MONTGOMERY — The 2020 general election was held across the country on Tuesday, and Tommy Tuberville has defeated U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race.
Tuberville, the Republican nominee, was up double digits in all publicly released independent polls in the contest.
Jones, Alabama’s incumbent junior senator, outspent the challenger by a huge margin. As of the most recent data reported to the FEC (as of October 14), Jones raised $25,258,418.06 in his reelection bid, spending $24,851,769.65. The Democrat did not face a primary challenger, meaning he only had to focus on the general election when it came to campaigning.
Meanwhile, Tuberville raised $7,226,009.13 and spent $6,730,151.08. It should be noted much of this was for a heavily contested primary and then primary runoff.
Unofficial election results for Alabama can be followed here.
UPDATE 10:20 p.m.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) released a statement congratulating Tuberville on his victory.
“Congratulations to Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville on his landslide victory in Alabama,” said Young. “Coach Tuberville will be a staunch advocate for conservative values and Alabamians, and I look forward to working with him to advance the Republican agenda in the Senate.”
UPDATE 10:45 p.m.
Tuberville fired up the crowd in his victory speech, after being introduced by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) and campaign co-chair Alabama House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville.)
“Tonight, the liberals of California, New York and Washington, D.C., learned the hard way that Alabama’s Senate seat cannot be bought,” Tuberville remarked. “If you allow me to quote my opponent’s many campaign ads, they can all go to hell and get a job as far as I’m concerned.”
He added, “I want to thank Doug Jones for his hard work and effort, but it’s time to go home. Sometimes you end up on the wrong side of the score board, and it was a big score board loss for him.”
During his speech, Tuberville took a call from Vice President Mike Pence while on stage. Pence addressed the crowd via speakerphone.
“As the media has pointed out, I didn’t get here the normal way,” the senator-elect commented following the call from Pence. “I’m not a career politician, and I’m not from the swamp. I’m an outsider who believes in conservative values.”
Tuberville said his election is evidence that ordinary Americans who love their country and want to give back can be elected to public office. He encouraged people to “step up,” “stick your neck out” and “be a leader.”
“We need people to do this,” he stressed. “If Tommy Tuberville can stand up here tonight, you can stand up here, too.”
Tuberville subsequently pledged to represent the majority of Alabamians as the state’s junior senator-elect. He framed the next few years as a crossroads for our nation, with a choice between socialism and embracing the American Dream.
“I know which path I want to go,” he noted. “I’m going to fight like heck against Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, AOC — all these fringe liberals in Washington, D.C., as we march toward the shining city on a hill — that’s what Ronald Reagan called it.”
Tuberville concluded with three promises to the people of Alabama.
“First and foremost, I’ll be guided by our shared values, conservative values,” he said. “And I will always vote for the majority of people in the state of Alabama and not for a party like Doug Jones did.”
“I’m going to work every day to serve your needs and keep your trust and make you proud that I’m your representative,” Tuberville continued. “I work for you. Your representative in Washington, D.C.”
“And finally, each time that I step on the Senate floor — and you’re going to like some of my speeches, I promise you that… I will be mindful of the words when I walk onto that Senate floor of 2 Corinthians 3:17, which reads, ‘Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.’ With God’s blessing and your support, I’ll serve you well as your United States Senator. And together, we can ensure our nation remains the greatest nation ever on the face of this earth,” he concluded.
This is breaking news and will be updated.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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