WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- Democrat Doug Jones was officially certified by election officials Thursday as the winner of the U.S. Senate race held in the southern state of Alabama earlier this month, despite fraud claims by his opponent, Roy Moore.
Jones defeated Moore on Dec. 12 by about 22,000 votes, making him the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat in deeply-red Alabama.
In a statement Thursday, Jones said he was "looking forward to going to work" in the new year.
Moore, whose campaign was dogged by sexual misconduct accusations, including some involving teenage girls decades ago, refused to concede defeat in the wake of the election result and even filed a lawsuit Wednesday raising claims of election fraud.
He asked for a delay in certifying Jones as the winner and called for a new special election.
"This is not a Republican or Democrat issue as election integrity should matter to everyone," Moore said in a statement announcing the complaint late Wednesday.
In response, a spokesman for Jones labeled Moore's lawsuit as a "desperate attempt," while urging the Republican to move on.
A Montgomery Circuit judge on Thursday denied Moore's attempt to delay the certification of votes.
Alabama election officials also said they found no evidence of voting irregularities, but promised that any complaint that Moore submits will be investigated.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said earlier Thursday that Jones would be sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence when the Senate returns in early January.
Jones and Moore competed for the Senate seat that previously belonged to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. With Jones' victory over Moore, the Republican Senate majority was trimmed to 51-49.
国内英语资讯:Xi urges rescue, follow-up efforts after fatal accident in E China
广西钦州市高新区2016-2017学年高二11月月考英语试卷
广西钦州市高新区2016-2017学年高一11月月考英语试卷
浙江省杭州市五县七校2016-2017学年高一上学期期中联考英语试卷
黑龙江省大庆市杜蒙县2016-2017学年高二12月月考英语试卷
体坛英语资讯:Barca and Madrid both win to maintain title head to head
广东省肇庆市2016-2017学年高二上学期期末考试英语试卷
湖北省重点高中联考协作体2016-2017学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷(扫描版)
如何备战重要考试?
国际英语资讯:About 85 percent Americans think U.S. now more divided than before: poll
江西省赣州市十三县(市)十四校2016-2017学年高二上学期期中联考英语试卷
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Xi wraps up LatAm tour as Chinas regional, global role growing bigger
别人首先会注意到你哪一点?
体坛英语资讯:Winners Monaco and PSG locked in the final battle for Ligue 1 title
广西钦州市钦州港区2016-2017学年高二11月月考英语试卷
国内英语资讯:China orders safety overhaul after deadly power plant accident
国内英语资讯:China, EU political, business heavyweights end Hamburg Summit
国内英语资讯:China, South Africa to cement cooperation, party-to-party exchanges
我国首次发布“海洋经济发展指数”
国内英语资讯:Death toll from E China construction site collapse rises to 74
福建省龙海市程溪中学2016-2017学年高一年下学期期中考英语试卷
应对起床气的10大妙招!告别坏脾气!
山东省济宁市历城区2016-2017学年高二上学期模块考试(期中)英语试卷
国内英语资讯:Chinese president arrives in Chile for state visit
福建省四地六校2016-2017学年高一上学期第二次(12月)月考英语试卷
国内英语资讯:Top legislator stresses brainstorming in making civil code
浙江省湖州市2016-2017学年高一上学期期中考试英语试卷
江西省赣州市十三县(市)十四校2016-2017学年高一上学期期中联考英语试卷
联合国谴责4名维和人员在中非被杀
湖北省黄冈市蕲春县2016-2017学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