Irons (D) wins Alabama House District 1 race

[quaoar]

This state legislative district is in the northwest corner of the state in Lauderdale County, which Bush carried with 60 percent of the vote in 2004.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/14155259.htm

Associated Press
FLORENCE, Ala. - Democrat Tammy Irons won 61 percent of the vote Tuesday night to become the first woman elected to Alabama's House District 1.

Irons won 4,229 votes, or 61 percent, to Republican William Smith's 2,649 votes, or 38 percent. Eight write-in votes were cast.

The special election was called to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Nelson Starkey in December.
"I'm humbled by the turnout, and I'm ready to get to work tomorrow," Irons told the Florence Times Daily. "I'm glad people accepted my vision for the area."

She said she was proud that almost all the money raised for her campaign came from local supporters.
"I don't want all the money in Montgomery," she said. "I want people's support."

[Chimichurri]

1. More of this!

Go Alabama's 1st District, well done!

[Deep13]

2. Is this a pick-up for us?

[Deep13]

3. Just checked, predecessor was also a D.

[quaoar]

4. Not a pickup

Starkey was a veteran Democrat elected almost 30 years ago.

However, in the South lots of seats just like this one have flipped to the GOP as veteran Dems retire. So this is the reverse of that trend.

[Alamom]

6. You're right and this is great news for the Florence area.

I don't live there, but know a few people who do and they have always been very conservative.

Thanks to OP for the news.

[wordpix2]

5. great news!

[Bandit]

7. This is to State Legislature not US House

Still it is good news though.

[quaoar]

8. And it should be noted

that Democrats still control the Alabama Legislature.

[Sue Bell for CJ2]

9. yes

But we need to do some work this year to start to take back the courts.