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Doug Jones Wins Alabama Senate Race
December 13, 2017
The eyes of the nation were on Alabama Tuesday as Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special Senate election.
Jones received 49.92 percent (671,151) votes, while Moore was close behind with 48.38 percent (650,436) votes. The remainder of the votes, 1.69 percent (22.780) were for write-ins.
The victory for Jones was seen by many as a setback to the Republican Party and a stinging rebuke to President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed embattled Republican candidate Roy Moore despite a chorus of sexual misconduct allegations.
The result means that in January when Jones is sworn in, the Republican majority in the 100-seat Senate will shrink to 51-49 and make it tougher for Trump and his agenda.
“We have shown not just around the state of Alabama, but we have shown the country the way, that we can be unified,” Jones told cheering supporters in a victory speech Tuesday night. He said the Senate has a lot of work to do on important issues facing the country, including health care, jobs and the economy.
Moore, at his own rally, did not concede the election to Jones.
“It’s not over. It’s going to take some time,” he said.
His campaign pointed to Alabama laws concerning recounts, including a provision that calls for an automatic recount of votes if the margin of victory is less than one-half of one percent.
peaking to CNN, Alabama’s Secretary of State John Merrill said he would find it “highly unlikely” that Jones will not be declared the winner when the vote tally is certified in the coming week. He said there are “not a whole lot of mistakes that are made” during the initial vote-counting process.
Moore had the backing of Trump, but faced opposition from other Republican leaders. He has been accused of sexual misconduct in the 1970s when his female accusers were teenagers and he was in his 30s.
Moore has consistently denied the allegations, but he initially admitted dating young women when he was an attorney general, before denying ever knowing any of his accusers.
Some Republicans, including Alabama’s other senator, Richard Shelby, opted to use write-in votes rather than support Moore. The number of total write-ins was about the same as the margin of victory for Jones.
Trump used Twitter to congratulate Jones while looking ahead to the next election for the Senate seat in 2020.
“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,” Trump wrote.
Jones is the first Democrat from Alabama to win a Senate seat since 1992 and will serve out the roughly three years remaining in the term Jeff Sessions won in 2014 before stepping down to serve as Trump’s attorney general.
Escambia County (AL) voters trended Republican, with 57.22 percent voting for Moore, 41.78 percent for Jones and 1 percent, 87 votes, for write-in candidates.
Turnout was much higher than expected. Secretary of State John Merrill had estimated turnout would be about 25 percent. But the numbers from Tuesday showed that of the 3.3 million registered voters in Alabama, over 1.3 million, or almost 40.5 percent, voted. Of the 24,627 registered voters in Escambia County, there were 8,715 ballots cast for a turnout of 35.39 percent.
Pictured top and upper inset: Voters cast their ballot at the Atmore City Hall on Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge. Pictured lower inset: Doug Jones, courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
VOA contributed to this report.
Comments
46 Responses to “Doug Jones Wins Alabama Senate Race”
REGARDING:
“the Democrats will stoop to any means to win, while the republicans will try to stay within a range of morals and risk defeat rather than violate their principles”
Some Republicans anyway, the ones who refused to turn a blind eye to any wrong behavior on the part of their candidate or to support him or to vote for him.
Others, on the other hand, decided in advance that all accusers were paid liars or that their party was too important to let it stand in the way of his support.
Moore accused Jones of things he was not guilty of. Jones never accused Moore of anything not part of the public record.
David for truth and integrity
David, My wording might have been wrong… by higher pedestal did not mean in a higher standard. I feel that the Democrats will stoop to any means to win, while the republicans will try to stay within a range of morals and risk defeat rather than violate their principles. example…. during the 2016 race I was driving motor
coaches from Omaha to Chicago on a regular route. one morning as I entered Des Moines there were Bernie Sanders signs on a stretch of highway. The next day coming from Chicago to Omaha someone from the Clinton campaign had stuck a Clinton sign in front of the Sanders signs, every one of them, to shade out the Sanders signs, To me this was an unethical move. Campaigns of this magnitude seem to be getting out of control.
another example was Bernie supporters buzzing a Clinton outdoor rally with an airplane flying low with a banner. I could go about other examples like a rally in Des Moines where no Republicans were allowed.
