The 2021 Alabama's 78th state house district special election took place on September 7, 2021, to elect a member to the Alabama House of Representatives to fill the vacancy left by Kirk Hatcher, who was elected to the Alabama State Senate in a special election in March.[2] Primaries took place on May 25, 2021. The election was won by Democrat Kenyatté Hassell, who defeated Republican Loretta Grant with over 80% of the vote.
On March 8, 2021, Alabama governor Kay Ivey set a special election date and candidate filing deadlines for the 78th state house district.[3][4]
The 78th state house district is considered a Democratic stronghold, having voting for Democratic candidates by wide margins in recent elections, and with no Republican candidate appearing on the ballot in the 2018 election.[6]
Democratic candidates
Nominee
Kenyatté Hassell, urban director for Young Life[7]
Eliminated in primary runoff
Donald Williams, retired human resources consultant[8]
Eliminated in primary
Terance Dawson
Roderick Thornton
Republican candidates
The Republican primary for Alabama's 78th house district was cancelled. Loretta Grant advanced to the general election by default.[6]
Results
Primary results by precinct
Hassell
Hassell: 40–50%
Hassell: 50–60%
Hassell: 60–70%
Williams
Williams: 40–50%
Williams: 60–70%
Williams: >90%
Dawson
Dawson: 30–40%
Thornton
Thornton: 30–40%
Tie
Tie: 37.5%
Data not available
Data not available
2021 Alabama's 78th state house district special election democratic primary[9]
Government
