Kelvin Datcher, deputy director of community development for the city of Birmingham, won the Democratic runoff for House District 52 in Birmingham with 55% of the vote. (Courtesy Kelvin Datcher)
Birmingham City official Kelvin Datcher Tuesday won the Democratic nomination for a state House seat.
As of 8:21 p.m. Tuesday, Datcher, deputy director of community development for Birmingham, had 831 votes (55%) in unofficial returns in the party runoff for House District 52. Frank Woodson, a nonprofit executive, had 675 votes (45%).
In an interview Tuesday night, Datcher said he was humbled “to have people trust you so much with their voice and their vote, to represent them and their families and their futures.”
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“We talked to thousands of people all across this district over the last several weeks. It was always the same message — let’s work together to make our community better,” he said.
He said that he excited to start building relationships with elected officials in the area to address issues in Birmingham as “one voice when we go to Montgomery.”
Datcher is the presumptive representative for the district. Carlos Crum, the Republican nominee, dissolved his campaign on July 8 , and the Alabama Secretary of State confirmed Monday Crum is no longer in the race.
“As of now, there is no Republican candidate, and no general election,” Laney Rawls, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said Monday.
Datcher finished first in a six-candidate primary on June 18 with 38% of the vote. Woodson got 18% of the vote, beating out a third contender by three votes.
Messages seeking comment were left with Woodson Tuesday evening.
Education, health care, and community safety have been the primary issues in this race.
Datcher advocated for strong community engagement and stressed collaboration between local and state officials to secure district resources. He secured endorsements from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and other officials and positioned himself as a candidate who could use his connections for the district’s benefit.
Woodson, a nonprofit leader and former UPS manager, criticized the Woodfin administration’s handling of issues like crime and neglected properties, particularly in Birmingham’s west side. Woodson sought more community collaboration, involving local churches and nonprofits, to address these concerns.
The House District 52 special election was called to replace former Rep. John Rogers, who pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud and obstruction of justice and resigned from the House in March. Rogers, elected in 1982, had been the longest-serving representative in the body. He was accused of redirecting public funds in Jefferson County to a youth baseball league, with some money kicked back to an assistant and former partner. His sentencing is set for July 26 in Birmingham.
Updated at 9:42 p.m. to include comment from Datcher.
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The post Kelvin Datcher wins Alabama House District 52 Democratic runoff appeared first on Alabama Reflector .
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