Republicans may be ready to move on from the embarrassing candidacy and defeat of Roy Moore, but Moore is not giving up on his dream of becoming Alabama’s next senator. The disgraced former Alabama Supreme Court Justice is now suing to block the state from certifying Democrat Doug Jones’ victory.
Moore refuses to concede his defeat to Doug Jones by around 20,000 votes in a special election earlier this month. He blames his loss on “potential election fraud” rather than on the allegations of sexual misconduct that derailed his radical campaign for Senate.
It seems unlikely that Roy Moore’s last-minute suit will have any effect.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said there are no plans to delay the meeting of the canvassing board which will certify the results.
“It is not going to delay certification and Doug Jones will be certified at 1 PM CST and he will be sworn in by Vice President Pence on the third of January,” he insisted.
The Jones’ campaign is firing back at Moore’s action nonetheless.
“The election is over. It’s time to move on,” Sam Coleman, a Jones spokesman wrote in an email calling Moore’s suit a “desperate attempt … to subvert the will of the people.”
Only one thing to say to Roy Moore….Hit the road, Roy. And don’t you come back No Moore. No Moore. Hit the road, Roy, and don’t you come back No Moore.
Boy, bye. https://t.co/xaGou7aULa
— Ana Navarro
Many Republicans will likely breathe a sigh of relief when the results are certified, potentially allowing them to finally move on from a candidacy that caused nationwide embarrassment for the party, though those who supported Moore are likely to see that support in 2018 ads. Moore’s initial primary victory came as an unpleasant shock to party leaders, including President Trump, who had backed current Alabama Senator Luther Strange.
Republicans feared Moore, who had twice been kicked off the Alabama Supreme Court, could lose the election even before the allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.
After the election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell mocked Steve Bannon, who helped propel Moore to his primary win.
“The political genius on display, throwing away a seat in the reddest state in America, is hard to ignore,” McConnell said.
