Black Mayor Elected in Tiny Alabama Town After Four-Year Battle Over Control, Winning Landslide Victory in First Election in Decades

In a historic victory, Patrick Braxton, Newbern’s first African-American mayor, has been elected with an overwhelming majority, four years after his initial term was thwarted by White residents.

The town’s recent election saw Braxton secure 66 votes, while his opponent managed only 26, as per the town’s official results. This victory marks a significant resolution to the long-standing dispute concerning the town’s governance, which had garnered national attention.

“The people have spoken, and there’s no doubt about what they want for this town,” Braxton stated during a telephone interview.

The election held on Tuesday was the first in Newbern since at least the 1960s, taking place under a federal settlement. Black residents had filed a lawsuit challenging the town’s alleged “hand-me-down governance” and their exclusion from office despite Braxton running unopposed for mayor in 2020.

Newbern, a small town with a population of 133, is home to a library, a town hall, a mercantile, and a flashing caution light. Its downtown area is situated approximately 40 miles west of Selma.

What the town had been lacking was regular elections. The mayor-council government had not been subjected to a vote for six decades. Instead, town officials would hold positions successively, with each mayor appointing their successor who, in turn, appointed council members. This resulted in an overwhelmingly White government in a town where Black residents outnumber White residents by two to one.

Braxton, a volunteer firefighter, qualified to run for the nonpartisan position of mayor in 2020, becoming the mayor-elect without an election as he was the only candidate. Upon his appointment, he formed a new town council, following the precedent set by other mayors.

However, upon taking office, Braxton faced obstacles. The town hall locks were changed, denying him access to the town’s financial accounts. His lawsuit also claimed that outgoing council members held a secret meeting to arrange for a special election and “fraudulently reappointed themselves as the town council.”

“I only served for one year out of the five-year term,” Braxton said, reflecting on the three-year legal battle he faced before finally occupying the office last year.

Town officials maintained their innocence, arguing in court filings that Braxton’s claim to be mayor was “invalid.” The settlement agreement included a promise for a mayoral election in 2025.

This time around, Braxton faced one challenger – Laird Cole, a White auctioneer and Realtor.

“Mayor Braxton’s election signifies a milestone for Newbern, reinstating democratic governance, ensuring fair representation, and affirming that every resident has a voice in their local government,” Madison Hollon, program manager of political campaigns for the SPLC Action Fund, stated. The group had endorsed Braxton in the race.

Braxton views his lopsided victory as a confirmation of his continued support among the town’s residents. “It feels good the second time around,” he said.