Doug Jones’ surprise defeat of Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race gives Democrats more than just another vote in the Senate — it gives them a boost of momentum heading into the 2018 midterm elections.

The midterms are expected to be a tough battle for Democrats, as the party’s defending 26 Senate seats to Republicans’ eight. But Jones' win offers them a roadmap for putting Republicans on defense in the upcoming midterm elections.

Jones pulled out a win with a major infusion of monetary and staff support from the national Democratic Party — but all of that involvement was kept under the radar, allowing Jones to keep his campaign focused on Alabama.

It’s a tactic that Democrats could use in red states, to try to take down Republican incumbents or flip open seats vacated by Republican senators.

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