Doug Jones wins U.S. Senate special election

Published 2:51 pm Wednesday, December 13, 2017

After a long special election campaign for both parties for the Alabama U.S. Senate,  Democratic nominee Doug Jones won, becoming the first Democrat to hold the Senate seat in more than two decades. 

The race was close, bringing more than 40 percent of registered voters to the polls on Tuesday. 

“There are important issues facing the country,” Jones said in a victory speech in Birmingham Tuesday night. “There are important issues of healthcare, and jobs, and the economy. I would like, as everyone in this entire free world knows by now, that this campaign has been about finding common ground—reaching across the aisle and actually getting things done for the people.”

Jones won by a narrow margin against Republican opponent Roy Moore. After winning the Republican nomination following a run-off election with appointed Sen. Luther Strange, Moore’s campaign was overshadowed by accusations of sexual misconduct.  

“You know, part of the thing — part of the problem with this campaign is we’ve been painted in an unfavorable and unfaithful light,” Moore told supporters at his election party Tuesday. “We’ve been put in a hole, if you will.”

Jones received 49.92 percent of the votes, while Moore received 48.38 percent. A small percentage, 1.69 percent or 22,780 votes, went to write-in candidates. A margin of less than one-half of one percent could trigger a recount of votes, and Moore alluded to that possibility during his election party Tuesday, saying “…when the vote is this close that it’s not over.”

Numbers in St. Clair County came in favorably for Moore, showing him receiving 70.44 percent while Jones won 27.52 percent of votes, and 2.04 percent for write-in candidates. 

President Donald Trump, who initially supported Luther Strange during the primary campaign, tweeted, “Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win. 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!”

Currently, the Alabama U.S. Senate seat is being held by Strange, who was appointed to the position in February after President Trump selected Jeff Session as U.S. Attorney General. 

Strange issued the following statement about the election of Doug Jones to his current position, “The people of Alabama made their voices heard last night (Tuesday). I respect their decision, and I congratulate Doug Jones on a well-earned victory.”

Jones will finish the two-year term left in the Senate position beginning in January.  

“Tonight, the people of Alabama elected Doug Jones, a man of intelligence and character, to the United States Senate,” Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley said in a statement regarding the results of the election. “Doug’s hard work, crisscrossing the state for weeks on end, paid off in a great victory for working families and the ‘kitchen table’ issues that voters care about. He will continue to work hard to protect jobs for Alabamians, good schools, affordable healthcare and justice for everyone in our state.”

Alabama Republican Party Chair Terry Lathan, also mentioned ‘kitchen table issues’ in a release on Tuesday. “During this campaign, we heard Mr. Jones repeatedly say he would talk about ‘kitchen table issues’ and that he would ‘reach across the aisle’ to work with Republicans. While these issues weren’t discussed and no other Democratic senator has worked with the Republicans, all eyes will be on his votes. Alabamians will watch the issues he will support or try to stop. We will hold him accountable for his votes.”

Doug Jones reiterated his intention to ‘reach across the aisle’ and work with Republicans in Washington when he takes office in January. 

“As we approach this crossroads, we have work to do within this state,” Jones said in his victory speech, “to build those bridges, to reach across to those that didn’t vote for us and find common ground.”