Both sides wanted this seat but one side wanted to play dirty! They couldn’t seem to be able to be on the up and up
Many of us would like to know how much ,money the accusers were paid to come forward
David Lamb to be fair I say both parties wanted their candidate to win the election. As of this comment Roy hasn’t acknowledged defeat. He should. I see where he’s fundraising now too.
REGARDING:
“You are playing with words”
Just the opposite. I’m treating words as if they actually have meanings and working from those standard meanings.
” ….believing the accusers must mean that they believe it is true.”
I’m not assuming to know what they believe, just that what they are saying is true or false. I acknowledge they may ALL be lying and that the Republicans who believe them may be mistaken or lying — or the accused may be currently lying.
“I do feel that Democrat party goals were put on a higher pedestal”
You don’t believe Republican party goals should be high?
“and “win at any costs were the goal for a most important seat ib government”
We agree there. I believe many on both sides had that victory as their primary goal. I suspect that is your goal since you have decided to believe one but not others, but could be wrong.
This is why it’s interesting that some highly placed Republicans did not put party over truth. It speaks well of them.
David still for truth
and better people
David Huie…
You are playing with words ….believing the accusers must mean that they believe it is true.
I do feel that Democrat party goals were put on a higher pedestal and “win at any costs were the goal for a most important seat ib government. They are now only one seat away from being balanced.
That is where I see a difference between the 2 parties.
@ David Lamb. I think you’re right about future political contests. We’ve made
Rock Stars out of Politicians we like and dig back decades for any dirt on the ones
we don’t. He said/she said is very hard to prove but the Liberal Writers/Talkers love
it and understand how words hold sway with the inattentive among us. Just check our Local Newspaper for the daily barrage of Liberal Writers. Im thinking our best
chance is to all become Independent …greatly curb the money going to Politicians….adopt strict term limits and provide no Pensions to a six year Politician.
We’re getting some good people in Governence in our Nations Capitol now and
some don’t even accept a paycheck. The opposition will do just about
anything to re-take control of our Nations future and people . I knew when voted for Trump he was a MeMe personality……but his opponent and her cadre were deplorable .
REGARDING:
“Just because Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions said it was true does not make it so. Who knows what is in their past or your past or my past,.”
Let’s keep it straight. They didn’t say it was true.
They both said they believed the women were telling the truth.
There is a big difference.
If Alabama’s chosen senator is a liar or such a poor judge of character, the people of Alabama need to know.
If President Trump’s chosen Attorney General is a liar or such a poor judge of character, the people of America need to know.
If they are aligned to hurt innocent men to hurt his goals, President Trump needs to know.
The election is over but the truth would be nice to know with certainty, not just bias.
AND
“PARTISAN . Current Politicians & talking heads love to use that word like its the greatest thing”
Not that I’ve ever seen.
Nearly all oppose the idea of putting party over reason. They just claim THEIR party is reasonable and members of OTHER PARTIES are unreasonable.)That is why it is interesting that members of Roy Moore’s party refused to say they favored Moore because he was part of their party or he took stands they favored — unlike those who favor him regardless of the fact he lied in oaths he took and possibly about how he treated little girls. They DIDN’T put party goals over truth and you’re mad at them.
David for truth
REGARDING:
“Didn’t one admit to altering the yearbook ? ”
She said she noted the time and place but she never claimed he wrote those items. She claims he signed her yearbook despite his claim they never met.
One of them is lying NOW. Now is what matters most.
“Beverly Young Nelson, the ex-waitress who charged that Moore groped her when she was 16 and he was in his 30s, told ABC News that she added the date and location of when and where he signed it.
“Her notes say “12-22-77” and “Olde Hickory House,” the restaurant where Nelson worked and where she said the GOP Alabama Senate candidate was at that time a frequent customer.
