Doug Jones on Wednesday scripted history to become the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat from Alabama, defeating President Donald Trump- backed Republican candidate Roy Moore, whose campaign was marred 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 distanced 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. This is for the first time in a quarter century that a Democrat has won a Senate seat in the Republican stronghold of Alabama. 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.
