Davis and Gardner Advance to Prichard Mayoral Runoff After Tense Election Night

Prichard, AL (BuzzReport) – After a night of anticipation and technical delays, Carletta Davis and Jimmie Gardner are officially headed to a runoff election for Prichard’s mayoral seat. Neither candidate managed to secure the outright majority needed to win outright in Tuesday’s hotly contested race, sending the decision to voters again on September 23rd.

Davis maintained a consistent lead throughout the evening, ultimately securing a commanding first-place finish with 951 votes, or 36.44% of the total. The battle for second place, however, proved exceptionally tight, with Jimmie Gardner narrowly edging out former Councilman Lorenzo Martin by a mere four votes. Gardner finished with 635 votes (24.33%), just ahead of Martin’s 631 votes (24.18%).

The closely watched election underscored the city’s urgent demand for a new, responsible vision, particularly as Prichard continues to grapple with long-standing challenges. The race saw eight candidates vying for the top office, reflecting a broad desire for change within the community.

The path to these results was not without its bumps, however. Vote counting was notably slow, shadowed by early reports of voting machine malfunctions and jamming at several locations across Prichard, contributing to the delayed release of final tallies.

Adding to the narrative, The Buzz Report’s pre-election poll, released in July, accurately predicted the race’s trajectory, falling well within its margin of error regarding the top contenders.

Addressing her supporters late Tuesday, Davis expressed gratitude for their dedication and unwavering belief, promising that “change is on the way” for Prichard. She now prepares to face Gardner in a two-week sprint to rally voters for the final decision.

The runoff election will take place in September, giving both Davis and Gardner an opportunity to further articulate their visions for Prichard’s future and convince undecided voters.

The final, unofficial election results are as follows:

• CARLETTA DAVIS: 951 votes (36.44%)
• JIMMIE GARDNER: 635 votes (24.33%)
• LORENZO MARTIN: 631 votes (24.18%)
• CHARLES HARDEN: 116 votes (4.44%)
• KELVIN THORNTON: 113 votes (4.33%)
• HELEN WRIGHT: 80 votes (3.07%)
• ANTHONY CLARKBANKS: 36 votes (1.38%)
• JANETTA POGUE: 30 votes (1.15%)