AL.com: Listen Up, America, Alabama Has Spoken

US elections have big implications for the rest of the world, and all eyes were on the special election in Alabama for a single US Senate seat. Turnout was heavy and voters elected Democrat Doug Jones over the Republican candidate who expressed opposition to immigration and rejected scientific consensus around climate change. Roy Moore also supported increased military spending and described Islam as a “false religion” though it’s practiced by more than 1.5 billion people worldwide. Alabama voters are sensitive about the state’s reputation with low rankings on health care access and education combined with high rates of poverty, obesity and infant mortality. “While so many watchers from outside our borders scorned and jeered us through these last few months, Alabamians showed Tuesday what we are made of, and what we are still craving," notes the editorial board of AL.com. “Indeed, there is a hunger for compassion and decency, and respect, and intelligence in American politics and in American culture that can no longer be suppressed.” The essay, maintaining that Alabama is still conservative, credits Jones for listening to all Alabama voters regardless of background and concludes he may be a role model for reducing polarization. – YaleGlobal