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Doug Jones
United States Senator
from Alabama
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 15, 2017
Serving with Bridget Whittaker
Preceded byLuther Strange
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2025
Preceded bySheldon Whitehouse
Chair of the Senate Banking Committee
In office
January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded byCatherine Cortez Masto
Succeeded byBeto O’Rourke
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama
In office
September 8, 1997 – January 20, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byClaude Harris Jr.
Succeeded byAlice Martin
Personal details
Born
Gordon Douglas Jones

(1954-05-04) May 4, 1954 (age 70)
Fairfield, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLouise New
EducationUniversity of Alabama (BS)
Samford University (JD)
Signature
WebsiteCampaign website

Gordon Douglas Jones (born May 4, 1954) is an American attorney, prosecutor, and politician who currently serves as the senior Senator from Alabama. Jones served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and is known for prosecuting the remaining two Ku Klux Klan perpetrators of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which killed four African-American girls, along with securing an indictment against the Olympic Park Bomber.[1] Jones was the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate special election in Alabama against Republican nominee Roy Moore, which took place on December 12, 2017.[2]. He won an upset victory in that election after pedophilia accusations against his opponent, Judge Roy Moore, and has since been re-elected twice. He is the committee chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 122nd Senate.

Early life

[edit]

Doug Jones was born in 1954 in Fairfield, Alabama, to Gordon and Gloria Jones.[3] His father worked at U.S. Steel and his mother was a homemaker.[4] Jones graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1976 and earned his Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1979. He began his career by working as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for Senator Howell Heflin from Alabama.[5] Jones then worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1980 to 1984 before resigning to work at a private law firm in Birmingham, Alabama, from 1984 to 1997.[6]

U.S. Attorney

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President Bill Clinton announced on August 18, 1997, his intent to appoint Jones as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama,[7] and formally nominated Jones to the post on September 2, 1997.[8] On September 8, 1997, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama appointed Jones as interim U.S. Attorney. The Senate confirmed Jones' nomination on November 8, 1997,[8] by voice vote.[9]

In January 1998, Eric Rudolph bombed the New Woman All Women Health Care Center in Birmingham. Jones became responsible for coordinating the state and federal task force in the aftermath, and advocated for Rudolph to be tried first in Birmingham before being extradited and tried in Georgia for his crimes in that state, such as the Centennial Olympic Park bombing.[10][11]

16th Street Baptist Church bombing case

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Jones prosecuted Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry, two members of the Ku Klux Klan, for their roles in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The case was reopened the year before Jones was appointed, but did not pick up traction until his appointment. A federal grand jury was called in 1998 which piqued Cherry's ex-wife, Willadean Cherry's, attention and led her to call the FBI to report her testimony. Willadean then introduced Jones to family and friends who reported their own experiences from the time of the bombing. A key piece of evidence was a tape from the time of the bombing in which Blanton stated that he had had to meet up with others to make the bomb. Jones was deputized in order to argue in state court and was able to indict Blanton and Cherry in 2000.[12][13] Blanton was found guilty in 2001, and Cherry was found guilty in 2002. Both Blanton and Cherry were sentenced to life in prison. Blanton was up for parole in 2016, at which Jones spoke in opposition to his potential release. Blanton's parole was denied. Cherry died in prison in 2004.[14][15]

Later career and campaign for U.S. Senate

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Jones campaign logo, 2017

Jones left office in 2001 and returned to private practice. In 2004, he was court-appointed General Special Master in an environmental clean-up case involving Monsanto in Anniston, Alabama.[16][17][18] In 2007 Jones was honored with the 15th Anniversary Civil Rights Distinguished Service Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.[19] Also in 2007, Jones testified before the United States House Committee on the Judiciary about the importance of re-examining crimes of the Civil Rights Era.[20][21] He created the Birmingham firm Jones & Hawley, PC with longtime friend Greg Hawley in 2013.[16] He was named one of B-Metro Magazine's Fusion Award winners in 2015.[22] In 2017 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama chapter of the Young Democrats of America.[23]

In May 2017, Jones announced his candidacy for that year's U.S. Senate special election, running for the seat left open when Jeff Sessions—who held the seat of Jones' former boss, Howell Heflin—was appointed as Attorney General.[24] He won the Democratic nomination on August 15 and faced Roy Moore in the general election.[2]

Doug Jones would ultimately defeat Roy Moore, 50.3% to 48.1%, in an upset victory in 2017. He would be re-elected narrowly in 2020 as Amy Klobuchar lost the state by 3.4, and again by a much larger margin in 2026.

