How Madison County voted in Tuesday’s runoff election
MADISON COUNTY – Alabama voters returned to the polls for the first time since the coronavirus took its toll on state in mid-March. In a postponed runoff election all eyes were on who would face Doug Jones for the US Senate in November.
Tommy Tuberville claimed the victory in the GOP race with 333,890 or 61 percent of the vote with 99% precincts reporting last night. Former US Senator and US Attorney General Jeff Sessions conceded defeat with 215,831 or 39 percent.
In Madison County, voters backed Sessions with 22,027 votes or 56.48% over Tuberville, who received 16,971 votes or 43.52%.
“What an incredible evening. I am honored and humbled by the faith placed in me by Alabama conservatives… and I can’t thank top supporters like you enough,” Tuberville said after claiming victory. “Our grassroots-driven conservative campaign prevailed.”
“Tommy Tuberville is a true Washington outsider and has gained the trust of Alabama Republican Party voters to represent them and help President Trump ‘Drain the Swamp’,” Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan said Tuesday night. “He will fight for the will of the majority who have been ignored since 2017. His conservative positions on the issues and support of our president will be welcomed when he defeats Doug Jones in November.”
Tuberville will now face incumbent and first-term senator Jones in November. Jones issued a statement after the election touting what he says is a strong bi-partisan record.
“When I was elected, I promised the people of Alabama that I would put their interests first to find common ground and get things done for our state. Washington already has plenty of people who fight along partisan lines and nothing much seems to get done,” he said. “The choice before the voters is an unprepared hyper-partisan that will add to the divide in Washington, or my proven track-record to find common ground and get things done.”
The turnout in Madison was light as expected, at 14.58%. Out of 290,580 voters, 42,359 went to the polls in the election. There were 39,098 Republican votes and 3,261 Democrat votes cast.
One of the biggest upsets of the night came in the Madison County Commission, District 6, Democrat runoff race. Violet Edwards defeated incumbent Jeshenry Malone. She will become the first African-American woman to sit on the commission. No Republican is on the ticket for the general election in November.
“This started out as a small grassroots campaign and look where we are today,” Edwards said Tuesday after claiming victory. “I have to give thanks to God for this victory. I could not have done it without the immense support of every single person around me. From the volunteers, my campaign staff, and my family thank you. Together we made history and I know that this is only the beginning.”
Malone was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to complete the late Bob Harrison’s term in 2018. Harrison died in 2017.
Another closely watched runoff race was between Tom Brandon and Tim McNeese for the Madison County Commission, District 1, Republican nomination. Brandon claimed victory with 4,618 votes over McNeese’s 3,533.
Longtime District 1 Commissioner Roger Jones (D) is not running for a sixth term. He defeated McNeese in 2016 for reelection.
The other race on the Republican ballot pitted incumbent Beth Kellum against Will Smith for the Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 2, nomination. Kellum claimed the victory with 269,583 or 56% of the total votes to Smith’s 210,565 or 44%. In Madison County, Kellum received 17,133 votes to Smith’s 15,905.
“While we had two exceptional candidates for the Criminal Court of Appeals, Alabama Republican voters have selected a highly qualified legal mind to be their nominee for the Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals,” Lathan said Tuesday night. “Beth Kellum has proven herself to a be a strong judge during her previous two terms on the bench. Combined with her extensive legal career, we are confident Judge Kellum will win reelection and return to this seat on Nov. 3.”
