For the first time in 25 years, a Democrat takes the seat as the Alabama Senate representative. The reality that Jones has defeated Moore is a staggering upset to many Alabama natives, since Alabama is famously known as one of the most Republican-leaning states in America.

This particular election was highly controversial since Moore has had multiple accusations of sexual misconduct and assault. Several women came forward in the days leading up to the election to say that Moore had romantically pursued them when they were just teenagers and he was in his 30s. Some had even gone to say that he had sexually assaulted them, and one women said that Moore had pursued her when she was just 14 years old. The President has also come to Moore’s defense after these accusations, endorsing his election as well as rallying for him at a campaign event just across Alabama’s state line. Moore’s campaign had deflected questions about his long history of controversial remarks.

A source close to the White House had revealed that Moore’s defeat is “devastating for the President.”

Jones’ victory was aided immensely by not only the countless scandals against Moore, but also his harsh views on race and religion; he has made remarks that homosexuality should be a crime and that Muslims should not be allowed in Congress.

Additionally, Jones has countless attributes that backed his victory. Most prominently, he was a former U.S. attorney who prosecuted two Ku Klux Klan members for the Birmingham 1963 church bombing. This fueled his success since this resulted in near unanimous support from African Americans, as well as a huge turn out from them. According to CNN, 30 percent of the voters were black, which was even higher than when Barack Obama was on the ballot.

This election has allowed Democrats to have chance of retaking control of the Senate next year.