U.S. under Trump Series: Legislative challenges rise for Trump and Republicans as Roy Moore loses in Alabama

In a setback for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, Democratic candidate Doug Jones will be the new US senator from Alabama after defeating Republican Roy Moore in a special runoff election. Jones’ shocking victory increases the challenges for Senate Republicans, whose majority grew thinner to 51-49 and likely to increase the legislative challenges. Jones was declared the winner with 49.9 percent of the vote, compared to Moore's 48.4 percent, according to latest reporting.

After the result was declared, Mr. Jones tweeted, “Thank you ALABAMA!!” Jones also addressed his supporters in a speech after clinching his win, "I am truly, truly overwhelmed." Adding that he "always believed that the people of Alabama had more in common than to divide us."

Analysts say that Moore’s controversial past has caught up with him. The controversy surrounding Jones’ challenger, Moore, dates back to his days as chief justice in Alabama in 2001, when Moore hung a homemade Ten Commandments plaque on his courtroom wall. Defendants in the courtroom eventually issued complaints about the plaque, and also took issue with Moore's decision to begin court sessions with prayer. Moore did not comply with the orders, but after lawsuits were filed on behalf of three lawyers against the plaque; in 2003, a federal court order forced its removal from Moore’s courtroom. That same year, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary unanimously ordered Moored to be removed from his position as chief justice. However, the biggest of controversies were allegations of sexual assaults. Sexual assault accusations against Moore started to flood in from a total of nine women, while seven of the women claim Moore sexually assaulted, harassed or had a relationship with them when they were teenagers, and Moore was in his 30s.

Despite all the allegations, President Trump extended his support for Roy Moore, saying that he would support his legislative agenda. After Jones victory, Trump tweeted congratulating Jones, “Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win. The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends!”

Doug Jones became the first Democratic Senator to win in Alabama in more than two decades and that is likely to ring bells in Washington.