2024 Election
Kelvin Datcher Wins Runoff for House District 52 Democratic Nomination
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.
“It’s overwhelming to think that people would trust you with one of the most precious things that they can have and that’s their vote,” the first-time candidate said, “to represent them and give voice to their concerns, to invite me into their homes, to talk about the things that are important to them, things that impact their family and their future.
“It’s humbling and it’s overwhelming at the same time,” Datcher continued. “We worked really hard. We worked really, really hard. I’m so excited to have this opportunity to serve.”
With 20 of 21 boxes reporting, Datcher garnered 831 votes to Woodson’s 675, or 55.18% to 44.82%. Provisional ballots constitute the 21st box, which will be counted next Tuesday.
The special election became necessary after former Rep. John Rogers resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, leaving the seat open for the first time in more than 40 years.
The general election for the seat is set for Oct. 1, but Datcher could be declared the winner before that. Republican candidate Carlos Crum dropped out of the race. Republicans have until July 30 to name a new candidate. If they don’t, the general election will be canceled and Datcher will be declared the winner, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Asked about his goals when he gets to Montgomery, Datcher said the job begins at home, where he hopes to bridge gaps between some local leaders.
“I really want to work to make sure that we have great collaboration between our local elected officials — our city councilors, our mayors, our county commissioners and our state elected officials,” the nominee said. “The goal is to get them in a room and get them around a table and spend time together and begin to talk and feel comfortable sharing our own ideas and visions for what makes our community great.”
Datcher, who is Birmingham’s deputy director of community development, said his goal is for those leaders to work together, speaking with one voice to ensure that the needs of the district, of greater Birmingham are represented.
“People (need to) remember that Birmingham is the economic driver for the state of Alabama,” he said. “We deserve the kind of reinvestment of resources back into our city that we send to the state capitol every year.”
Speaking a few blocks away at The Parisian in downtown Birmingham, Woodson, a Birmingham pastor, said his greatest goal was not to earn a seat in the Legislature.
“I got into (the race) to be able to awaken people in Birmingham that if they get involved, they can make a difference and to not settle for status quo,” he said. “It wasn’t about notoriety, but it was about hope and inspiration. What I saw in the eyes of people in the western district of Birmingham, I saw people waking up. I saw people beginning to believe again and being excited about being able to make a difference.”
Datcher thanked Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin for being “a boss who believes in your dreams as much as he believes in his own. He makes sure that you have the opportunity to pursue your dreams when you don’t even know that you have your dreams, somebody who will stand behind you and walk beside you.”
When asked about the Republican candidate ending his campaign, Datcher said, “I just take it as it comes, man. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I want to enjoy the night. We have worked really hard the last several months.
“I started this race just two weeks after my brother (Troy Datcher) passed away, so I really haven’t had those quiet moments to think and reflect on all the moments I shared with him.”
But Datcher has a promise for his constituents.
“I guarantee you this,” he told his supporters, “every single day, I will represent the folks in this district. I will work with Travis (Hendrix, recently elected District 55 representative) and the mayor and … everybody else. We will change lives and save lives.”
UPDATED 4:32 p.m. to include information about the possibility of there not being an October 1 general election.