Platform and views

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The editorial board of The Birmingham News has described Jones as a "moderate Democrat."[25] Former Alabama Democratic Party chair Giles Perkins described Jones as "a moderate, middle-of-the-road guy."[26] Describing his own views, Jones said that “If you look at the positions I've got on health care, if you look at the positions I [have] got on jobs, you should look at the support I have from the business community; I think I’m pretty mainstream."[27] Jones' campaign has emphasized "kitchen table" issues such as healthcare and the economy.[28][29][30] He has called for bipartisan solutions to those issues,[31] and pledged to "find common ground" between both sides of the aisle.[32]

Jones has not called for tax increases; instead unlike some Democrats, he has called for reductions in corporate taxes "to try to get reinvestment back into this country".[33] Jones opposes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the GOP's tax plan, calling it fiscally irresponsible, and skewed to the wealthy while ignoring or hurting the middle class.[33] Jones supports increasing job training for workers and better education, along with an increase in the minimum wage for people in poverty. Jones also opposes allowing insurance companies to deny coverage for preexisting conditions and supports expanding Medicaid coverage, citing the problems with rural Alabama hospitals.[34] He has also been called an economic populist by Newsweek.[35] He has also come out in support of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.[34] On health care, Jones opposes the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but has called for changes to the U.S. health-care system, which he calls broken.[36] He supports the re-authorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP),[36] and has repeatedly criticized his opponent Moore for his lack of a clear stance on the program.[36][37] Jones says he is open to the idea of a public option.[29]

Jones supports stronger protection of civil rights. He has cited the Charlottesville rally and the Charleston church massacre as examples of racial issues to be addressed.[34] Jones also supports the reversal of mandatory three-strikes laws for non-violent offenses to give judges flexibility in giving sentences.[34][29] In an interview with The Birmingham News he stated that he opposes additional restrictions on abortion (such as proposals to ban abortion after the 20th week of gestation), saying current laws on the issue are sufficient.[38] Jones has also supported same-sex marriage.

Jones has condemned corruption in Alabama in the wake of high-profile scandals saying, "the people of Alabama have been embarrassed by corruption and a string of ethics investigations and convictions of people they placed into positions of power and trust. They deserve better. We all deserve better."[34]

Jones supports investment into renewable energy research and further wildlife conservation. He also supports the Paris Agreement and opposes the United States withdrawal ordered by President Trump; Jones says it would have significant negative effects on the environment.[34]

Jones is running on a platform of strengthening American national defense. In an interview with The Birmingham News, Jones stated that he was in favor of increasing defense spending, saying it would boost Alabama's local economy, particularly in the areas around NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal, and would protect America from foreign threats.[39]

Personal life

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Jones and his wife, Louise New Jones, were married on December 12, 1992.[40] The Joneses have three children: Courtney, Carson, and Christopher.[41] He has been a member of the Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook for more than 46 years.[42]

Electoral history

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2017

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Main article: United States Senate special election in Alabama, 2017
United States Senate special primary election in Alabama, 2017[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doug Jones 109,105 66.1
Democratic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 29,215 17.7
Democratic Michael Hansen 11,105 6.7
Democratic Will Boyd 8,010 4.9
Democratic Jason Fisher 3,478 2.1
Democratic Brian McGee 1,450 0.9
Democratic Charles Nana 1,404 0.9
Democratic Vann Caldwell 1,239 0.8
United States Senate special election in Alabama, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doug Jones 615,546 50.3%
Republican Roy Moore 598,867 48.1%
Write-In Write-ins 19,920 1.6%
United States Senate election in Alabama, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doug Jones 1,123,285 51.2%
Republican Robert Aderholt 1,065,000 48.1%
Write-In Write-ins 5,631 .1%


United States Senate election in Alabama, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doug Jones 824,498 62.8%
Republican Mac McCutcheon 477,174 36.3%
Write-In Write-ins 11,156 .7%

