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| Roy Moore loses Alabama Senate race after bid beset by sexual assault claims | Roy Moore loses Alabama Senate race after bid beset by sexual assault claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Democrat Doug Jones won a remarkable upset victory over controversial rival Roy Moore in the diehard Republican state of Alabama on Tuesday to win election to the US Senate. | Democrat Doug Jones won a remarkable upset victory over controversial rival Roy Moore in the diehard Republican state of Alabama on Tuesday to win election to the US Senate. |
| His victory – by a margin of 49.5 to 48.9 with 91% of precincts reporting – set off a political earthquake, dealing a major blow to Donald Trump and his efforts to pass tax reform on Capitol Hill. | |
| Jones was able to become the first Democrat in a decade to win any statewide office in Alabama by beating Moore, who had faced multiple allegations of sexual assault during a campaign which exposed Republican party faultlines. | Jones was able to become the first Democrat in a decade to win any statewide office in Alabama by beating Moore, who had faced multiple allegations of sexual assault during a campaign which exposed Republican party faultlines. |
| Despite a history as a social conservative firebrand, Moore had been favored in the deep red state until two women came forward to claim that Moore assaulted them when they were teenagers and a number of others said that the Alabama Republican had romantically pursued them when they were underage. Moore has denied all the allegations. | Despite a history as a social conservative firebrand, Moore had been favored in the deep red state until two women came forward to claim that Moore assaulted them when they were teenagers and a number of others said that the Alabama Republican had romantically pursued them when they were underage. Moore has denied all the allegations. |
| Alabama has long faced a profound racial divide which was reflected in the results. According to an exit poll, Jones won 95% of the African-American vote but only 27% of the white vote in the Yellowhammer State. However, heavy African-American turnout on Jones’s behalf overcame Moore’s margins in rural, predominantly white parts of Alabama. | Alabama has long faced a profound racial divide which was reflected in the results. According to an exit poll, Jones won 95% of the African-American vote but only 27% of the white vote in the Yellowhammer State. However, heavy African-American turnout on Jones’s behalf overcame Moore’s margins in rural, predominantly white parts of Alabama. |
| Jones also made significant inroads among college educated whites. He won well-educated Madison County by a margin of 57-40. A center of the aerospace industry, Trump won the county by a margin of 55-38 in 2016. | Jones also made significant inroads among college educated whites. He won well-educated Madison County by a margin of 57-40. A center of the aerospace industry, Trump won the county by a margin of 55-38 in 2016. |
| ‘More in common than what would divide us’ | |
| Jones emerged to a euphoric reception just before 10pm local time. “Folks, I gotta tell you, I think that I have been waiting all my life and now I just don’t know what the hell to say,” he said, beginning a 10-minute speech. “I have always believed that the people of Alabama had more in common than what would divide us.” | |
| The election had never been either about him or Moore, he insisted. “This entire race has been about dignity and respect. This campaign has been about the rule of law. This campaign has been about common courtesy and decency and making sure everyone in this state, regardless of what zip code you live in, is going to get a fair shake.” | |
| His speech was met with cheers and applause and chants of “USA! USA!” | |
| The Democratic victory will reduce the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49 once Jones takes his seat on Capitol Hill. This significantly reduces the margin for error as Republicans attempt to push through a major corporate tax cut. | The Democratic victory will reduce the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49 once Jones takes his seat on Capitol Hill. This significantly reduces the margin for error as Republicans attempt to push through a major corporate tax cut. |
| They already have one defector in senator Bob Corker and Jones’s election means a single additional Republican breaking ranks would sink the legislation. | They already have one defector in senator Bob Corker and Jones’s election means a single additional Republican breaking ranks would sink the legislation. |
| Moore’s defeat also marks a major political blow to Trump, who endorsed the Alabama Republican and held a rally on his behalf just over the state line in Pensacola, Florida. Although most national Republicans rushed to distance themselves from Moore in the aftermath of the allegations, Trump reaffirmed his support through tweets and public statements. | Moore’s defeat also marks a major political blow to Trump, who endorsed the Alabama Republican and held a rally on his behalf just over the state line in Pensacola, Florida. Although most national Republicans rushed to distance themselves from Moore in the aftermath of the allegations, Trump reaffirmed his support through tweets and public statements. |
| Shortly after the results were called Tuesday, Trump tweeted his congratulations to Jones: | Shortly after the results were called Tuesday, Trump tweeted his congratulations to Jones: |
| 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! | 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! |
| Moore’s defeat is a significant blow to the efforts by Steve Bannon and the populist Trump wing of the Republican party to undermine Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. | Moore’s defeat is a significant blow to the efforts by Steve Bannon and the populist Trump wing of the Republican party to undermine Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. |
