Doug Jones has claimed victory over a Senate seat in the Alabama election, becoming the first Democrat to do so in 25 years.
The move is a highly unusual one in the diehard Republican state of Alabama, where Jones won by a margin of 49.9 to 48.4 with 94% of precincts reporting.
Jones defeated Roy Moore, a controversial Donald Trump-backed Republican who failed to overcome his tarnished reputation following a wave of sexual misconduct claims during his campaign.
Moore had originally been favoured in the deep red state until mid-November, when two women came forward with claims that Moore had assaulted them when they were teenagers. President Trump continued his unwavering support of the republican candidate, despite the serious allegations against him.
Upon hearing the news of his victory, Jones took to Twitter to thank all those who’d voted for him.
“On a very personal level, I want to thank each of you for fulfilling a lifelong dream to serve in the U.S Senate.
We have work to do in this state.
Thank you all, god bless you.”
Doug Jones, election night victory.#RightSideOfHistory pic.twitter.com/mpgFGAqofg
— Doug Jones (@DougJones) December 13, 2017
The tweet said: “On a very personal level, I want to thank each of you for fulfilling a lifelong dream to serve in the U.S Senate. We have work to do in this state. Thank you all, god bless you.” Doug Jones, election night victory. #RightSideOfHistory”
President Trump has since congratulated Doug Jones in an uncharacteristically gracious way on his victory, but not without getting a little dig in.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2017
”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!”
Upon winning, Jones spoke to an ecstatic reception stating that he believed in the power of Alabama’s unity rather than its divisions: “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.”
“I have always believed that the people of Alabama had more in common than what would divide us.”
Jones has won the senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
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