Voters across a vast swath of Birmingham will be going to the polls Tuesday to determine the next councilors to represent areas central to the city’s health and growth.

Candidates running for City Council Districts 4, 8 and 9 will be on the runoff ballot, along with candidates vying to represent Birmingham Board of Education Districts 2, 8 and 9. None of the candidates running in those races won a majority of votes in the city’s election Aug. 26, and the top two votegetters in each will face off in Tuesday’s election.

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• View unofficial municipal runoff election results – via birminghamal.gov
• Explore our ElectionWatch 2025 Runoff Election Guide.

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Those districts cover most of the city along and north of Interstate 20-59 and more western areas, including areas the city has identified as ripe for revitalization or redevelopment.

Former Councilor Steven Hoyt, who served in office for more than 16 years, urged people who want a voice in how the city operates to go to the polls.

“If you don’t expect change, then don’t go. But if you expect change, you need to go,” Hoyt said. “I think where Birmingham is in terms of its development, from a holistic standpoint, I just think it’s imperative that we have leadership that complements what the city is doing now, in terms of redeveloping Birmingham.”

Hoyt said council members always clamor for development in their own areas. “That’s nothing new,” he said, “but I think what has to happen is there needs to be a strategic plan for those particular areas.”

Hoyt said the goal of building Birmingham CrossPlex was achieved by developing a roadmap from conversations with stakeholders in the area.

“I think that’s important to sit down (and listen to others),” Hoyt said. “It’s not what you want but what the people want. You have to have a different lens when you’re sitting in that seat because you just can’t think about this (being) your district. You’ve got to think about the entire city.”

In District 4, incumbent Councilor J.T. Moore and challenger Brian Gunn, both of whom have worked in community organizing, are facing off in a high-profile race.

A current and a former member of the Birmingham Board of Education are vying against each other to take a seat on the City Council representing District 8. Sonja Smith and April Myers Williams are trying to capture the seat now held by Carol Clarke, who is not seeking reelection.

Incumbent Councilor LaTonya Tate is competing to keep her District 9 seat against former Rep. John Hilliard in an echo of the 2021 race.

Three seats also are at stake on the Birmingham Board of Education.

In another repeat of the 2021 election, incumbent Neonta Williams* is defending her District 2 seat against former board member Terri Michal, whom she bested in the 2021 election.

In District 8, Antwon Womack in his third bid for the Board of Education is facing Pam Bass.

Candidates Yamika Foy and Eric Hall also are facing each other in a runoff to fill the seat on the board being vacated by outgoing Chairman Jason Meadows.

For more information about the runoff election, including district maps, sample ballots and polling information, vist BirminghamWatch’s ElectionWatch page.