The win by Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama for Senate Tuesday is a benefit for the national Republican Party, according to the Wall Street Journal's editorial board.
The defeat of controversial Republican candidate Roy Moore is a "painful lesson" for Alabama Republicans, the board said, "but it's also a useful act of political hygiene for the national Republican Party given the accusations of sexual misconduct against the former judge."
Moore would have been damaging to the party's chances in 2018, the Journal says and "Democrats were primed to make Mr. Moore a national symbol of sexual harassment to drive turnout among women. GOP incumbents would have been asked about Mr. Moore every day."
"Mr. Moore was a political self-implosion waiting to happen," according to the board.
The defeat of Moore was also a defeat for Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist, says the Journal and "the Alabama result shows that Mr. Bannon cares less about conservative policy victories than he does personal king-making."
Another message is from voters to Trump and the Republican Party: "They will only accept so much misbehavior in a politician, no matter the policy stakes."
Jones "will fit right in" with Senate Democrats, the board wrote, saying that he would be a reliable supporter for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The narrowing of the Republican Senate majority to 51-49 will give more individual senators an opportunity to "grandstand," the board wrote.
Moore called for a recount of the close vote, saying, "It's not over."
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