Baldwin County Republicans ruled Tuesday’s general election, overwhelmingly winning seats to the statehouse and to the Baldwin County Commission.
Incumbent State Rep. Joe Faust, R-Fairhope, rolled to an easy victory in Alabama House District 94, defeating Democratic challenger Danielle Mashburn-Myrick.
With 14 of 16 precincts counted, Faust had 71 percent of the vote to Mashburn-Myrick’s 29 percent.
“It’s a little bit higher than I expected,” said Faust, who won his first contested race since 2006. “Whatever it is, it’s a victory. It was a sweet victory, and I told her that she ran a good race and did her best. But … I have to give credit to the Republican Party more than anything. They didn’t let us down. It reassured me that we work together well and we are going to continue to work together well for the people.”
Mashburn-Myrick said she was “disappointed” with the outcome, but was pleased that Faust had adopted some of the positions she had been advocating for during the campaign trail: Expansion of Medicaid, cleaning up the Mobile Bay, among other things.
The campaign had been initially viewed as a race that could be close considering District 94, which encompasses Fairhope, has grown a whopping 55 percent since Faust first won the seat in 2002.
Baldwin County has long been considered a safe Republican county despite its rapid growth in the past 20 years. Donald Trump won the county with 62.1 percent of the vote in 2016, and Roy Moore garnered 61.7 percent of the vote during last year’s special Senate election.
Elsewhere in the county:
- Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott of Daphne cruised to an easy victory in the Alabama State Senate District 32 race by defeating Orange Beach businessman and Democrat Jason Fisher by a 75 percent to 25 percent margin. The Senate District includes much of the county. Elliott will replace outgoing state Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose.
- State Rep. Harry Shiver, R-Stockton, was overwhelming re-elected in his Alabama State House District 64 contest over Democrat Amber Selman-Lynn.
- Matt Simpson was holding onto a commanding 67 percent to 27 percent lead over Democrat Maurice Horsey in the Alabama State House District 96 seat, which includes Daphne and Spanish Fort as well as extending into Mobile County. Simpson will be replacing outgoing state Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne.
- In two contest Baldwin County Commission races, the Republicans rolled to victories. In District 1, Republican Joe Davis defeated Democrat Amber Smith by 75 to 25 percent difference. In District 3, Republican Billie Jo Underwood won with a 77 to 23 percent margin over Democrat Heather Brown.