a staffer,” Bannon said. “It’s not the way I roll. I’m enjoying this immensely.”

It remains to be seen if Bannon’s presence as a national GOP leader proves to be effective. If Moore’s shocking defeat turns into a national trend, the door may slam shut completely on Bannon’s populist uprising for good.