McConnell on Moore victory: I share your frustration with Washington

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) congratulated Roy Moore on Tuesday night for his win against Sen. Luther Strange in the GOP runoff for Alabama’s open Senate seat, saying that he shares Moore’s frustration with Washington.

The statement marks an about-face for McConnell, who pushed hard for Strange to beat Moore in the primary. Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC associated with McConnell, spent heavily in an effort to elect Strange, and Moore repeatedly slammed McConnell during the campaign.

“I would like to congratulate Roy Moore on his victory in Alabama tonight. He ran a spirited campaign centered around a dissatisfaction with the progress made in Washington. I share that frustration and believe that enacting the agenda the American people voted for last November requires us all to work together,” McConnell said in a statement.

NEW: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urges redoubling of efforts in support of Roy Moore in Alabama general election, in statement pic.twitter.com/2yo8uX882H

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 27, 2017

{mosads}Moore, a former chief justice of the state’s supreme court, ran a vehemently anti-establishment campaign that appealed to grassroots GOP voters and supporters of President Trump, who backed Moore’s opponent.

The judge was ahead by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin when the race was called. The former judge will now run in the general election in December for the rest of the term left open by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

“Senate Republicans will be as committed to keeping Alabama’s Senate seat in Republican hands with Roy Moore as we were with Luther Strange. I urge all of our friends who were active in the primary to redouble their efforts int he general election,” McConnell said.