U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) won reelection to Alabama’s 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, even as Democrats swept several closely watched state legislative races and captured key county offices in Madison County.
Strong defeated Democrat Andrew Sneed with 142,080 votes (53.24%) to Sneed’s 124,763 votes (46.76%) across the congressional district, according to unofficial election returns.
However, Madison County voters favored Sneed by more than 17,000 votes. Sneed received 88,667 votes (55.45%) compared with Strong’s 71,028 votes (44.42%) in the congressman’s home county.
The split between the congressional district and Madison County reflected a broader Democratic surge in local voting, with Republican incumbents losing legislative seats and Democrats winning countywide offices.
Democrats also carried Madison County in statewide executive races, including the governor’s contest.
In the governor’s race, Democrat Doug Jones received 92,597 votes (57.88%) in Madison County, compared with Republican Tommy Tuberville’s 66,743 votes (41.72%).
Statewide, Tuberville received 872,445 votes (52.1%) compared to Jones’ 803,468 (47.9%).
Legislative races
In Senate District 2, Democrat Rudolph Valentino Drake defeated Republican John Roberts, receiving 31,652 votes (56.79%) to Roberts’ 23,928 votes (42.93%).
Drake’s victory marked a Democratic pickup in a district previously represented by retiring Republican Sen. Tom Butler.
In Senate District 7, Democrat Jared Sluss defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Sam Givhan in one of the night’s closest contests.
Sluss received 30,255 votes (50.45%), compared with Givhan’s 29,678 votes (49.49%), a margin of just 577 votes.
Another Republican incumbent lost in House District 25, where Democrat Allison Montgomery defeated Rep. Phillip Rigsby.
Montgomery received 11,717 votes (53.36%) to Rigsby’s 10,229 votes (46.58%).
In House District 10, Democratic Rep. Marilyn Lands won reelection over Republican Aaron Thomas, receiving 12,296 votes (60.11%) to Thomas’ 8,143 votes (39.81%).
Two Republican state representatives survived Democratic challenges.
In House District 20, Rep. James Lomax defeated Democrat James Linderholm with 13,406 votes (56.82%) to Linderholm’s 10,151 votes (43.02%).
In House District 21, Rep. Rex Reynolds defeated Democrat Forrest Satterfield with 12,484 votes (51.36%) to Satterfield’s 11,808 votes (48.58%).
Democratic State Rep. Laura Hall easily won reelection in House District 19, defeating Republican Donald Barnes with 14,489 votes (77.81%) to Barnes’ 4,123 votes (22.14%).
Republican Rep. Andy Whitt in House District 6 and Democratic House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels in House District 53 were unopposed.
County offices
Democrats also won two major countywide offices.
In the race for Madison County sheriff, Democrat Brett Jones defeated the incumbent Republican Kevin Turner, receiving 84,068 votes (52.93%) to Turner’s 74,639 votes (46.99%).
Democrat Jeff Taylor defeated Republican Valerie Miles for Madison County tax collector. Taylor received 83,087 votes (52.85%) compared with Miles’ 73,958 votes (47.04%).
Republicans retained the Madison County superintendent position, with Keith Trawick defeating Democrat E. Quinn Headen.
Trawick received 30,266 votes (52.66%) to Headen’s 27,109 votes (47.16%).
The results represented significant Democratic gains in a county long considered a Republican stronghold, particularly in state legislative and countywide races.
All results are unofficial pending certification.
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