In a closely watched special election for an Alabama Senate seat, Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore, who refused to step out of the race amid allegations of past sexual misconduct against teen girls.
While it's too early to know the breakdown of the voting demographics in the race, many people on social media credited the win to black voters, especially black women.
Some cited exit poll data.
My god. Ninety-eight percent of black women went for Jones, per exit poll. https://t.co/OVwSjKnsUW
The Washington Post early exit polls showed that 98% of black women voted for Jones.
Black residents make up 26.8% of Alabama's population, according to US Census data, and often vote for Democrats. And voter turnout during Tuesday's election was high.
"Trust black women, trust a real investment of resources, and trust excellent organizing," Symone Sanders, Priorities USA strategist, told BuzzFeed News.
The night before the election, Kayla Moore, Roy Moore's wife, had defended her husband against people who said he was racist.
"We have many friends that are black, and we also fellowship with them in church and in our home," she said at a campaign rally.
For his own part, Jones has pointed many times to his record of helping black residents, often pointing to when he was a federal prosecutor in the infamous 1963 bombing of the predominantly black 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, pursuing a case against two members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Either way, people wanted to show they appreciated black women in the campaign against Moore.
Dear Black Women Of Alabama...
People praised their power.
Black women in Alabama pulling up to save everybody.
Live shot of black women in Alabama. Don’t ever underestimate the power of black women.
black women of Alabama walking into work tomorrow knowing they defeated their MAGA coworkers.
A lot of people were just like, yasssssss.
Black women in Alabama tonight
Black women when they left the voting booths in Alabama:
"Alabama is a deeply Republican state, and the #AlabamaSenateElection will almost certainly go to Moore despite his… https://t.co/ivgbmfNke0
Black women in #Alabama be like: #AlabamaSenateElection
Along with praising black women, people noted that former President Obama had done a robo call urging people to vote for Doug Jones.
@HeidiMWilson @Ange_Amene @ThomboyD Progressive voters did not win Alabama. The black vote won Alabama. President O… https://t.co/YoVMRC2wr7
People also noted the historical precedent.
Black voters - black women voters - many of whom are undoubtedly descendants of enslaved laborers in Alabama just s… https://t.co/9moGUAT9tM
Lest we forget what it took for the opportunity for black voters, particularly black women, to deliver an unlikely… https://t.co/7P8rrcwNvO
What, 63 years since Rosa Parks got arrested in Montgomery and black women are still shutting down racist assholes in Alabama
Black women came to the Alabama polls (despite massive widespread voter suppression) like
There was also some pushback to the idea that black women voted to "save everyone."
Like I don't think people get that Black women don't turn out because of some maternal instinct to save everyone. W… https://t.co/9wv012FzhX
ANYWAY if you’re a publication still writing those white working class think pieces in excess, consider instead cov… https://t.co/m8kdpSwnVZ
Black women are not political mules to be used every time a mediocre white candidate needs to win. No amount of v… https://t.co/LlgqQaeKEA
For non-Black folks praising Black women in tonight's election - do more. Support Black women. Stand up for Black w… https://t.co/IleOJzcMum
"If you are thanking the black women of Alabama tonight for defeating Roy Moore," one user wrote, "maybe tomorrow you can start thinking about how to repay them."
If you are thanking the black women of Alabama tonight for defeating Roy Moore maybe tomorrow you can start think… https://t.co/aWgzfGawRV