Tommy Tuberville had a large victory over Senate incumbent Doug Jones Tuesday night. Republicans statewide faired well.
The senate race was thought of as competitive entering the night, but Tuberville won just over 61 percent of the vote with 90 percent of the vote reporting. Tuberville improved heavily on Roy Moore’s 2017 performance with 11 counties that had voted for Jones in the 2017 special election flipped to Tuberville including major population centers in Madison, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties.
“Tonight, the liberals of California, New York and Washington, D.C. learned the hard way that Alabama’s senate seat cannot be bought,” Tuberville said in his victory speech to a crowd of supporters at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery. “If you allow me to quote one of my opponent’s many campaign ads ‘they can all go to hell and get a job as far as I’m concerned,” he added.
True to his football roots, Tuberville accepted a game ball just before giving his victory speech.
At the top of the ballot, President Donald Trump bested Democratic nominee Joe Biden in Alabama with just over 65 percent with 90 percent of the vote reporting. Nationally, things are still up in the air as the vote count continues in several states.
Further down the ballot, Republican Twinkle Cavanaugh was elected to a third term over Democratic challenger Laura Casey, and Republicans won 6 of 7 House congressional districts.
On the amendment front, amendments one, three, four, five and six have all been called as yes votes.
The most discussed of these was amendment four that allows for the state legislature to remove racist language from the state constitution.
Amendment one changed a sentence in the Alabama constitution from saying that “every citizen” of the United States can vote to “only a citizen”.
Amendment three allows for longer terms for judicial appointments. Amendments five and six create a constitutional provision for stand your ground laws within churches in Lauderdale and Franklin counties.
Amendment two that would make significant changes to the Alabama court system is still too close to call.
Jones ran a couple of points ahead of the Joe Biden, but it was not enough to overcome Alabama’s strong conservative bent.
In a speech from Pepper Place in Lakeview, Jones thanked supporters and called for Tuberville to represent the entire state.
“You know tonight did not turn out the way we wanted,” Jones said in a speech from Pepper Place in Birmingham. “I’m gonna be reaching out to Coach Tuberville to congratulate him and offer our support in whatever transition we can do and to remind him that he represents one Alabama and not just those folks that voted. He represents everybody, and that’s what we tried to do.’
