Givan loses State House seat after 16 years to Randall Woodfin-backed challenger

A significant political shift has taken hold in Birmingham. Alicia Escott Lumpkin, a newcomer backed by Mayor Randall Woodfin, successfully unseated long-term incumbent Juandalynn Givan in the race for State House District 60.

A Decisive Victory

The results from Tuesday night were definitive, with Lumpkin securing 3,882 votes—roughly 52.79% of the total. Givan, who held the seat for 16 years, finished with 2,438 votes (33.15%), while Nina Taylor trailed in third with 1,034 votes (14%).

Reflecting on the win, Lumpkin took to her campaign’s Facebook page to thank the voters of District 60. "This campaign has never been about politics as usual. It has been about listening to our neighborhoods, fighting for working families, believing in the future of our communities, and making sure District 60 has leadership that shows up and gets things done," she wrote.

Mayor Woodfin’s Influence

The race was one of the most closely watched contests in the region, largely due to the high-profile support from Mayor Woodfin. Woodfin, who previously squared off against Givan in a mayoral bid, openly backed Lumpkin, even appearing at a polling station Tuesday morning wearing her campaign gear.

The mayor celebrated the win on social media Wednesday morning, praising Lumpkin as a "true public servant" who put in the work by knocking on more than 5,000 doors. The lead-up to the election was marked by intensity; a PAC founded by a close political ally of Woodfin funded a cutting radio campaign ad attacking Givan’s re-election.

Navigating Challenges

The rivalry between Givan and Woodfin has been a fixture in local politics, marked by biting rhetoric between Woodfin and Givan and their supporters during the previous mayoral cycle.

For Lumpkin, the path to the nomination had its own hurdles. As the city's former director of process improvement, she resigned her position after questions were raised regarding whether city employees under Woodfin’s jurisdiction were eligible to run for office, a move restricted by the Mayor-Council Act.

With the campaign behind her, Lumpkin is ready to focus on her new role. "Tonight we celebrate," she stated. "Tomorrow we get to work."