Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore arrives on horseback to vote on election day in Gallant, Ala. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special Senate election. Photo by Cameron Carnes/UPI | License Photo

Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones lifts 4 year old Kaiden Kelley up for a photo as he campaigns outside the polls on Tuesday. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Supporters of Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore watch results coming in at his election night rally on Tuesday in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore lost to the Democrat Doug Jones in the special Senate election. Photo by Cameron Carnes/UPI | License Photo

Supporters of Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore watch results coming in at his election night rally on Tuesday in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore lost to the Democrat Doug Jones in the special Senate election. Photo by Cameron Carnes/UPI | License Photo

Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore delivers remarks at his election night rally on Tuesday in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore lost to the Democrat Doug Jones in the special Senate election. Photo by Cameron Carnes/UPI | License Photo

Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore greets supporters at his election night rally before the election was called onTuesday in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore lost to the Democrat Doug Jones in the special Senate election. Photo by Cameron Carnes/UPI | License Photo

Iris Schneider is overcome with joy as Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones shakes hands on stage behind her after winning the Senate seat on Tuesday. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Connor Welch, watches election results and reacts to CNN calling Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones as the winner at his election night rally on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Emily Bell, left, and Connor Welch, second from left along with other supporters of Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones react to CNN calling their candidate as the winner at his election night rally on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones shakes hands with supporters at his election night rally after winning the Senate seat. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones celebrates his victory over Republican candidate Judge Roy Moore with his granddaughter at his election night rally after winning the Senate seat on Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Victorious Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones arrives on stage at an election night rally in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday night after winning the close race over Republican Roy Moore. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Doug Jones on Tuesday narrowly won Alabama's tightly contested race over controversial Republican Roy Moore -- becoming the state's first Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter-century.

Jones topped Moore by about 1 percent of the vote.


"Thank you ALABAMA!!" Jones wrote on Twitter following the win.

In his victory speech, Jones said Alabama has "shown the country the way, that we can be unified."

"I have always believed that the people of Alabama have more in common than divides us," he said.

Jones' victory narrows the Republican Senate majority to 51-49 -- meaning the upper chamber could switch majorities after next year's midterm elections. No Democrat from Alabama had been elected to the U.S. Senate since 1992.

Moore refused to concede the race, with Jones leading by about 20,000 votes with virtually all the votes counted, according to NBC News.

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"When the vote is this close, it's not over," Moore said at his election night rally. "Part of the problem with this campaign is that we've been painted in an unfavorable and unfaithful light. We've been put in a hole."

"Let this process play out," he added.

President Donald Trump, who supported Moore throughout the campaign, offered Jones congratulations on the win.

"Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory," he wrote on Twitter. "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!"

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praised Jones while welcoming him to the Senate.

"Doug Jones will be an outstanding Senator who will represent Alabama well. He was a great candidate and will be an even better Senator," he said.

Polls previously indicated a close race between Moore and Jones, and the official count followed suit.

In the run up to the vote, Trump maintained his vocal support of Moore and recorded an automated call encouraging Republican voters to back him fr the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

"Roy Moore is the guy we need to pass our 'Make America Great Again' agenda," Trump said. "Roy is a conservative who will help me steer this country back on track after eight years of the Obama disaster. Get out and vote for Roy Moore."

Former President Barack Obama recorded his own automated calls for Jones, urging Alabama voters to get out and vote -- a message perhaps born from last year's presidential election when many Democratic voters in key swing states stayed home.

Jones also received out-of-state help from fellow Democrats including Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker as they joined him on the home-stretch of his campaign.

The race was plagued by allegations against Moore by eight women who accused him of sexual misconduct when he was in his 30s, and in some cases when they were in their teens. Forty-three percent of Alabama residents said in a survey they believe the accusations of misconduct against Moore.

Moore has denied the accusations.