{"id":42773,"date":"2017-12-15T20:12:25","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T04:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/?p=42773"},"modified":"2017-12-15T20:12:25","modified_gmt":"2017-12-16T04:12:25","slug":"setback-for-president-trump-as-democrats-win-alabama-senate-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/setback-for-president-trump-as-democrats-win-alabama-senate-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Setback for President Trump as Democrats Win Alabama Senate Seat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senator-elect Doug Jones (D-AL) speaks during a rally, Dec. 13, in Birmingham, Alabama. Jones stated that President Donald Trump called him, Dec. 13, to congratulate him on his victory. (Mark Wallheiser\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Doug Jones scripted history to become the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat from Alabama, Dec. 13, defeating President Donald Trump-backed Republican candidate Roy Moore, whose campaign was marred by allegations that he had sexually abused teenagers, writes Lalit K. Jha.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Moore\u2019s defeat marks a major political blow to Trump, who endorsed the Alabama Republican and held a rally on his behalf. Although most national Republicans distanced themselves from Moore following the allegations against him, Trump reaffirmed his support to the firebrand conservative through tweets and public statements.<\/p>\n

With all counties reporting, the Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill reported Jones with 49.92% of the vote, and Moore with 48.38% of the vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank You Alabama!\u201d Jones, 63, tweeted.<\/p>\n

But Moore has so far refused to concede.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the vote is this close … it\u2019s not over,\u201d the 70- year-old told supporters after Jones declared victory in a special election.<\/p>\n

The margin of victory is well above the half a percentage point which would have triggered a recount.<\/p>\n

This is for the first time in a quarter century that a Democrat has won a Senate seat in the Republican stronghold of Alabama.<\/p>\n

The unexpected victory of Jones also narrowed the Republican majority in the 100-member Senate to 51-49. The result could also become a factor in upcoming legislative battles, as Republicans will have one less vote in the narrowly divided Senate in 2018, media reports said.<\/p>\n

During the brutal campaign, Moore faced allegations that he had molested or pursued relationships with teenage girls in the 1970s when he was in his 30s and an assistant district attorney.<\/p>\n

Trump congratulated Jones for his \u201chard fought\u201d victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to Doug Jones on a hard-fought victory,\u201d Trump tweeted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win,\u201d Trump said in his first reaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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!\u201d tweeted the President.<\/p>\n

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File photo of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a speech during the evening session on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (Alex Wong\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Washington Post<\/i> noted that Moore\u2019s defeat showcased voter backlash to sexual misconduct allegations and the limits of President Trump\u2019s political influence.<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019s victory in a part of the Deep South that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1992 was a dramatic repudiation of his opponent, Moore, a former state judge twice removed from office, the paper said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocrats pull off an upset in Alabama,\u201d The New York Times<\/i> said as it declared victory for Jones. It described the victory of Jones as a rare Democratic victory in a staunchly Republican state.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe race captivated the nation, not only for its debates over party loyalty and morality, but also for its also immense implications for both parties and the Trump presidency,\u201d the paper said.<\/p>\n

The stunning win by Jones in one of the nation\u2019s most conservative states raised questions not just about Trump\u2019s political acumen but also over whether his remarkable run, in which he crushed convention and defied political gravity, is beginning, finally, to run out of steam, CNN commented.<\/p>\n

With this victory, Jones, a former U.S. attorney, has become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama since 1992.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoug Jones will be an outstanding Senator who will represent Alabama well. He was a great candidate and will be an even better Senator,\u201d Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer said.<\/p>\n

Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said Jones\u2019 win was a massive victory for the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump, Steve Bannon and their anti-American, hate-filled agenda, voters in Alabama blocked a paedophile bigot from serving in the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n

Tonight s victory is a testament to the power of organizing and mobilizing,\u201d Jayapal said.<\/p>\n

Allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore drew national attention to the special election. The claims against Moore came amid a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct against several prominent men in the world of politics, entertainment and media.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Senator-elect Doug Jones (D-AL) speaks during a rally, Dec. 13, in Birmingham, Alabama. Jones stated that President Donald Trump called him, Dec. 13, to congratulate him on his victory. (Mark Wallheiser\/Getty Images) Doug Jones scripted history to become the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat from Alabama, Dec. 13, defeating President…<\/p>\n

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