By MARY SELL, Alabama Daily News
Voters in central Alabama went to the polls Tuesday for GOP primary contests in vacant Senate and House seats.
Former Alabama House member April Weaver handily won a GOP primary Tuesday for the Senate District 14 seat, according to unofficial results from the Alabama Secretary of State’s website.
Weaver received nearly 82% of the 5,328 votes cast, defeating fellow Republicans Donna Strong and Joseph Barlow.
Weaver thanked supporters on social media Tuesday evening.
“Thank you so much to everyone who took time to go to the polls today,” she wrote. “I am honored to be your Republican nominee for State Senate District 14 as we head to the general election on July 13. I appreciate your support more than you will ever know!”
Virginia Applebaum of Calera is the Democrat on the July ballot.
Weaver, of Brierfield, resigned from the House last spring to serve in President Donald Trump’s administration as the Region IV Regional Director for the Department of Health and Human Services. She left that position when she announced her Senate bid.
That seat is vacant because Cam Ward, a Republican from Alabaster who’s held the seat since 2010, was appointed to lead the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The Senate district covers portions of Shelby, Bibb and Chilton counties.
In House District 73, Republicans Leigh Hulsey and Kenneth Paschal now go to a runoff after receiving 31% and 27% of the 3,000 votes cast, according to unofficial results.
The GOP runoff is April 27.
The winner will face Democrat Sheridan Black in July.
State House District 73 in Shelby County includes portions of Alabaster, Calera, Chelsea, Helena, Montevallo, Pelham and unincorporated Brantleyville.
The district was previously represented by Republican Matt Fridy, who is now serving as judge of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.