Democrat Doug Jones wins in Alabama Senate upset

Doug Jones has become the first Democrat in 25 years to win a US Senate seat for Alabama after a bitter campaign against Republican Roy Moore.His unexpected victory deals a blow to President Donald Trump, who backed Mr Moore

Supporters of Doug Jones celebrate at the election night party in Birmingham, Alabama - Reuters
Supporters of Doug Jones celebrate at the election night party in Birmingham, Alabama – Reuters

and narrows the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49.
With 99% of the votes counted, Mr Moore refused to concede on Tuesday night.
He fought a controversial campaign, in which allegations surfaced of sexual misconduct with teenage girls.
Mr Moore, a firebrand conservative who has said he believes that homosexual activity should be illegal, has repeatedly denied the claims against him.
Why hasn’t Roy Moore conceded?
Many media outlets have reported the election in favour of Mr Jones, and 99% of the votes have been counted.
But Mr Moore, 70, told his supporters it was not yet over.
“We’ve been painted in an unfavourable and unfaithful light,” he said. “Realise that when the vote is this close that it’s not over.”
He said he believed the margin of victory could narrow as more votes poured in, which could trigger an automatic recount.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said a recount could be ordered if the margin is narrowed to less than half a percentage point.
Although Mr Moore did not concede, President Trump, congratulated Mr Jones in a tweet shortly after US media declared him the winner, adding that “Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time”.
Who is Doug Jones?
Mr Jones told his supporters in a victory speech that the “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 which zip code you live in, is going to get a fair shake in life,” he said before the crowd erupted in cheers.
The 63-year-old is a former lawyer known for helping convict two Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church in 1963 in Birmingham, killing four girls. He has never held elected office.
Who is Alabama Democrat Doug Jones?
Mr Jones wins the seat vacated by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this year.
Why was Roy Moore so controversial?
The former judge has made headlines for a series of incendiary remarks over the years, including his belief that Muslims are not fit to serve in Congress.
Things Republican Roy Moore believes
But it was allegations of sexual misconduct made by several women, some when they were teenagers, that dogged Mr Moore’s campaign and drew national attention to the special election.
One accuser alleges Mr Moore molested her when she was 14 while another claims he sexually assaulted her in a car while she was a teenager.
The claims against Mr Moore came amid a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent figures that have led to the resignation of three politicians.
A flawed candidate – or an anti-Trump wave?
Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington