MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Corey Hill defeated Christina Woerner McInnis and won the Republican nomination for Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries during Tuesday’s runoff.
Hill, the mayor of Douglas in Marshall County, earned 158,033 votes, or 53.30%, according to unofficial election night returns. McInnis, a farmer from Baldwin County, won 138,468 votes, or 46.70%.
The seat was left open because current Ag Commissioner Rick Pate was term-limited. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor.
Hill and McInnis advanced to the runoff with 35% of the primary vote each. The race was one of the closest on the ballots in May. State Sen. Jack Williams of Wilmer finished in third place.
Hill carried the endorsements of the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Grocers Association, three powerful groups in the agriculture field.
He thanked his supporters in a Facebook post early on Wednesday morning.
Hill will now face former ag commissioner and Democrat Ron Sparks in the general election on Nov. 3. Sparks held the office from 2003 to 2011.