Montgomery City Council District 3 will be decided in a runoff

September 1, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Montgomery voters went to the polls in the special election for Montgomery City Council District 3. No candidate received a majority so the two top vote getters will head to a runoff in the 15-person field.

Gregory Crawford and Johnnie Sankey advanced to the runoff.

Crawford won 280 votes (28% of the vote), and Sankey received 178 votes (18%).

Justin Hampton came in third with 119 votes (12%), while Michelle Summers received 102 votes (10%).

Steven Lambert received 86 votes. Jose Harris got 64 votes. Mark Bailey 62, LaPawn Carter Jr. 35, DeAnthony Powell 19, Bibby Leon Simmons 12, Kevin Ellkins 10, West Marcus 8, Moctasxi McCoy, Marion J. Ackley 3, and Johnny Bannister 3.

Crawford said, "I am not a politician. I am not a public speaker. I am a public servant and I am proud to work for the people of our great city."

"District 3 has always been my first priority as well as the people who call it home," Crawford continued. "I have worked hard to serve our community, listen to your concerns, and help move our district forward."

Sankey shared statements emphasizing community unity, collaboration, and her ongoing service. She highlighted the strength in numbers, the importance of combining brilliant minds for solutions, and expressed a desire for voters-including supporters of other candidates-to collaborate on a shared vision and plan for District 3.Sankey also emphasized a community-first approach in previous campaigns, stressing the need to improve the district's image through shared expertise and to cultivate diversity.

Crawford and Sankey will face off in the special runoff election on October 13. The winner will serve the remainder of Councilmember Marche Johnson term.

She was removed from the Montgomery City Council after she moved out of the district. The other council members voted to declare the seat vacant due to the municipal residency requirements. The special election was set by the council to fill the vacant seat.

Turnout in the special council election was less than 8 percent with viewer than 1000 voters participating.

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