Former State Sen. Bradley Byrne (R) beat conservative activist Dean Young in the runoff for the special election for Alabama’s first congressional district on Tuesday night.
Polls fluctuated before the race was finally called for Byrne. With 91 percent of precincts reporting Byrne had 53 percent of the vote while Young had 47 percent, according to the Associated Press. Byrne’s win will be seen as a victory for the Republican business groups that backed him and a loss for the tea party groups that supported Young.
“Voters in Alabama have spoken and congratulations are in order for Bradley Byrne as the victor in Alabama’s Republican runoff election,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) in a statement. “This district has a history of sending talented and effective Republican legislators to Washington, and I have every confidence that Bradley will carry on that tradition of excellence by winning the general election next month.”
Byrne will now face Democrat Burton LeFlore and Independents James Hall and Curtis Railey in the general election that takes place in December. Byrne is favored to win the general election.
