Washington, D.C. — Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement on the news that Doug Jones has defeated Judge Roy Moore and has been elected to the U.S. Senate to represent the state of Alabama. Moore was accused by nine different women of sexual assault—many of whom were underage at the time:
Doug Jones’ victory tonight shows that even in deep red Alabama, Americans across the country are rejecting Trump’s agenda, including his attacks on women, reproductive rights, immigrants, and the LGBT community. It’s a victory for the voices of women across the country who have been silenced and dismissed by men in power for too long; a victory for basic decency and an outright rejection of the racist, homophobic, and unconstitutional agenda espoused by Roy Moore and disgracefully embraced by leaders of the Republican majority, especially Donald Trump.
The Alabama election further exposes McConnell and Trump’s tax “plan” for what it is: a scheme to give corporations and the rich a massive tax cut at the expense of the middle class while ripping health care from families in Alabama and across the country. Make no mistake: The people of Alabama have spoken loud and clear that they want Jones to represent them. It’s incumbent on Republican leaders in Congress to show respect for this choice and wait until the candidate is seated to hold a vote on the tax proposal.
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