Alabama House District 52

Alabama State House of Representatives, District 52 is comprised of parts of Fairfield, Homewood, Midfield and Mountain Brook as well as portions of Five Points South neighborhood, Glen Iris, Titusville South, Woodland Park, Mason City, Oxmoor and Powderly neighborhoods in Birmingham along with adjoining sections of unincorporated Jefferson County.

District 52 was represented by John Rogers, who was first elected to the seat in 1983 and re-elected to ten more consecutive terms. He resigned in March 2024 after reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in a kickback scheme related to the Jefferson County Community Service Fund. Kelvin Datcher won a special election to fill his vacant seat.

Representation

• 1983–1986: John Rogers (1st term)
• 1986–1990: John Rogers (2nd term)
• 1990–1994: John Rogers (3rd term)
• 1994–1998: John Rogers (4th term)
• 1998–2002: John Rogers (5th term)
• 2002–2006: John Rogers (6th term)
• 2006–2010: John Rogers (7th term)
• 2010–2014: John Rogers (8th term)
• 2014–2018: John Rogers (9th term)
• 2018–2022: John Rogers (10th term)
• 2022–2024: John Rogers (11th term), resigned March 2024
• Kelvin Datcher, elected October 1, 2024

2020 redistricting

Redistricting following the 2020 U.S. Census affected District 52 by adding more of Fairfield and Midfield and much of the southern part of the UAB campus in Five Points South. Meanwhile, portions of Arlington-West End, Oxmoor, and Highland Park were ceded to other districts.

2024 special election

On March 18, 2024 Governor Kay Ivey scheduled a special election for October 1 to fill the vacant seat left by Rogers' resignation. She scheduled party primaries for the special election on June 18, with a run-off on July 16. Carlos Crum, who had been the only Republican candidate to qualify, dropped out before the primary. The Alabama Republican Party submitted Erskine Brown Jr as a candidate after the primary runoff, but before the October 1 general election.

The June 18 Democratic primary brought just 1,344 voters to the polls, representing 3.9% of the 34,231 registered voters in the district. The runoff had slightly more interest, with 1,506 ballots cast (4.4%). 1,499 ballots were cast in the special election itself, a turnout of about 4.4%.

• Democratic Party primary
  • Kelvin Datcher, 510 votes (38.0%), 831 votes (55.0%) in runoff, winner
  • Frank Woodson, 239 votes (17.8%), 675 votes (45.0%) in runoff
  • LaTanya Millhouse, 236 votes (17.6%)
  • Eric Major, 198 votes (14.7%)
  • Eyrika Parker, 98 votes (7.3%)
  • Dedra Campbell, 63 votes (4.7%)
• Republican submission
  • Erskine Brown Jr
• General election
  • Kelvin Datcher, 1,174 votes (78.3%), winner
  • Erskine Brown Jr, 218 votes (14.5%)
  • write-in, 107 votes (7.1%)

References

• Ruisi, Anne (March 30, 2010) "2010 Legislative elections - Frederick Alexander seeks State House District 52." The Birmingham News
• Akin, Emery (August 31, 2023) "Assistant to Fred Plump Jr. pleads guilty to fraud charges." CBS42.com
• Bryant, Joseph D. (April 18, 2024) "7 candidates qualify to run for Alabama House seat after John Rogers’ resignation, guilty plea." AL.com
• Moon, Josh (June 18, 2024) "In HD52 primary, Datcher appears to be favorite in six-candidate Dem field." Alabama Political Reporter
• Gaddy, Daniel (June 18, 2024) "Datcher, Woodson Move to Runoff in House District 52 Special Election." BirminghamWatch
• Bryant, Joseph D. (August 1, 2024) "Surprise GOP candidate jumps in race to replace longtime Alabama Rep. John Rogers." AL.com
• Bryant, Joseph D. (October 1, 2024) "Democrat Kelvin Datcher wins race to replace former Alabama Rep. John Rogers." AL.com

External links

• House District 52 map at BirminghamWatch
• Alabama House District 52 at ballotpedia.org