Woodfin Wins. Birmingham Voters Deny Bell Another Term
Birmingham voters on Tuesday elected Randall Woodfin the city’s new mayor. Woodfin took 59 percent of the vote to incumbent Mayor William Bell’s 41 percent, according to unofficial results. The two candidates took different approaches as they vied for the mayor’s seat in the weeks after the August municipal election. That race resulted in a runoff. Bell touted his experience while Woodfin, 36, promoted change.
Our Revolution, a group that emerged from the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to support progressive leaders, invested heavily in Woodfin’s campaign. The group sent more than 11,000 get-out-the-vote text messages and made hundreds of phone calls to Woodfin’s would-be constituents.
The group’s president, Nina Turner, said in a statement she expects Woodfin to be committed to enacting a progressive agenda serving the needs of all the city’s residents, echoing a campaign promise of Woodfin’s. Disparities around the city when it came to crime and revitalization were a common theme during the campaign.
Bell didn’t immediately concede the election Tuesday night, but eventually he said Birmingham residents spoke at the ballot box. The 68-year-old has been mayor since 2009. Though he won more boxes than Woodfin in the August 22 election, Bell won far fewer during the runoff, including his home precinct of Legion Field.
Woodfin is set to begin his term November 28.
Other Election Results:
City Council
Birmingham City Council Johnathan Austin lost his seat to challenger Darrell O’Quinn in the District 5 race. Quinn trailed Austin at first, but came out ahead later with almost 52 percent of the vote.
In District 2, Kim Rafferty lost her seat to Hunter Williams, who took 71 percent of the vote.
In Distrcit 9, John Hilliard narrowly beat Roderick Royal — 50.58 to 49.42.
Board of Education
District 1
Douglas Lee Ragland – 51.7 percent
Cedric Small – 48.3 percent
District 4
Daagye Hendricks – 51.2 percent
Edward Maddox – 48.8 percent
District 5
David McKinney – 43.4 percent
Michael Millsap – 56.6 percent
District 7
Patricia Spigner McAdory – 60 percent
Walter Wilson – 40 percent
District 8
Patricia Bozeman-Henderson – 36.3 percent
Sonja Q. Smith – 63.7 percent
Purdue Pharma, Sacklers reach new $7.4 billion opioid settlement
A new $7.4 billion opioid settlement for Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family has been approved by all U.S. states and territories
Top House Democrat asks Microsoft about DOGE code allegedly tied to NLRB data removal
A top House Democrat is asking Microsoft for information about a DOGE staffer's GitHub account connected to whistleblower allegations of sensitive data leaving the National Labor Relations Board.
The suspect in the shooting of 2 Minnesota lawmakers has been captured and charged
Vance Boelter was captured in a wooded area on Sunday night, and charged in the shootings of two state lawmakers and their spouses. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
This mother relies on SNAP to help feed her kids. Now, she’s bracing for cuts
Millions of people who use the food assistance program SNAP are facing changes: on what food they can buy, how much money they'll receive or even if they'll still qualify for the program.
Britain’s MI6 spy agency names first female chief
It's a case of real life catching up with James Bond fiction: Britain's MI6 spy agency named its first-ever female chief. She used to be Q. Now she'll be C.
Israel hits more Iranian military targets, Iran retaliates on fourth day of conflict
Trump said Sunday he remained optimistic about Israel and Iran reaching a deal, but added "sometimes they have to fight it out."
