This tells me that there's still a whole bunch of (expletive deleted) people in Alabama overall-- I guess the DNC skated by with this one, but I'd say this seat is still vulnerable-- I presume that Jones will have to run again whenever Sessions six year term normally would end-- would that be 2018 or 2020?
Jones will have to run for reelection in 2020. So while black folks are clapping and hollering for Jones, he's not going to do much on black issues out of fear that will lose the white votes he got, or wants to get, for reelection. It's likely that Jones will lose in 2020 if the GOP puts up a better candidate than Moore. Luther Strange would've beaten Jones no question.
Though for the Democratic Party it's a mixed blessing. Jones perhaps-just perhaps-will help them block or slow down Trump's legislative agenda (or what passes for one). That being said, I do think Jones is not going to be a reliable vote for the Democrats. He's going to tread a middle course in an attempt to appeal to moderate and conservative voters in Alabama. I can see him touting his independence a bit more than he would if he came from another region of the country. Sticking it to Trump though animates the party and potential voters so that's a good thing for Democrats. It might also put Trump a bit more in the mood to moderate his stances and seek more help from the Democrats, which would also be a good thing for Congressional Democrats.
The downside of a Jones victory for the Democrats, in political terms, is that Roy Moore fades away now. He won't be in the Senate making a spectacle of himself or embarrassing the GOP and Democrats won't be able to use him as much as they surely would like to rally support and raise funds for their 2018 slate of candidates. Moore in the Senate actually would've helped them more than Jones in the Senate IMO. So the GOP establishment is happy with this outcome. Trump will need to rely on them more, Trump took another loss, the GOP establishment (which Moore and Bannon despise) was mostly unscathed, and they don't have to deal with Moore's drama. Further Jones might be pretty open to working with them to stay in office.
