What do You Think of the Election in Alabama?

There are many, many variables involved in the Senate election that just occurred in Alabama. The state has been historically more conservative and most predictably a “red” state in recent election cycles. But, in this case, the Democrat won. That is quite an accomplishment given the politics of a majority of people in Alabama.

The winner, Doug Jones, is expected to be a sure, predictable vote for the Senate leadership on the Democrat side. He is very unlikely to “cross the aisle” to vote with Republicans as he assured voters in Alabama. Much of his win can be attributed to Republican voters who stayed home, and even more so, to Republican voters who wrote in their choice for candidates who were not Judge Moore. There were not just a few of these voters, but thousands.

The allegations against Judge Moore happened 38 or 40 years ago, if they happened. His accusers, appear to be political operatives and the woman who claimed he signed her yearbook later admitted that the salutation was her own. Yet, the seed was planted. In many cases in politics, you are guilty until proven innocent, unlike the steps that are supposed to occur in our justice system. Even many conservatives didn’t believe that Al Franken, a person many of them detest, should have to leave the Senate.

Will GOP voters reject Jones in 2020 when they realize that he holds positions, and will vote those positions, that happen to be antithetical to their own positions on issues? Will Jones, along with some of the Republican Senators who actually do “cross the aisle” keep important legislation from being enacted? (such as lowering taxes)

Was this a massive victory for the Democratic Party or did many Alabama voters, who believed the allegations, vote their conscious or not vote for this reason? This story is more complex than it may seem on the surface and it proves one thing; the decision must be with the voters of that state.