Controversial former judge Roy Moore won Alabamas Republican Senate nomination on Tuesday over incumbent Luther Strange in a major setback for President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .

Trump traveled to Alabama just last Friday to headline a raucous rally touting Strange. A McConnell-aligned super PAC spent millions of dollars to help the senator, who was appointed earlier this year to the seat vacated by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. And in a final push on behalf of Strange, Vice President Mike Pence campaigned with him at a closing rally Monday night in Birmingham, the states largest city.

It all turned out for naught, with Moores victory dealing a bitter blow to the GOPs establishment wing. His win comes at a critical time as Republican lawmakers in Washington struggle to unite around key legislative goals on health care and taxes.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to McConnell that spent vast sums on Stranges behalf, conceded defeat before the results were officially called.

While we were honored to have fought hard for Big Luther, Judge Roy Moore won this nomination fair and square and he has our support, as it is vital that we keep this seat in Republican hands, Senate Leadership Fund President Steven Law said in a statement.

Strange was seen by McConnell and other GOP Senate leaders as a reliable member of their caucus. Moore, meanwhile, has reveled in casting himself as an outsider. And in solidly Republican Alabama, he is a prohibitive favorite to win the Dec. 12 special election against Democrat Doug Jones.

Trump carried the Cotton State overwhelmingly in last years presidential election, but Stranges rebuke casts doubt on his clout just eight months into his presidency which could signal troubles ahead for his party in next years midterm elections.