Doug Jones Defeats Roy Moore for Alabama Senate Seat

Democrat Doug Moore has defeated Judge Roy Moore for the Alabama Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions. Jones is an attorney and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. He is known for prosecuting the remaining two Ku Klux Klan perpetrators of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which killed four African-American girls, along with securing an indictment against the Olympic Park Bomber.

Jones won by less than 1 percentage point. Polling prior to the election was wide-ranging, from Moore winning by 9 points, to a tie, to Jones ahead by 10. With 99% of the ballots counted, the spread was 49.5% to 48.7% in favor of Jones. In Alabama, a recount is automatically triggered if the margin is less than 0.5%.

With Jones’ election, the Republicans now hold a slim 51-41 majority in the Senate.

Polls initially favored Moore in the heavily conservative state of Alabama. However, in recent weeks he was accused of sexual misconduct, stemming from allegations of actions 40 years ago. Moore has denied all wrongdoing, no charges have been filed. But national outrage temporarily cost him the support of the national party and the lead in the polls in Alabama. Prominent Republicans including Mitch McConnell and Jeff Flake had asked him to drop from the race.

In recent weeks, Republicans decided to let the voters of Alabama decide for themselves, and support renewed from the Republican Party. 

However even President Trump’s endorsement was not enough to overcome the allegations against Moore.

Author’s note: The Republican leadership screwed this up badly, they should have had the discipline to keep their mouths shut and let Alabama play out. Good strategy on the Democrat side. This will have long-reaching effects.