State Rep. Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) emerged victorious on Tuesday in the three-way special election for Senate District 9.
Votes were still coming when Kitchens' opponent, State Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville), told 1819 News he conceded around 8:30 p.m. The other candidate in the race, former Morgan County Commissioner Stacey George, did not return a request for comment.
Kitchens avoided a runoff by earning nearly 53% of the vote, according to the unofficial results on the Secretary of State's website. Colvin and George received 38% and 9.1%% of the vote, respectively.
The Senate District 9 seat became vacant after former Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) resigned to take a position with the Business Council of Alabama.
Kitchens ran on his record of “conservative leadership” including tax cuts and supporting local education. He was first elected to House District 27 in 2018. His current term would have ended in 2026.
"I am so honored to serve you as District 9 Senator for Marshall, Madison, and Blount County," Kitchens posted on Facebook. "Thank you to all who supported me on this journey. I promise to make you proud!"
Colvin will remain in his seat in House District 26, and another special election is expected to be called to fill Kitchens' now-vacant House seat.
"I want to congratulate Senator-elect Wes Kitchens on his victory tonight," Colvin said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Wes and his team ran a great campaign and should be proud of their victory. To everyone in Senate District 9 - Wes Kitchens will be our next Senator - and we need to unite behind him to help him succeed. To all of my friends, volunteers, donors, and voters - I am so incredibly thankful for your support in this race. Please know I did not take your support for granted, and we worked around the clock to make a difference in this race for you. I am excited and grateful to continue serving House District 26. Wes and I will continue to work together to make Marshall County and North Alabama the best place it can possibly be. It was an honor to be a candidate in this race, and it continues to be an honor to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives. "
Alabama Republican Party chairmab John Wahl also congratulated Kitchens on his election win.
"I am thrilled to congratulate Representative-elect Bryan Brinyark and Senator-elect Wes Kitchens on their wins. Both were outstanding candidates, and I know they will do an amazing job representing the people of House District 16 and Senate District 9.”
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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