Travis Hendrix was overcome with emotion as he made his triumphant arrival at Soho Ensley Tuesday night after defeating Sylvia Swayne by an almost 2-1 majority in a runoff for the District 55 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Hendrix drew 65.12% of the votes to Swayne’s 34.88%, according to unofficial but complete results reported by Jefferson County.

“I just feel really, really, really good,” he said after he composed himself. “I thank all the voters that came out in District 55. I thank everybody who voted for me. I thank you for the love and the support (from) my family, my friends, from the local government, from the state government, from everybody that supported me.”

The Birmingham Police sergeant had special thanks for Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels.

“If it wasn’t for my family and my friends and my campaign team, none of this would be possible.”

No Republicans qualified for the race, so Hendrix is likely to become the new representative next year.

Across town at the Clubhouse on Highland, Swayne said she wasn’t disappointed because she’s not focused on having garnered fewer votes than her opponent.

“There’s a bigger picture in all this. There’s a greater message and a greater plan,” she said. “The whole point of this campaign has always been about changing the conversation and showing people – especially young people – what’s possible.

“We got people to show up to vote. We got young people activated and registered to vote,” Swayne continued. “We got people of all backgrounds, of all ages across the district, empowered to vote. It’s not over. This is not where the conversation ends. It’s where it begins.”

Swayne, 26 and a quality assurance manager for Shipt, would have been the first transgender representative in the Alabama House if she’d been elected, which drew national attention to her campaign. However, her candidacy had been criticized because she lives on the more affluent and white eastern side of the district.

Hendrix said his goals are increasing economic growth, enhancing public safety, supporting local school systems and “trying my best to eliminate these taxes on the groceries.”

“I’m just trying my best to improve the quality of life for the people of District 55,” he said. “That’s my goal and my job, to try my best to do everything in my power to improve the quality of life.”

The district includes parts of Birmingham, West End and Fairfield.

The seat became vacant after Rep. Fred Plump, D-Fairfield, resigned in May after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

House District 16

Bryan Brinyark on Tuesday defeated Brad Cox in the Republican primary for the House District 16 seat.

Brinyark took 52.75% of the vote to Cox’s 47.25%, according to information reported by the Alabama Secretary of State. He will face Democratic nominee John Underwood in the general election on Jan. 9, 2024.

Brinyark is a lawyer with a private practice in Northport as well as a municipal court judge for Tuscaloosa, Brent, Centerville and Woodstock.

Cox lives in Fayette and is a banker at Alabama ONE Credit Union and a former high school teacher.

The district includes Fayette County, northern Tuscaloosa County and western Jefferson County.

The District 16 seat was left vacant after Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette, stepped down this summer to lead the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce.