Roy Moore is out. Doug Jones is in. The Alabama Senate contest was a close run, but the Democrats now have a very significant win in a deep red state.
Trump won the state by 28 points last year, but the Democrats were the ones touted to win the Alabama Senate special election. Though narrow, the defeat of Moore represents a subtle shift in the will of Alabamian voters.
Jones fought a relatively clean battle against Moore, not dragging in the latter’s overhanging accusations but merely referencing them.
However, due credit should also be given to Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.). At the last minute he declared that he had not voted for Moore, which is likely to have swung several Republican votes towards Jones.
Another major factor was the voter turnout. At least 30% of those who voted were African-American according to early exit polls, and there was also rousing support from younger voters.
The biggest credit obviously goes to all Alabamian voters, who showed marginal yet decisive support for the Democratic candidate.
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