UPDATED — Kelvin Datcher greeted more than 100 supporters at Hemings in Thomas Jefferson Tower Tuesday night after he defeated Frank Woodson for the Democratic nomination to be the District 52 representative in the Alabama Legislature. Read more.
Voters are headed to the polls today to determine which Democrat — Kelvin Datcher or Frank Woodson — will be the Democratic nominee to fill the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat recently left vacant after former Rep. John Rogers resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Read more.
Kelvin Datcher, Birmingham’s deputy director of community development, and nonprofit executive Frank Woodson were the top two candidates in Tuesday’s special election for the Democratic nomination to the Alabama House District 52 seat. They will meet in a runoff July 16. Read more.
Some Birmingham-area voters will be going to the polls Tuesday to select a Democratic nominee to run for the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat, which recently was left vacant after former Rep. John Rogers resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. Six Democrats are running for the seat: Dedra Campbell, Kelvin Datcher, Eric Major, LaTanya Millhouse, Eyrika L. Parker and Frank Woodson. If none of the candidates gets more than half of the votes, there will be a runoff between the top two votegetters on July 16. One Republican is running for the seat – Carlos Crum. Since he had no challengers for the Republican nomination, there won’t be a Republican ballot in Tuesday’s election. The general election on Oct. 1 will pit Crum against the Democratic winner. House District 52 covers parts of Birmingham, including the Glen Iris, Powderly, Southwest Birmingham and West End communities; along with sections of Homewood, Mountain Brook, Bessemer and unincorporated Jefferson County. See the map here. You can determine whether you’re in House District 52 by looking up your name on the Secretary of State’s website. BirminghamWatch’s Voter Guide for the race also includescandidate profiles, a compilation of the candidates’ statements on why they should be elected and the issues that are most important to them. Read more.
BirminghamWatch asked candidates why they thought people should vote for them for the House of Representatives District 52 seat. Dedra Campbell “I am not a politician but a concerned citizen seeking to be the change I want to see. It is more than a political party but the needs of the people. That is something
Profiles on each of the candidates running for the Democratic nomination to the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat. Dedra Campbell Kelvin Datcher Eric Major LaTanya Millhouse Eyrika L. Parker Frank Woodson
Eyrika L. Parker Party: Democratic Age: 50 Residence: Birmingham Political experience: Jefferson County treasurer; was disqualified from her race for reelection for not turning in required ethics paperwork on time; ran unsuccessfully for Jefferson County circuit clerk, 2018. Professional experience: Currently treasurer of Jefferson County; has worked in a variety of fields, from law to media. Shortly
LaTanya Millhouse Party: Democratic Residence: Birmingham Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for House District 52 seat in 2022, Birmingham City Council, District 6, in 2019. Professional experience: Community relations manager, Oak Street Health, 2023-present; senior program manager, The Alpha Omega Group, which fosters programs that promote community involvement, employment, training, education and healthy social behaviors; former County chair
Eric Major Party: Democratic Age: 56 Residence: Fairfield Political experience: Served in Alabama House of Representatives, District 55, 1998-2006; ran for Jefferson County Commission, 2007 and 2018; executive committee member, National Conference of Black State Legislators, 2002; former executive committee member, National Conference of Mayors. Professional experience: Small business owner, principal consultant with Absolute Solutions, a public
Kelvin Datcher Party: Democratic Political experience: Alabama state director for the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign. Professional experience: Deputy director community development for the city of Birmingham, 2017-present; also has worked at Alabama State University, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Jefferson County Health Department, REV Birmingham and the Birmingham City Council. Civic experience: Has served in
