Roy Moore’s loss in the Alabama Senate election Tuesday sent the message that Alabama voters “didn’t want somebody who dated 14-year-old girls,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Wednesday.
Democrat Doug Jones defeated Moore by 1.5 percentage points in the special election to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, who became attorney general earlier this year. With his win, Jones becomes Alabama’s first Democratic senator in 25 years.
On Wednesday, Johnson was asked by reporters what message Tuesday’s election sent.
“Alabamians didn’t want somebody who dated 14-year-old girls,” he said.
Johnson also said he hopes the election is a lesson for Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News and former White House chief strategist who was a champion for Moore’s candidacy.
“I hope he pays attention that you need good candidates to win Senate races,” he said.
Reporter: “What message did the election send last night?”
Sen. Johnson: “Alabamians didn't want somebody who dated 14-year-old girls.” pic.twitter.com/tmWDDxIw0G— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 13, 2017
Moore faced allegations that he pursued romantic and sexual relations with teenage girls as young as 14 when he was in his 30s.
The Washington Post revealed the relationships in a bombshell report published last month.
Nine women total accused Moore of inappropriate behavior.
