Alabama certifies Doug Jones’s victory over Roy Moore in Senate election

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Doug Jones victory

Alabama has officially certified the election results of Democrat Doug Jones’s historic upset Senate victory over Republican Roy Moore on Thursday.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall and Secretary of State John Merrill signed off on results from all the Yellowhammer State’s 67 counties. The certification included both provisional and military ballots in the total, leaving Jones’ with a margin of victory of 21,924 votes with more than 1.3 million ballots cast.

Jones said he’s eager to get to work in the new year.

“I am looking forward to going to work for the people of Alabama in the new year,” Jones said in a statement. “As I said on election night, our victory marks a new chapter for our state and the nation. I will be an independent voice and work to find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Washington back on track and fight to make our country a better place for all.”

Thursday’s certification follows Moore’s refusal to concede in the wake of the ​initial ​election result​s​ earlier this month, ​insisting on certification of the votes and provisional ballots. On Wednesday, he filed a lawsuit alleging voter fraud may have occurred and called for a delay in the certification of the results. His complaint was denied by an Alabama judge shortly before the state was due to certify the results on Thursday.

Moore issued a statement following the certification, calling the election “fraudulent” and slamming the “Washington establishment.”
“Election fraud experts across the country have agreed that this was a fraudulent election,” Moore wrote. “… I’ve had to fight not only the Democrats but also the Republican Senate Leadership Fund and over $50 million in opposition spending from the Washington establishment. I have stood for the truth about God and the Constitution for the people of Alabama.”