Democrat Doug Jones pulled off a major upset Tuesday night, but he will likely have to wait until 2018 to take his seat in the U.S. Senate.

Jones victory cuts the Republican advantage in the Senate down to 51 votes, so GOP leaders are in no hurry to seat the former federal prosecutor. Politics aside, there are procedural matters as well.

Alabama counties have until Dec. 22 to report results to the State Canvassing Board which is made up of Gov. Kay Ivey, Secretary of State John Merrill and Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall. The earliest the winner could be certified is Dec. 26 but it could take until Jan. 3. Once the election is certified, the official results will be sent to the Senate which would move to seat Jones.

Lawmakers will reconvene in Washington Jan. 3 after the holiday break so Jones' likely won't take office until at least that day.

There's also the matter of a possible recount request coming from Republican Roy Moore, though it's unlikely that would delay Jones' assuming office. Recounts can only occur after the votes been certified, or after Alabama's new Democratic Senator has taken office.

Merrill said he does not think a recount will change the results.

Democrats in the Senate are pushing for Jones to be sworn in quickly, especially as Congress considers Trump's tax plan.

Doug Jones should be seated without delay. The people of Alabama have a right to be represented by the person they elected in this tax debate. — Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) December 13, 2017

Delays in seating a Senator is not unheard of. According to CNN, Sen. Scott Brown, a Massachusetts Republican, waited 16 days from his election to his swearing-in while Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, faced a 15-day wait when he was elected in 2013. And Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, waited 21 days between being elected to replace John Kerry and taking office in 2013.