Updated 6:45 p.m. | Alabama officials certified the special Senate election results Thursday, declaring Democrat Doug Jones the winner.

Jones is expected to be sworn into office on Jan. 3, his spokesman confirmed. He will be the first Democratic senator to represent Alabama in 25 years.

“I am looking forward to going to work for the people of Alabama in the new year,” said Jones said in a statement. “As I said on election night, our victory marks a new chapter for our state and the nation. I will be an independent voice and work to find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Washington back on track and fight to make our country a better place for all.”

Jones won the Dec. 12 special election by nearly 22,000 votes in the traditionally Republican state, a margin of 1.6 points. He beat Roy Moore, the controversial former state Supreme Court Chief Justice, who was accused of sexual misconduct with teenagers.

Moore has still not conceded the race and continues to argue that voter fraud was prevalent in the election. His campaign filed a lawsuit late Wednesday night, less than 24 hours before the election was to be certified, to delay certification.