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Birmingham lawyer and former Clinton appointee Doug Jones seeks Democratic nomination for Senate". AL.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  2. ^ a b Bloch, Matthew; Lee, Jasmine (August 15, 2017). "Alabama Election Results: Two Republicans Advance, Democrat Wins in U.S. Senate Primaries". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  3. ^ ""Meet Doug Jones": "Doug's parents, Gordon and Gloria Jones, live in Birmingham and his sister Terrie Savage and her husband Scott live in Hartselle."". Doug Jones for Senate. August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  4. ^ Sack, Kevin (May 5, 2001), "PUBLIC LIVES; An Alabama Prosecutor Confronts the Burden of History", The New York Times, retrieved May 18, 2017
  5. ^ Gray, Jeremy (May 11, 2017). "Doug Jones announces run for US Senate". The Birmingham News. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  6. ^ Murnaghan. "Douglas Jones" (PDF). Public Justice. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "President Clinton today announced his intent to nominate G. Douglas Jones to serve as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama" (Press release). White House Office of the Press Secretary. August 18, 1997.
  8. ^ a b Panel Discussion: Criminal Discovery In Practice, 15 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 781, 782 n.2 (1999).
  9. ^ John Verhoevek, Meet the Alabama Senate candidates: Controversial gun-toting judge Roy Moore and a lawyer who fought the KKK, ABC News (September 27, 2017).
  10. ^ "Bombing Suspect Eric Rudolph Indicted". ABC News. November 15, 2000. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  11. ^ Gettlman, Jeffrey (June 3, 2003). "Bombing Suspect Is Moved to Alabama, for Trial There First". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Sack, Kevin (April 25, 2001). "As Church Bombing Trial Begins in Birmingham, the City's Past Is Very Much Present". The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  13. ^ Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (September 14, 2013). "Prosecutor reflects on 50th anniversary of 1963 Birmingham bombing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  14. ^ Faulk, Kent (August 3, 2016). "16th Street Baptist Church bomber Thomas Blanton denied parole". The Birmingham News. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  15. ^ Lamb, Yvonne (November 19, 2004). "Birmingham Bomber Bobby Frank Cherry Dies in Prison at 74". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Faulk, Kent (June 7, 2013). "Birmingham attorneys Doug Jones and Greg Hawley form law firm". al.com. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  17. ^ "Doug Jones: Justice Delayed, not Justice Denied". University of Kentucky Law School. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "About Doug Jones". Seeking Justice Today. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  19. ^ "Federal prosecutor to speak at black history group's banquet". Texarkana Gazette. January 26, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  20. ^ "Testimony of G. Douglas Jones" (PDF). U.S. House Judiciary Committee. June 12, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  21. ^ "Testimony of G. Douglas Jones-"Allegations of Selective Prosecution: The Erosion of Public Confidence in our Federal Judicial System"" (PDF). Subcommittee on Commercial & Administration Law of the Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives. October 23, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  22. ^ O'Donnell, Joe (October 1, 2015). "2015 Fusion Awards". B-Metro Magazine. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  23. ^ Scott, Ryan (June 27, 2017). "Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones launches campaign headquarters in Birmingham". Weld Birmingham. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  24. ^ Gray, Jeremy (May 10, 2017). "Doug Jones announces run for US Senate". The Birmingham News. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  25. ^ "Our view: Alabama voters must reject Roy Moore; we endorse Doug Jones for U.S. Senate". AL.com. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  26. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Doug Jones, Roy Moore's opponent in Alabama, on verge of history in Senate election". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2017-11-21. {{cite news}}: External link in |last= (help)
  27. ^ Pappas, Alex (2017-11-18). "Alabama Democrat Doug Jones denies being an 'ultra-liberal,' says he opposes Trump's border wall". Fox News. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  28. ^ John Sharp, Doug Jones talks 'kitchen table' issues and tax reform at Mobile rally, AL.com (October 18, 2017).
  29. ^ a b c Brian Lyman, Alabama Senate profile: Doug Jones wants to stress 'kitchen table issues', Montgomery Advertiser (July 7, 2017).
  30. ^ News, A. B. C. (2017-11-16). "Democrats weigh how to best help Alabama Senate candidate". ABC News. Retrieved 2017-11-20. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  31. ^ "Doug Jones, Roy Moore talk law enforcement in Montgomery stops". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  32. ^ "Transcript: An interview with Doug Jones". The Economist. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  33. ^ a b "Donald Trump wrongly claims Doug Jones wants to raise taxes". @politifact. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  34. ^ a b c d e f "Priorities - Doug Jones for U.S. Senate". Doug Jones for U.S. Senate. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  35. ^ "Who is Doug Jones, the KKK-fighting Democrat taking on far-right Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race?". Newsweek. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  36. ^ a b c Paul Gattis, Doug Jones pledges to 'fix broken health care' in new Senate campaign ad, AL.com (November 6, 2017).
  37. ^ Brian Lyman, Doug Jones, Roy Moore talk law enforcement in Montgomery stops, Montgomery Advertiser (November 8, 2017).
  38. ^ "Doug Jones speaks on abortion issue, wants 'to be clear' on where he stands". AL.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  39. ^ Gattis, Paul (2017-11-08). "Doug Jones: Strong national defense 'incredibly important'". AL.com.
  40. ^ ""Meet Doug Jones": "Doug is married to the former Louise New from Cullman, Alabama. They will celebrate their 25th anniversary the night of the Special Election in December."". Doug Jones for Senate. August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  41. ^ Jones, Doug (August 16, 2017). "Meet Doug Jones". Doug Jones for Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  42. ^ Jones, Doug (September 28, 2017). "Son of a steelworker, Doug Jones works to connect with Alabama voters". AL.Com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  43. ^ Bloch, Matthew; Lee, Jasmine (August 15, 2017). "Alabama Election Results: Two Republicans Advance, Democrat Wins in U.S. Senate Primaries". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by
No nominee in 2014
Vivian Davis Figures in 2008
 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Alabama
(Class 2)
2017 		Most recent



Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:Alabama Democrats Category:Alabama lawyers Category:American Methodists Category:Cumberland School of Law alumni Category:People from Birmingham, Alabama Category:People from Fairfield, Alabama Category:Samford University alumni Category:United States Attorneys for the Northern District of Alabama Category:University of Alabama alumni Category:20th-century Methodists Category:21st-century Methodists Category:American United Methodists

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