Travis Hendrix Triumphs in Democratic Runoff for Alabama State House District 55
The special election was called after State Representative Fred Plump (D) was indicted on criminal charges.
The Democratic runoff occurred today to select a candidate for the January special election to fill a vacancy in the Alabama House of Representatives. The runoff was called after no candidate achieved a 50%+1 majority during the September 26 primary.
The special election for Alabama State House District 55 was called following the resignation of State Representative Fred Plump, a Democrat, after being indicted on multiple federal charges in an alleged kickback scheme. He represented this district from November 2022 to May 2023.
Travis Hendrix has been declared the winner of the Democratic runoff. The race was called in his favor as he’s currently leading with 65.12% against Sylvia Swayne with 34.88%. 3,635 votes have been counted.
Hendrix is a sergeant with the Birmingham Police Department who previously sought the Democratic nomination for State House District 55 in 2022 but lost in the primary to Plump.
Swayne currently works managing quality assurance agents for the tech industry in Birmingham. She is the first openly transgender woman to run for public office in Alabama.
Hendrix led the September primary with 27.86% followed by Swayne with 21.46%. The remainder of the vote went to Phyllis Oden-Jones with 20.25%, Cara McClure with 15.18%, Ves Marable with 7.48%, Kenneth Coachman with 4.41%, and Antwon Womack with 3.37%.
Alabama State House District 55 covers parts of Jefferson County, home to the city of Birmingham.
The special election for this seat in the Alabama House of Representatives will occur on January 9, 2024. Hendrix is currently running unopposed. Republicans control the 105-member legislative chamber with a 75-27 supermajority against Democrats, with three vacancies. District 55 is one of two vacancies to be filled in January, while a third will occur in March.