Doug Jones Says Goodbye To Senate

WASHINGTON, DC — After becoming the first Democratic senator to represent Alabama in Washington in three decades, Sen. Doug Jones ended his term Friday. The senator from Mountain Brook was defeated in November by Republican Tommy Tuberville.

"To the people of Alabama: thank you. When I was elected to this seat, I promised to do my best to represent each of you whether or not you voted for me, and I’m proud of the work that we were able to accomplish together," Jones said in a statement Friday. "From working to expand Medicaid in Alabama to supporting Alabama’s military through my seat on the Armed Services Committee, fighting for civil rights and voting rights, advocating for small businesses and working families, to making a quality education more accessible, it has been the great honor of my life to serve as your United States Senator."

The road to Washington was an unlikely one for Jones, as he won a special election in 2017 over Republican challenger Roy Moore to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions. Sessions was appointed attorney general when Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Gov. Robert Bentley then appointed Luther Strange to Sessions' seat.

The appointment of Strange caused a riff among Alabamians of both political parties, as Strange had been Alabama's AG and was investigating Bentley for improprieties — including an alleged affair with a staff member — and many saw Strange's appointment as a way for Bentley to avoid an investigation.

When Gov. Kay Ivey took over in Montgomery upon Bentley's resignation, she ordered a special election to fill the senate seat, which Jones won in a shocking upset.

Jones may not be returning to Alabama for long, however, as he has been mentioned as a front-runner to become the Attorney General under President-elect Joe Biden.