“At her original news conference on Nov. 13, Nelson said Moore signed the yearbook but she didn’t mention the notes she added.”
…………………………
“Moore has denied all of the allegations against him, and claims the entire passage in the yearbook is a forgery.”
https://nypost.com/2017/12/08/roy-moore-accuser-admits-altering-yearbook-entry/
So she says she wrote in it but that isn’t altering it unless it was to forge his signature by some means because that is all she claims.
David for truth
Just because Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions said it was true does not make it so. Who knows what is in their past or your past or my past,. 37 years ago is a long time, half a lifetime for most of us. Why ware these accusations brought up now when, if true, could have been brought up in other periods of Roy Moores political life. A good time would have been when he was fighting for the right to allow the Ten Commandments on public property. There are too many coincidences. of accusations that seem to have come out “just at the right time” to spoil his bid for election. Also not the type of sensationalism cases her attorney shows up in. Look at the numbers, money flowing in to defeat Roy Moore, The characters that condemned him and accused him with no attachment to Alabama and their disdain for Alabama as backward folks.
Nope, In my book Roy Moore was “railroaded out of town by a lynch mob mentality, straight out of an old west movie.
The sad part is that this will be the norm for future political races.
@ David Huie Green……David , I don’t think I mentioned anything about the word
PARTISAN . Current Politicians & talking heads love to use that word like its the greatest thing……to me it’s saying our Representatives can’t think ( and vote ) for
themselves or “We The People” . They insist on aligning with their fellow PARTY
and “We The People” don’t matter anymore. How can a body ( 435 in House of
Representatives) vote 100% for the Nays (Democrats) and 99% Yays (Republicans )? It’s wrong….. and anyone that can Think knows it. But back to the accusers on
Roy Moore. Didn’t one admit to altering the yearbook ? The accuser’s Attorney
( Gloria Alred) sitting right beside her ? I couldn’t vote in that Charade as I’m in
Florida…….but none of the chosen candidates appeared to be able to think for themselves…….but you can be sure they would be able to be PARTISAN !
REGARDING:
“The bigger issue ( to me ) is….are allegations/accusations of Men ( mostly ) going
to instantly eliminate a Political candidate ? Actual truth seemingly has been kicked
to the curb by our Democrat & Republican Party Elites and their controllers”
They could be lying but Alabama senator Richard Shelby says he believes them. United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he believes them.
They are both Republicans, so it wasn’t partisan.
They don’t appear to be elites.
The accusers have given their names. If they had a history of lying, anybody could’ve exposed them long before this. Nobody did. Either they are considered reliable or absolutely nobody cares about the truth, not even Moore-ites.
Some simply say, “He’s not lived an unblemished life,” and then pretend he has — because he’s “their guy.” Roy said they were each and every one lying. Either they were or he was. So we’re back to the question, now that he will probably not be Senator, does anyone actually care enough about the truth to seek it?
David for truth — but that’s just me
At least since Roy Moore lost he can have time to sue those ladies and they too can bring together more information to settle this issue once and for all. I believe if Moore had won, there would be no public outcry to find out what really happened. Let the information flow! Let’s find out the truth.
Ponderosa… I basically concur with your comments. The millions of dollars that poured in to the Democrat side to influence the outcome was ridiculous. Alabama citizens were overwhelmed with false data and bought it hook line and sinker. The bobber went so deep that Moore, good or bad, was destroyed. The liberals are trying real hard to do the same with any conservative that wants to run for office and will stoop to any means to destroy Trump.
And now the courts in California have ruled in favor of a bus company selling advertising on the sides of their bus to freely deny Catholics from advertising yet a decent Christian man in Colorado cannot deny baking a cake for trans genders.
So, will it now be illegal for “no shoes, no shirts, no service ” signs
LORD HELP US. Save us from ourselves
To : David Lamb & David Huie Green. It looks like you two are on
opposite sides of this discussion. The issue of who’s telling the truth will
most likely never be brought to light. After considerable digging online into Roy
Moore’s bio it appears ( like a lot of humans ) He’s not lived an unblemished life.
