Democrat wrests Alabama Senate seat

Washington, December 13 

Doug Jones today became the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat from the staunchly Republican state of Alabama, defeating President Donald Trump-backed candidate Roy Moore, whose campaign was dogged by allegations that he had sexually abused teenagers.

Moore’s defeat marks a major political blow to Trump, who endorsed the Alabama Republican and held a rally on his behalf. Although most national Republicans rushed to distance themselves from Moore following the allegations against him, Trump reaffirmed his support to the firebrand conservative through tweets and public statements.

With all counties reporting, the Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill reported Jones with 49.92 per cent of the vote, and Moore with 48.38 per cent of the vote. “Thank You Alabama!” Jones, 63, tweeted.

But Moore has so far refused to concede. “When the vote is this close ... it’s not over,” the 70- year-old told supporters after Jones declared victory in a special election. The margin of victory is well above the half a percentage point which would have triggered a recount. 

During the brutal campaign, Moore faced allegations that he had molested or pursued relationships with teenage girls in the 1970s when he was in his 30s and an assistant district attorney.

Trump congratulated Jones for his “hard fought” victory. “Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard-fought victory,” Trump tweeted. “The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win,” Trump said in his first reaction.

“The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends!” tweeted the US President.

“Democrats pull off an upset in Alabama,” The New York Times said as it declared victory for Jones. It described the victory of Jones as a rare Democratic victory in a staunchly Republican state.

“The race captivated the nation, not only for its debates over party loyalty and morality, but also for its also immense implications for both parties and the Trump presidency,” the paper said.

The Washington Post described Jones’ victory as a “shocking upset” in a solidly Republican state. According to Time magazine, Jones’ victory in Alabama “was arguably aided by the rocky candidacy” of Moore.

With this victory, Jones, a former US attorney, has become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama since 1992. 

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had called on Moore to drop out of the race and other Senate leaders had suggested he should be expelled if elected. “Decency wins,” tweeted retiring Republican Senator Jeff Flake.

The sexual misconduct allegations against Moore came at a time when many powerful men, including Trump, have faced similar accusations. Democrats had promised to try to link many Republican candidates in next year’s elections to Moore, and use the issue to appeal to women and suburban voters.

The network exit polls found 54% of voters said the sexual allegations against Moore were not important to their vote, while 41% said they were. — PTI

First Dem elected to Senate from Alabama since 1992

• This is for the first time in a quarter century that a Democrat has won a Senate seat in a Republican stronghold of Alabama
• The unexpected victory of Doug Jones also narrows the Republican majority in the 100-member Senate to 51-49, opening the door for Democrats to possibly retake the chamber in next year’s congressional poll
• Jones is expected to take office early in January. His election will not effect the pending votes in Congress on tax overhaul or government funding
• Jones also supported abortion rights and opposed the repeal of Obama’s signature healthcare law, unpopular positions in the conservative state

Ugly campaign drew national attention

• The ugly campaign drew national attention and split the Republican Party following accusations by several women that Roy Moore sexually assaulted or pursued them when they were teens and he was in his 30s
• Moore, 70, a Christian conservative twice removed from the state Supreme Court in Alabama for ignoring federal law, denied the allegations and said he did not know any of the women who made them
• Trump endorsed Moore even as other party leaders walked away from him, but Jones portrayed the campaign as a referendum on decency and promised the state’s voters he would not embarrass them in Washington