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News > World

African-Americans, Women Hand Republican Roy Moore Defeat in Alabama

  • Moore refuses to concede defeat after losing senate race.

    Moore refuses to concede defeat after losing senate race. | Photo: Reuters FILE

Published 13 December 2017
Opinion

New York Times reported Jones statistics as 671,151 votes (49.9%), while Moore received 650,436 (48.4%) following 100 percent of precincts counted.

Embattled Republican Roy Moore was handed defeat by Democrat Doug Jones in Tuesday's Alabama U.S. Senate race, according to multiple media outlet projections.

RELATED: 
Trump: Moore Should 'Step Aside' If Allegations Are True

African-Americans, women and moderates were the driving force behind Jones' victory, NBC reported. According to an exit poll, Jones won 95% of the African-American vote but only 27% of the white vote. Jones reportedly also won over college-educated white voters.

New York Times reported Jones statistics as 671,151 votes (49.9%), while Moore received 650,436 (48.4%) following 100 percent of precincts counted. The Republican representative, who remained the favorite amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, was outright endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the top three counties Jefferson, Madison and Mobile, Jones' 149,522, 65,664, 62,253 outperformed Moore's 66,309, 46,313 and 46,725 , respectively. Central Alabama centered on a democratic demographic compared to the majority of the northern and southern regions going to Moore.

Media reports say Jones eeked out the win over Moore with the help of thousands of write-in ballots – 22,780 or 1.7% votes, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s office – to become the state's first Democratic senator since 1992.

Democrat Doug Jones defeated Trump-endorsed Roy Moore in Alabama senate race. Photo: Reuters

In a speech after the projections were made, Jones said: “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.”

“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,” Jones added.

In an unusual turn of events, Trump took to Twitter to congratulated Jones on his victory.

But, a Moore camp official told NBC News that the candidate will not to concede defeat citing the inconclusiveness of the race results.

Moore's campaign manager, Rich Hobson, said "Some people are calling it. We are not calling it," and asked the candidate's supporters to pray for him.

The declaration was made late Tuesday, though the Alabama Republican Party recognized Jones as the winner in a release, saying "while we are deeply disappointed...we respect the voting process given to us by our Founding Fathers."

The final tally of the write-in ballots, which could go either way and trigger a recount, is expected to be completed by next Tuesday. Under Alabama election laws, a recount is mandatory if the margin of victory is within 0.5 percent. The current margin is outside of recount territory.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told CNN that result of the senate race is “highly unlikely” to change. "There's not a whole lot of errors that occur," he explained.

Several women alleged that an adult Moore made advances on them while they were minors.

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