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
Senators from both parties grilled RFK Jr. on vaccines and more
In a blistering hearing, Senators from both parties challenged the health secretary to defend his actions, including on vaccines access and CDC leadership.
Why the medical community is thrilled by U.S. support for a ‘breakthrough’ HIV drug
Lenacapavir has the potential to end the HIV epidemic, researchers say. The Trump administration says backing this kind of effort will be a model for how it does global health work in the future.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
A clash of the comebacks: Osaka and Anisimova face off in the U.S. Open semifinals
Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday. Both players have been climbing up the rankings after taking mental health breaks from the sport.
Denying famine, Israel threatens more curbs on Gaza aid
Despite experts saying that famine has begun in Gaza, Israel is threatening more curbs on aid deliveries. Aid groups say extra restrictions will make the starvation crisis worse.
