Special State Senate Election Today
There is a race today for an empty seat in the Alabama Senate. When Gov. kay Ivey appointed President Pro Tempore Greg Reid (R-Jasper) to a new role as Secretary of Workforce, leading the newly established Alabama Department of Workforce (formerly that Alabama Labor department) it created an opening in the upper chamber leadership and in Senate District 5.
Today the special election called by the governor to fill Reed's seat is underway in all of Fayette, Lamar and Walker counties and portions of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson.
One Republican and two Democratic candidates qualified for the Senate District 5 seat on Tuesday.
Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, 13th District, was the only Republican candidate to qualify. 33-year-ol Ryan Cagle, co-director of Jubilee House Community, a progressive nonprofit ministry in Parrish, and 37-year-old Sarah Watkins, a barista from Oakman, qualified with the Alabama Democratic Party.
Since Woods, an Auburn graduate, is unopposed, Democratic candidates Cagle and Watkins are facing off for their party's nomination today. A special general election between the Democratic nominee and Woods will take place on June 24.
Watkins claims Woods knew well in advance that Ivey was going to appoint Reed to his new position, giving him a head start in organizing his campaign. However, he likely didn't need it because the district is heavy Republican. Reed took 73% of the vote in the district when he was first elected in 2010. He faced no opposition in any subsequent general election for the seat.
Both Democrat candidates have said they are tired of their communities being neglected by their Republican elected officials. Each claim Republicans cater to big business over the average constituent.
With Republicans in the "Super Majority" in the senate, controlling 26 of the 35 seats in the upper chamber, the balance of power will not be altered by whichever candidate wins the special general election.
If you live in District 5 and are not sure where to vote, the Alabama Secretary of State’s website allows you to check voter registration and the location of your polling place. You can find it here.
Polls close at 7:00pm.