| Bannon and his allies have been planning a series of primary challenges against establishment Republicans in 2018. Moore’s defeat significantly reduces their leverage as the joint efforts of Bannon and his website Breitbart could not elect their preferred candidate in a state that Donald Trump won in a landslide in 2016. | Bannon and his allies have been planning a series of primary challenges against establishment Republicans in 2018. Moore’s defeat significantly reduces their leverage as the joint efforts of Bannon and his website Breitbart could not elect their preferred candidate in a state that Donald Trump won in a landslide in 2016. |
| Steven Law, the head of the McConnell allied Senate Leadership Fund, came out with a statement putting the blame squarely on Bannon moments after the race was called. “This is a brutal reminder that candidate quality matters regardless of where you are running,” Law said. “Not only did Steve Bannon cost us a critical Senate seat in one of the most Republican states in the country, but he also dragged the president of the United States into his fiasco.” | Steven Law, the head of the McConnell allied Senate Leadership Fund, came out with a statement putting the blame squarely on Bannon moments after the race was called. “This is a brutal reminder that candidate quality matters regardless of where you are running,” Law said. “Not only did Steve Bannon cost us a critical Senate seat in one of the most Republican states in the country, but he also dragged the president of the United States into his fiasco.” |
| Cory Gardner, the head of the National Republican Senate Committee which flatly refused to backed Moore, said: “Tonight’s results are clear – the people of Alabama deemed Roy Moore unfit to serve in the US Senate.” | Cory Gardner, the head of the National Republican Senate Committee which flatly refused to backed Moore, said: “Tonight’s results are clear – the people of Alabama deemed Roy Moore unfit to serve in the US Senate.” |
| While national Republicans accepted defeat, the Moore campaign still held out hope. At Moore’s election night event, the candidate and his supporters still held out hope. | |
| Campaign chairman Bill Armistead took the stage to insist that “the evening is not over yet” and to cite Alabama’s provision for an automatic recount of the result is within one half of a percentage point. He also noted optimistically that there were still outstanding military ballots. | |
| Moore then took the stage to say: “When the vote is this close it’s not over.” He then bemoaned that he had been “painted in an unfavorable and unfaithful light” before urging attendees to go home and go to sleep. | |
| Cal Zastrow, a friend of Moore who had come down from Michigan to volunteer for the campaign, tried to frame the results within a bigger picture. “I was cheering for him and supporting him but Jesus is wonderful whether Roy Moore wins or loses,” he said. “I’m not distressed. I’m not discouraged. Jesus is wonderful.” | Cal Zastrow, a friend of Moore who had come down from Michigan to volunteer for the campaign, tried to frame the results within a bigger picture. “I was cheering for him and supporting him but Jesus is wonderful whether Roy Moore wins or loses,” he said. “I’m not distressed. I’m not discouraged. Jesus is wonderful.” |
| At Jones’ election night party hundreds of supporters, many waving signs, erupted in cheers at a hotel ballroom in Birmingham when, on giant TV screens, CNN declared the race for the Democrat. There were hugs, smiles, tears and chants of “We want Doug!” The raw emotion was evident. | At Jones’ election night party hundreds of supporters, many waving signs, erupted in cheers at a hotel ballroom in Birmingham when, on giant TV screens, CNN declared the race for the Democrat. There were hugs, smiles, tears and chants of “We want Doug!” The raw emotion was evident. |
| John Parker, 26, a bartender, said: “I think it’s astounding and unprecedented in Alabama politics and response to what we’re seeing nationally. This is a direct response President Trump. Roy Moore is unfit for any job, let alone a public servant. Alabama tonight voted for America.” | John Parker, 26, a bartender, said: “I think it’s astounding and unprecedented in Alabama politics and response to what we’re seeing nationally. This is a direct response President Trump. Roy Moore is unfit for any job, let alone a public servant. Alabama tonight voted for America.” |
| He added: “There is hope and joy. Tomorrow’s another day in Alabama.” Caitlin Barringer, 29, who works in healthcare, said: “It’s incredible. I was hopeful but the fact it’s happened, I am at a loss for words. We finally have a person who will represent all of Alabama. I can’t believe it’s taken this long for people to realise that Roy Moore is not what he says he is.” | He added: “There is hope and joy. Tomorrow’s another day in Alabama.” Caitlin Barringer, 29, who works in healthcare, said: “It’s incredible. I was hopeful but the fact it’s happened, I am at a loss for words. We finally have a person who will represent all of Alabama. I can’t believe it’s taken this long for people to realise that Roy Moore is not what he says he is.” |
| Looking at the media crews in the ballroom, she added: “I’m thankful everyone from all over the world is here and Alabama has shown we are so much more than closed minded people.” | Looking at the media crews in the ballroom, she added: “I’m thankful everyone from all over the world is here and Alabama has shown we are so much more than closed minded people.” |
| Community activist Keith Williams, 43, who is African American, said: “Miracles do happen. I have a message for America: don’t count Alabama out. The progressive movement is going forward.” | Community activist Keith Williams, 43, who is African American, said: “Miracles do happen. I have a message for America: don’t count Alabama out. The progressive movement is going forward.” |