In 2002, McPhillips lost out in the Democratic nomination to challenge first-term Republican incumbent Jeff Sessions for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama.

Julian was an All-American collegiate wrestler at Princeton, twice Eastern AAU heavyweight wrestling champion, and a finalist in the 1972 Olympic Tryouts.

He moved back to Alabama in 1975 and began working as Assistant Attorney General under Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley, specializing in white collar crime prosecution.

He lost his run-off spot in the late changing official vote three days later.

Parker then lost to Jeff Sessions in the United States Senate election in Alabama in 2002.