Unofficial results with about 98% of precincts reporting Governor Lindy Blanchard — 19.35% Lew Burdette — 6.09% Stacy Lee George — 0.41% Kay Ivey — 55.04% Tim James — 15.83% Donald Trent Jones — 0.61% Dean Odle — 1.82% Dave Thomas — 0.46% Dean Young — 0.38% U.S. Senate Lillie Boddie — 0.77% Katie
Unofficial results with about 98% of precincts reporting Governor Yolanda Rochelle Flowers — 31.1% Malika Sanders Fortier — 32.88% Patricia Salter Jamieson — 11.47% Arthur Kennedy — 9.46% Chad “Chig” Martin — 5.76% Doug “New Blue” Smith — 7.33% U.S. Senate Will Boyd — 63.96% Brandaun Dean — 19.09% Lanny Jackson — 16.95%
A jubilant Sheila Tyson celebrated with supporters Tuesday night after she won a second term representing District 2 on the Jefferson County Commission. As the DJ at L.I.T on 8th played McFadden and Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” the former Birmingham City Council member declared that she had defeated the Rev. Steve Small Jr. “With 55 percent of the boxes in, I am at 86 percent of the vote,” Tyson declared. “Our goal was 52 percent of the vote.” At the end of the night, Tyson had held onto that lead, logging 86.5 percent of the vote with 98 percent of precincts reporting. Read more.
Incumbent Mark Pettway, who made history four years ago when he was elected Jefferson County’s first Black sheriff, on Tuesday won the 2022 Democratic primary for the office and likely reelection to a second term in November. According to unofficial results with 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Pettway received 35,368 votes or 76 percent, against three challengers — Felicia Rucker-Sumerlin, a former sheriff’s office deputy of 30 years; Kareem Easley, a Birmingham Police Department sergeant and Wilson Hale, Alabama State Trooper and former U.S. Army First Sergeant. Read more.
It looks like Gov. Kay Ivey has won the Republican nomination for governor without a runoff, despite having eight opponents. At 11 p.m., she had more than 55% of the vote. Lindy Blanchard was a distant second with slightly more than 19% of the vote. Tim James was the only other candidate with double-digit support, clocking in with slightly less than 16% of the vote. On the Democratic side, it appears Yolanda Rochelle Flowers and Malika Sanders Fortier will face each other in a runoff June 21. They ended the day in a virtual tie with about 33% of the vote each. The race for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate also appears to be going to a runoff. Katie Britt was the leader with about 45% of the vote, and Mo Brooks trailed with less than 29% of the vote. But she did not get the 50% + 1 votes needed to win the nomination outright. Wil Boyd easily captured the Democratic nomination with 64% of the vote. In Jefferson County, Sheriff Mark Pettway appears to have easily won re-nomination with 77% of the vote, and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson reclaimed her seat with more than 86% of the vote. The general election will be in November.
The Jefferson County Commission saw an extensive presentation Tuesday morning on the entities involved with youth detention and the juvenile justice system. After hearing about rehabilitation, recidivism and the humanity of the young people in the system, commissioners learned that they’ll have to tune in next time to find out what’s being sought monetarily. Read more.
Probate Judge James Naftel spent part of Tuesday afternoon driving around to precincts to check voter turnout and to determine whether there were any problems. There was one glitch in the morning, when county election staff had to reconnect some precincts that were without Wi-Fi earlier Friday, Naftel said. As of 2:30, an estimated 45,035 voters, or about 10% of Jefferson County’s registered voters, had voted, although Naftel said that number was tentative and changing throughout the day. Polls close across the county at 7 p.m. Read more.
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to deny a rezoning request from developers of a proposed mini-storage facility in the city’s Oxmoor neighborhood after outcry from residents. The proposed development, which would have been at 801 Tom Martin Drive, would have repurposed a property vacated by the Internal Revenue Service in 2018. It would have created 166 new storage units for boats and recreational vehicles as well as a wash bay for those vehicles. Read more.
Republicans hold all statewide offices plus supermajorities in the state legislature. But Alabama Democrats are in a good position this year, according to the head of the Alabama Democratic Party. Read more.
WBHM 90.3 FM and the Gulf States Newsroom won 13 of the 18 regional Edward R. Murrow awards for 2022, including Overall Excellence for WBHM for the second year in a row. Read more.
