Woodfin wins re-election in historic landslide

August 27, 2025 – BIRMINGHAM, AL. – Mayor Randall Woodfin achieved total victory over his many critics with a 74.9 percent blowout election.

Woodfin defeated seven different challengers including Alabama State Rep. Juandalynn Givan and Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales to win a third term as mayor.

"My promise as mayor is simple - to fight for your family's future like I fight for my own," said Woodfin in his victory speech. "Let's keep building a stronger, safer Birmingham - together."

Woodfin promised to invest in Birmingham's 99 neighborhoods – some of whom have experienced aging infrastructure and urban blight.

"It's time we finally go to the bond market and leverage resources to build new facilities-libraries, recreation centers-within walking distance of where our residents live," Woodfin promised.

Woodfin was endorsed by People for the American Way, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and other liberal groups.

Woodfin defeated longtime Mayor William Bell in 2017 to take over the mayor's seat.

His tenure has had to deal with crisis. Beginning with the Jefferson County sewer bankruptcy that limited what the city could do from an economic growth perspective during his first years to the COVID-19 global pandemic, to riots following the Rodney King slaying, to a crime wave that terrorized residents and left hundreds dead.

The gang war years from 2020 to 2024 left 727 residents dead and 3,850 more wounded. This was the most violent period in the history of Birmingham. As of August 14, 2025, Birmingham has reported 55 homicides. That's a significant drop compared to the same point in 2024, when the city had already logged 108 homicides.

"We do all this dumb s*** online, and then we try to live it out in reality," Woodfin said of .why so many young Black males in Birmingham decide to gun down other young Black males (and the women and children who get caught in the cross fire). "Then your mama got a T-shirt on... because of some really dumb decisions."

The historic crime wave, dubious leadership issues within the Birmingham Police Department itself, anti-policing rhetoric from groups like Black Lives Matter, the Rodney King hysteria, and stiff competition from suburban police forces led to an exodus of veteran police officers and difficulty recruiting new officers.

While some of his critics claim that the Birmingham PD is short 80 to 123 officers, Woodfin maintains that it is actually just 63 patrol officers short.

In an attempt to recruit and retain more police officers Woodfin has proposed $10,000 signing and retention bonuses, a take-home vehicle program, mental health leave, and more benefits for officers.

Woodfin has originally not planned to run for a third term.

"I never planned to run for a third term," Woodfin said. "When I first ran for mayor, my focus was on delivering real change for Birmingham in two terms ... That was my honest intent. But once I stepped into office, reality hit."

For generations Birmingham was the largest city in Alabama boasting a population of 340,887 residents in 1960. At the time, it was ranked as the 36th largest city in the United States. Today, it's about 42% smaller than it was in 1960. That era marked Birmingham's height as a major industrial hub, especially in steel production. Today Birmingham is the fourth largest city in Alabama and 118th nationally with just 194,156 residents.

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