The GOP Take: Why Roy Moore Lost His Senate Bid

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/11/gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-scaled.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:6:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1920;s:4:"file";s:81:"2017/11/gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-scaled.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:76:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-1536x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:76:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-2048x1536.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1536;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:72:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:74:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:11:"Scott Olson";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:121:"U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore faces allegations that he acted inappropriately toward a 14-year-old girl when he was 3";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:21:"gettyimages-853870026";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:1:{i:0;s:63:"campaign, conservative, politician, politics|storyid=563729047|";}}s:14:"original_image";s:66:"gettyimages-853870026-1558b510f18f8ec925659730629764c12410ac3d.jpg";}
        )

)
1616952102 
1513161834

Republicans across Alabama woke up in a state of shock Wednesday morning over Democrat Doug Jones’ stunning defeat of GOP candidate Roy Moore. A strong 40 percent turnout – much higher than state projections – was key to Jones’ victory, Republican strategist Jeff Vreeland said.

Jones also won solid support in urban areas and saw much support from African-American voters helped him beat Moore by 1.5 percentage points.

But as of Wednesday morning, Moore didn’t concede defeat. That’s not surprising to Republican strategist Jeff Vreeland. Nor is the idea that the 70-year-old Moore would stay politically active “I wouldn’t never count Roy Moore out of running for any office just because that’s who Roy Moore is,” he said. But running on the Alabama GOP ticket might be tough, Vreeland says, because Moore’s burned a lot of bridges.

Moore ran for governor twice and lost, and he was removed twice from the Alabama Supreme Court for refusing to comply with federal court rulings – first on removing a Ten Commandments monument form the Alabama Judicial Building and again for refusing to acknowledge same-sex marriage.

Moore’s volatility has long rubbed some Alabama Republicans the wrong way, Vreeland says. “But Republican politics is Republican politics in Alabama and people wanted a Republican in this office, and they’re waking up to a U.S. Senator who is part of the Democratic party.”

Vreeland says many Republicans sat out the election and thousands wrote in a candidate of their choice rather than cast a vote for Jones, a Democrat.

The tipping point for many Republicans centered on allegations of sexual misconduct Moore faced in recent weeks. Several women beginning last month said Moore had either sexually harassed or assaulted them. The incidents mostly involved teenage girls when Moore was in his 30’s.

“I think there’s a lot of relief in general for America, just not having to deal with another allegation in the United States Senate,” he said.

Secretary of State John Merrill said military ballots will be counted over the next week, and write-in ballots will be reviewed. He said he would certify the final vote tally between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3.

 

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

Anti-DEI bill becomes law as lawmakers return for the second half of the session

Alabama lawmakers returned from spring break this week to take on several priorities for the Republican majority. Chief among them was a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools, universities and government offices.

More Front Page Coverage