Incumbent mayor Randall Woodfin cruised to victory in Tuesday night’s mayoral election capturing 64.33% of the vote, according to unofficial results, and avoiding a runoff.
“I told you all four years ago that we will put people first, and every single day that’s what we’ve done,” Woodfin said in an acceptance speech at The Fennec.
Jefferson County commissioner Lashunda Scales finished in second place with 20.77% of the vote, and former Mayor William Bell finished in third with 9.14%.
Scales and Bell both conceded the election Tuesday night.
Woodfin’s campaign emphasized his administration’s work in neighborhood revitalization, blight removal and his signature Birmingham Promise scholarship initiative during his first time.
“My sense of commitment and my sense of urgency of working on your behalf is as steadfast today as it was four years ago,” Woodfin said.
Despite criticism over a rise in violent crime in the city and the controversial furloughs of city employees in late 2020, Woodfin remained the most popular candidate throughout the race, with polling showing him far ahead of challengers.
Woodfin amassed several major endorsements in the race including that of President Joe Biden, Congresswoman Terri Sewell and former Senator Doug Jones.
The 23,616 votes Woodfin received is the highest vote total by a mayoral candidate in the first round since Larry Langford’s 2007 victory.
Turnout declined slightly from the 26.95% in 2017’s first round election to 25.27 percent.