The bigger issue ( to me ) is….are allegations/accusations of Men ( mostly ) going
to instantly eliminate a Political candidate ? Actual truth seemingly has been kicked
to the curb by our Democrat & Republican Party Elites and their controllers. It looks like “We The People” are really just movable Pawns just waiting for a push from the
P.T.B. Our two Party system has wrought where we are……it’s really gotten out of
control of “We The People”. “We The People” should be ashamed for falling for it
without even a whimper.
False allegations, smear tactics, outside influence and down right immoral politics are ruining the ability for anyone to run for office. Make up a lie or try to sling 37 year old mud seems to be the norm.
If you have nothing to hide then throw your stones! how would your past life hold up if someone examined your past.
What happens now if Moore is truly innocent, It sure is way tooeasy to ruin a persons reputation these days.
Now that Roy Moore is no longer the knight in shining armor on a holy mission to save America from those godless Democrats, is it possible all those accusers were telling the absolute truth?
David for unblinded eyes
@Hoosier Dad, Saint John the divine warned us about George Soros and Chuck Schumer.
Revelation 3:9,
Roy Moore’s dream is to turn America into a Christian version of Saudi Arabia. No thanks!
Democratic party politics in the 21st century. George Soros and his money, Sol Lewinsky and his playbook on socialism. Obama and his (ilk) Chicago politics. The Clintons. Unvetted accusers backed by a very biased American “news” media. Start an accusation weeks before an election. A race and immigrant based stampede to ride on the wagon. Why should you help pull it? Hollywood…people who act.
The bottom line….destroy the Republican Party.
Republicans have had majorities in all branches of Alabama State and local government for almost 30 Years and heres some of what they have accomplished…Alabama consistently ranks as one of the worst state’s for education in the USA, Highest number of inmates on death row, Has the 45th highest teen pregnancy rate, Alabama has the second worst quality of life in the U.S behind Mississippi. Alabama ranks 49th in poverty and standard of living along with 47th in access to affordable health care, leading many in Alabama to bankruptcy or to die at a younger age due to untreated health complications than most other states. Unlike some states that took the Federally free funded Medicaid expansion to try and save some of our fellow citizens lives, they did the opposite and actually cut funding for our state leaving us no easy options for people with cancer or diabetes or anything that us Alabamians just don’t have thousands of dollars to save our lives leaving us to die.
Moore didn’t lose because of “timely” sex allegations, millions spent to make him lose, mudslinging, or dirty politics. Moore lost because he was too ignorant to have faith in truth or to spend money on advertising. Simple as that. He thought because Alabama isn’t a liberal stronghold or urban cesspool that good people would vote their character. He failed to realize geography doesn’t matter anymore. He failed to realize social media, smartphones, media, and internet have total control over people. They are completely manipulated fools today. So very sad good people are propagated what to think and feel.
If ACCUSATIONS is all it takes to run Men out of leadership……then The only
answer is to have virtually no men in a boss/leadership role. It looks to me that
for a few thousand years men have kinda made a mess of things. I really don’t
see how the ship can get righted . It looked to me the political elites of both
parties wanted Roy Moore kicked to the curb. We’ll prolly never know if the accusations were true or made up and who was behind it all. I also think the
Democrat AND Republican Parties are the biggest threat to the Republic of “We the People”. Money , Power, & Control seems to be all they really care about.
It’s funny that this just now bothers her, she’s a democrat for sure.
You can say anything about anyone and just ruin their lives at any time?
@Grace
We do not live in a theocracy. We live in a constitutional Democracy. Roy Moore has been removed from office not once, but twice for not being able to follow the letter of the law. The US Constitution is our living document of law, not the Bible.
