After falling to Democrat Doug Jones by a little over 20,000 votes this week, Roy Moore is refusing to concede the Alabama Senate race until a final count of each and every vote is completed.
“In this race, we’ve not received the final count to include military and provisional ballots,” Moore said in a video released Wednesday night. “This has been a very close race and we are awaiting certification by the secretary of state.”
The Alabama judge, whose campaign was sullied with allegations he sexually assaulted several women when they were young teens, lost in a stunning upset Tuesday night and refused to accept defeat then. His opponent went on to become the first Democrat to be elected to the Alabama Senate in over 20 years.
Moore is now left playing the waiting game, as the election will be certified no earlier than Dec. 26 but no later than Jan. 3, according to CNN.
In the video, the embattled politician thanked his family and supporters and doubled down on his ultra-conservative campaign rhetoric.
“I believe the heart and soul of our country is at stake,” Moore said. ” …We are indeed in a struggle to preserve our republic, our civilization and our religion and to set free a suffering humanity. Today, we no longer recognize the universal truth that God is [the] author of our life and liberty. Abortions, sodomy and materialism have taken the place of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
He went on to note the sexual misconduct allegations levied against him by at least 8 women, seemingly blaming the controversy for costing him the election.
“Even our political process has been affected with baseless and false allegations which have become more relevant than the issues which affect our country,” he said. “This election was tainted by over $50 million from outside groups who want to retain power and their corrupt ideology.”
Election victor Doug Jones remained unfazed by Moore’s notion that all votes had not been counted, however. During an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show Wednesday, Jones said he had “no doubt” about the election results, adding that it’d be best that Moore “go ahead and let’s get this behind us.”
“(I)t’s time to move on,” he said. “Every race is tough. It’s bitter sometimes. I think this one was one that the people of Alabama have now spoken a little bit, and they decided to heal.”
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill has also called it “highly unlikely” that Jones would not be declared the victor in the election.
