Alabama State Rep. Matt Woods is the newest member of the Alabama Senate.
The Jasper Republican won a special general election Tuesday for Senate District 5, according to unofficial results from the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
Woods received 86% of 8,963 votes cast, defeating Democrat Ryan Cagle.
Voter turnout was 8.81%, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Senate District 5 includes Walker, Fayette and Lamar counties, northern Tuscaloosa County and western Jefferson County.
The seat was previously held by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, who left the chamber at the end of 2024 to lead the state’s rebranded department of workforce, formerly labor.
Woods, owner of Jasper Auto Sales, was elected to the House in 2022.
“Matt has been a consistent fighter for conservative values and protecting Alabama families,” the Alabama Republican Party said in a statement Tuesday night. “From championing the REACH Act, which gives adults another pathway to earn a high school diploma, to passing the Alabama Child Protection Act, which criminalizes the use of AI to generate child pornography—Matt Woods has proven he’s serious about getting results. We’re excited to see his continued leadership and impact in the Alabama Senate.”