{"id":46592,"date":"2021-10-20T14:29:01","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T14:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smg.go-vip.net\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/10\/20\/black-hawk-down-pilot-durant-enters-alabama-senate-race\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:33:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:33:13","slug":"black-hawk-down-pilot-durant-enters-alabama-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2021\/10\/20\/black-hawk-down-pilot-durant-enters-alabama-senate-race\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Black Hawk Down\u2019 pilot Durant enters Alabama Senate race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) \u2014 Mike Durant, best known as the helicopter pilot shot down and held prisoner in the 1993 \u201cBlack Hawk Down\u201d incident<\/a>, is joining the U.S. Senate race in Alabama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Durant, now the founder and president of an aerospace company in Huntsville, announced his campaign Tuesday. He joins a crowded GOP field vying for the Republican nomination to the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBetween ridiculous vaccine mandates, trillions in spending, and constant assaults on innocent life and the 2nd Amendment, it\u2019s clear that we need to mobilize people from outside of politics to step forward and serve,\u201d Durant said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like other Republicans in the race, Durant expressed his admiration for former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPresident Trump showed us what\u2019s possible when outsiders step forward and take on the insiders and the politicians. I\u2019ve spent my life either in service to my nation or focused on growing a successful business in Alabama. I\u2019m not going to sit idly by while Joe Biden and the career politicians wreck the country I love. I\u2019m signing up for one more tour of duty. I\u2019m running for U.S. Senate,\u201d Durant said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t