Thank lord. Moore is someone who thinks america would be better off if woman and blacks werent allowed to vote. In 2011 moore said he wanted a constitutional amendment that would void every amendment beyond the 10th and has stated homosexual conduct should be illegal. Love your fellow human even if you dont quite understand them. The negative republican party needs a huge shift. These far right nationalist have no chance. The republican party will fall if there isnt a shift towards the center. 2018/2020 will be ugly if not.
Thank goodness decency and reason was elected in Alabama.. Never underestimate the power of fired up voters to make a difference in politics. Here’s to a great midterm election and 2020 Presidential election!
What a sad day for Alabama and our country.” The LOVE of money is the root of ALL evil ”
George Soros, Barak HUSSAIN Obama, Hillery and Bill Clinton and many more pouring money into people’s pockets to do the work of Satan. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Holy Bible, look it up for yourself.
You put a man in office who is for ABORTION (killing unborn babies with a beating heart).
Roy Moore is against abortion! That one very Godly thing should have been enough for your vote, NOT some very rehearsed accusations from 30/ 40 years ago.
Should we all be held accountable for what we thought, said, or did in the past ? That day will come with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We can ask the Lord to forgive us and turn from our wicked ways, and HE does forgive and we are to do the same.
Many need to repent ,(turn) over you vote.
May the Lord bless you and remember ” JESUS is the Reason for the Season”. MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!
Moore should have been out campaigning last weekend .Saying he was doing the holiday thing with his family was nuts! Who on earth does that when running for office? It made him seem arrogant to me. Congratulations to Mr. Jones who worked very hard.
Finally, a bit of light and decency in our current political wasteland. Wish there could be more positive results like this.
Further proof that smear campaigns do work. For those that posted that morality matters…obviously not because Jones won.
I feel better knowing Ala did the right thing Moore was a terrible candidate and got what he deserved.
Happy to live in Florida where our politicians are pure of heart deed and action.
More only lost because of the lies and the deceit of democrat women.
If what they accused him of was true then they should have done it months ago not wait till a few minutes before the election. what a crock.
My deepest condolences for Alabama. Dirty politics has evolved from simple mud slinging to inappropriate sexual behavior allegations because it gets a stronger ” knee jerk” reaction. Alabama was duped by the Jones political ploy, and will regret the results of this election for years to come.
Praise the LORD we don’t need anymore racist/bigots in Washington we have enough DRAIN THE SWAMP !!!
its amazing that some conservatives couldn’t vote for him on morality terms because of something he may or may not have done 30 years ago, but they could vote for Jones who is definitely for abortion probably homosexual marriage,(don’t know any democrats that aren’t for it) and many other unmoral things and they felt good about switching to that, WOW HOW STUPID HAVE SOME CONSERVATIVES GOT
Thank You Alabama, I only wish Florida could see the light.
If morality matters, the wrong guy won.
@ the locust. So does being innocent until proven guilty by a jury of your peers. This was dirty politics at its finest. The people who decided to condemn him suddenly came out of the woodwork now to say things about something that happened over 30 years ago and haven’t been proven. Where were these people when he became a judge? All of the sudden they decide to speak up when the wallets get padded enough? And it’s going on like this on both sides of the political fence. Our government and processes have become an embarrassment to us all as Americans. Add Hollywood’s dysfunction in to the mix and we’re a fine looking group aren’t we?
Finally, Alabama sees the light and votes for a man of reason and intelligence.
THANK YOU Alabama! The only unfortunate part is the vote appears as close as it was.
All politicians are flawed.moore was a real nut case. Any other republican candidate other than moore would have won easily. That seat will be turned over again in the next election.
Morality did matter a long time ago. Right now this new found obsession holding people accountable for sexual behavior is nothing but a smoke screen. Please go online and look up the illegitimate birth rates for all countries. The United States is right up there percentage wise with third world countries in South America and Africa. We will be the laughing stock of the world if we try to keep this phony high ethics and morality attitude up much longer. Actions speak louder than words.
I wonder if Moore’s accusers and the media will go silent now?
What happened to innocent until proven guilty?this proves most people are just dead set on believing the fake news media.
Morality matters.