BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two of the four Alabama’s Board of Education seats on Tuesday’s primary ballot are expected to have new members next year.
In District 6, Republican Cathi Bradford defeated incumbent Marie Manning, winning 54% of the vote. Bradford will face Democrat Angela Morgan in November’s general election.
District 6 includes Cullman, St. Clair, Marshall, Etowah, Cherokee and Calhoun counties, as well as most of Talladega County.
In District 8, Emily Jones, founder and chair of Moms for Liberty’s Madison County chapter, and William Matthews are headed to a Republican runoff for the seat currently held by Wayne Reynolds, who did not seek reelection.
With more than 95% of the vote counted, Jones led with 43% of the vote, while Matthews had 31%.
District 8 includes Limestone, Madison, Jackson and DeKalb counties. The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Shatika Armstrong in November.
State Board of Education members represent about 500,000 voters in each of Alabama’s eight districts. Four districts are up for election every four years. Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 were elected in 2024. New terms for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 begin in January.
In District 2, incumbent Tracie West had no Republican primary challenger and will face Democrat Jamie McCurry in November. In District 4, board member Yvette Richardson has no primary or general election challenger and will return for a fifth term.