Doug Jones scored a win in Alabama on Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat in almost three decades to win a seat in the Senate in that state.
Jones beat the Republican candidate Roy Moore, whose candidacy was marked by allegations of sexual misconduct, who refused to concede on Tuesday night, telling his supporters that “when the vote is this close … it’s not over.”
Jones declared his victory in a speech, saying he was “overwhelmed” by the outcome of the special election and pointing out that the race “has been about dignity and respect. This campaign — this campaign has been about the rule of law.”
He added that his entire campaign had been about “common courtesy and decency,” as well as ensuring that everyone in Alabama was going to “get a fair shake in life.”
Jones was almost unanimously supported by black voters, 96 percent of which gave their vote for the Democrat. As a U.S. attorney, Jones prosecuted members of the Ku Klux Klan.
“We have shown the country the way we can be unified. Tonight you took the right road,” he told his voters.
The election results in the conservative Republican state are a bitter blow for President Donald Trump, who endorsed Moore, as well as for his political party, as it narrows Republican Senate majority to a mere 51-49. According to Reuters, Jones’ win may also pave the way for Democrats to take the chamber in next year’s congressional election.
However, Moore refused to recognize his political opponent’s victory. Even though 99 percent of the votes had already been counted and Jones had a 1.5 percent lead, Moore refused to concede, saying that people were still voting and pointing out that if the margin was within half percent, a recount would be triggered by state law.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told CNN that though results were not certified, it was “highly unlikely” that Jones will lose the Senate race.
“I would find that highly unlikely to occur … there’s not a whole of mistakes that are made,” Merrill said.
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