The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Mayor Randall Woodfin
August 26, 2025 - BIRMINGHAM, AL. - Today, August 26, voters across Birmingham will cast their ballots in one of the city's most consequential mayoral elections in recent memory. With nine candidates on the ballot and a runoff looming if no one secures a majority, the race reflects deep civic engagement and competing visions for Birmingham's future.
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and voters will also decide races for City Council and the Board of Education, making this a full-scale municipal election with implications for governance, equity, and neighborhood investment.
The Candidates: A Diverse Field
Incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin is seeking a third term, facing eight challengers who span the political spectrum and bring a range of professional and civic experience:
• Juandalynn Givan: A state representative from District 60, Givan has emphasized transparency, ethics reform, and neighborhood empowerment. Her campaign has drawn attention for its sharp critiques of city spending and leadership style.
• Lashunda Scales: A Jefferson County Commissioner and former City Council member, Scales finished second in the 2021 mayoral race. She's campaigning on restoring trust, streamlining neighborhood funding, and expanding economic opportunity.
• Frank Woodson: A nonprofit executive, Woodson is focused on citizen participation, youth programs, and community-based budgeting.
• Brian Rice: An engineer and ethics advocate, Rice has centered his campaign on integrity, infrastructure, and economic fairness.
• Kamau "Marlon" Afrika: A longtime activist and real estate investor, Afrika has run for office multiple times and is calling for revolutionary change in city governance.
• Marilyn James-Johnson, Jerimy Littlepage, and David Russell round out the field, each bringing grassroots perspectives and critiques of current leadership.
A Heated Campaign Season
The race has been marked by intense debates and sharp exchanges. In a recent mayoral forum hosted by 104.1 WJLD FM, candidates clashed over neighborhood funding, executive salaries, and the city's economic priorities.
Woodfin defended his record, citing over $3 million in neighborhood funds and denying claims that he cut community budgets. Scales and Givan pushed back, accusing the administration of delays and mismanagement. "We must put the people first," said Rice, while Woodson pledged to fund a citizen participation plan.
"Our record of accomplishments outshine any of the dirty tricks some folks want to throw at us," said Mayor Woodfin. "Our opponents are counting on us to slip up, to lose focus, or to get complacent."
"We cannot go another four years the way this city is going. It's filthy," said Rep. Givan, "Our streets look like war zones. We don't need dumpsters. We need men and women working at the Streets and Sanitation Department."
"We've lost over 16,000 people in seven and a half years," said Commissioner Scales. "People are leaving the city by the thousands."
"I realized the need for leadership," said Woodson. "Not management, not supervision-but real leadership. We need a leader that has experienced leading leaders."
The debate underscored the stakes: how Birmingham allocates resources, engages residents, and defines leadership in a city still grappling with historic inequities and modern pressures.
What's at Stake
Birmingham's mayor oversees a city of more than 194,000 residents, with responsibilities ranging from public safety and infrastructure to economic development and intergovernmental relations. The mayor also plays a key role in shaping the city's response to housing, education, and environmental challenges.
"The race for Birmingham's future just got real... the fight to keep pushing our city forward starts right now," said Woodfin. "I can't begin to tell you how inspired I am by what we've accomplished together since announcing our re-election campaign."
"Our city is bigger than downtown, Uptown, and Southside," said Givan accusing Woodfin of not effectively governing the whole city. "Birmingham is comprised of 99 neighborhoods. It shouldn't matter if you live in Forest Park versus if you live in Ensley, if you live in Pratt, if you live in Riley, if you live in North Birmingham."
""Birmingham has to stop settling for mediocrity. That's been Birmingham's greatest hurdle," said Scales. "The buck stops at the mayor's office. ... That's going to require the absolute power by the Mayor Council Act that is given especially to the mayor."
"Our sons are dying in the streets," said Woodson. "We need solutions, not applause for locking up kids."
Key issues in this election include:
• Neighborhood Funding: Candidates differ on how to streamline and expand funding for Birmingham's 99 neighborhoods. Delays and bureaucratic hurdles have frustrated many community leaders.
• Executive Salaries and Budget Transparency: Several challengers have criticized high-level city salaries and called for audits and spending reforms.
• Public Safety and Policing: With rising concerns over crime and emergency response times, candidates are proposing varied approaches-from community policing to departmental restructuring.
• Economic Development: Birmingham's downtown revitalization has drawn praise, but critics say outlying neighborhoods remain neglected. Candidates are debating how to ensure equitable growth.
• Ethics and Civic Trust: Allegations of favoritism, opaque contracting, and political infighting have fueled calls for ethics reform and greater public accountability.
Election Logistics
Voters must present a valid photo ID at the polls. Absentee ballots must be received by noon today. A runoff election is scheduled for October 7 if no candidate receives more than 50.1% of the vote.
The City Clerk's Office has provided sample ballots, polling locations, and voter ID guidance on the official Birmingham election site.
A Crossroads for Birmingham
This election arrives at a moment of transition. Birmingham has made strides in economic development and national visibility, but persistent disparities in housing, education, and health remain. The mayoral race is not just about personalities-it's about priorities.
Woodfin, endorsed by groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund and People For the American Way, is running on continuity and progress. His challengers argue that change is overdue, and that Birmingham needs a more inclusive, responsive government.
The outcome will shape how the city navigates federal partnerships, regional planning, and internal reform. It will also signal how Birmingham defines leadership in an era of civic skepticism and grassroots activism.
Final Thoughts
As voters head to the polls today, they carry with them hopes for safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, and a city government that listens. Whether Birmingham chooses to stay the course or chart a new path, the 2025 mayoral election is a defining moment-one that will echo far beyond City Hall.
For live election coverage of the Birmingham election visit the Birmingham Times election portal:
(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)
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