MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Republicans Katherine Robertson and Jay Mitchell are headed to a runoff in the race to be Alabama’s next attorney general.
Robertson led the field with 189,175 votes, or 40.5%, as of Wednesday morning. Robertson serves as chief counsel to Alabama’s current attorney general, Steve Marshall.
Mitchell, a former Alabama Supreme Court justice, came in second place, trailing Robertson by more than 25,000 votes. He won 160,613 votes, or 34.4%.
The three-person Republican primary had been one of the most hotly contested races on the ballot, and a runoff was expected.
Robertson and Mitchell knocked Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey out of the race on Tuesday. Casey earned 116,930 votes, or 25%. Robertson and Mitchell will now be fighting to win over Casey’s supporters to gain the majority needed to secure the nomination.
The winner of the Republican runoff will face Democrat Jeff McLaughlin in the general election. McLaughlin, a former state representative, was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Robertson celebrated her victory at Moe’s Original BBQ in Vestavia Hills. Joined by family, friends and supporters, Robertson took the stage after an introduction from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
“People have told me since last June when I kicked off that this could not be done, and I think we’ve disproven that,” Robertson said to cheers. “I’m the only candidate in my race that has never run for office before, and so to come in double digits ahead tonight is something that a month or two ago I couldn’t have dreamed of.”
As of Wednesday morning, Robertson led Mitchell by around six points.
Robertson thanked Republican attorneys general across the country for their early support in her campaign. She earned a rare primary endorsement from the Republican Attorneys General Association in September.
Robertson said she plans to work hard over the next few weeks to earn every vote and “get this thing across the finish line.”
“As y’all know, they’ve thrown a lot at me over the last couple weeks, and so to come in with a commanding lead like this shows that people really do their homework, and I think they can see the difference between real leadership and authenticity and the other stuff,” Robertson said.
In remarks on Tuesday, Mitchell’s campaign said he reiterated his priorities of supporting law enforcement and “defending the sanctity of life.”
Mitchell also criticized Robertson’s acceptance of what he alleges is “dark money” from out-of-state groups in what has become a familiar refrain on the campaign trail.
“There are some things outside money can’t buy in Alabama: our faith, our freedom, and our fight,” Mitchell said. “Bring it on!”
Heading into the runoff, Robertson has a slightly larger cash reserve than Mitchell.
She has a war chest of $42,400 after spending $4.4 million over the course of the race. Mitchell has $39,400 after spending $3.9 million throughout his campaign.
The runoff is June 16. The general election will take place on Nov. 3.