Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., declared Wednesday the Republican Party’s brand is “positively toxic” in the wake of Judge Roy Moore’s loss to Democratic Senator-elect Doug Jones in the Alabama Senate special election Tuesday night.
Schumer pointed to various reasons why Democrats were able to come away victorious, including increased energy among the Democratic base and with suburban residents. However, he said the Republicans are largely at fault for the loss
“Roy Moore was a terrible candidate, but it would be a big mistake for Republicans to dismiss his loss only as a result of Moore’s personal past,” Schumer said during a Wednesday morning press conference, pointing to allegations of sexual misconduct against the two-time chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
“The Republican brand, even in deep-red Alabama, is positively toxic,” Schumer said.
The Senate Democratic leader noted exit polls showed Trump’s approval and disapproval rating in the state were even at 48 percent despite his 28-point victory there over Hillary Clinton in November.
He also argued that while the loss is a referendum on Republicans, including the GOP tax bill that is set to be voted on next week, Moore also should receive blame for losing in one of the most Republican states in the country.
“There are seeds of each in the election, but it was not simply Roy Moore’s conduct where a majority of Republican voters sided with Roy Moore on that issue,” Schumer said. “There’s a great discontent about the way Donald Trump has conducted his presidency, and there’s a great deal of discontent about the policies the Republicans are pursuing.”
Schumer also called on Republicans to delay a vote on their tax plan until after Jones will be sworn-in and seated. However, the senator-elect will likely not be seated until January due to the state’s process of certifying the election results, which Schumer noted.
A vote on the tax bill is still expected next week before Christmas while Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., remains a sitting senator.
