Alabama Legislature

Two House Seats Go to Runoffs in Tuesday Balloting

Alabama House District 55 candidates (top) Travis Hendrix and Sylvia Swayne. Alabama House Districgt 16 candidates (bottom) Brad Cox and Bryan Brinyark.

Voters in two sections of the Birmingham area will head to the polls Tuesday for special elections to fill vacant seats in the House of Representatives.

In District 55, which includes parts of Birmingham, West End and Fairfield, Travis Hendrix and Sylvia Swayne will meet head-to-head for a runoff after none of the seven candidates in September’s election gained a majority.

Hendrix got 27.91% of the vote in that balloting and Swayne got 21.45%.

No Republicans qualified for the race, so whichever candidate wins Tuesday’s runoff is likely to become the new representative.

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

The District 16 seat also has a runoff Tuesday, with Brad Cox and Bryan Brinyark competing to represent the district that includes western Jefferson County, Fayette County and northern Tuscaloosa County.

Cox and Brinyark finished first and second in the Sept. 26 primary, with only 15 votes separating them. The winner of the runoff will face Democratic nominee John Underwood in the general election on Jan. 9, 2024.

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

To find out whether you’re in either of the districts and find your polling place, visit Alabama Votes.

The BirminghamWatch Voter Guide has interviews with each candidate along with their bios. Read more about these races here:

View Into Community Prompts Hendrix to Run for the Alabama House District 55 Seat

Sylvia Swayne Bucks Customs in House District 55 Runoff Race

Brad Cox, Bryan Brinyark Competing in GOP Runoff for House District 16 Seat