The 2021 Birmingham mayoral election was held on August 24, 2021, to elect the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama. Incumbent Democratic mayor Randall Woodfin was re-elected to a second term.
Background Woodfin was first elected in 2017, defeating incumbent mayor William Bell in a runoff. He was a keynote speaker at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. During his first term, he faced criticism for furloughing some city employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, committing $3 million per year to the Protective Stadium, creating a city-funded scholarship program, and replacing Birmingham's police chief, though he has defended all the aforementioned decisions. In his reelection campaign, Woodfin primarily touted his accomplishments in renovating several dilapidated areas of the city and reforming the city's police department. A primary issue in the campaign was the results of the 2020 United States census, which showed that Huntsville had surpassed Birmingham as Alabama's most populous city. Woodfin believed that Birmingham's population loss was due to a brain drain, and pointed out that the aforementioned scholarship program could help keep high school graduates in the city.
Candidates Confirmed Cerissa Brown, mental health advocate William Bell, former mayor Napoleon Gonzalez Philemon Hill, mechanical engineer and candidate for mayor in 2017 Lashunda Scales, President pro tempore of the Jefferson County commission Darryl Williams, house refurbisher Randall Woodfin, incumbent mayor Chris Woods, businessman, former National Football League player, nephew of Abraham Woods, and candidate for mayor in 1995 and 2017
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RandallWoodfin WilliamBell LashaundaScales Others UndecidedBirmingham TimesBirmingham TimesMay 11–June 4, 2021250 (LV)± 6.2%52%10%11%4%23%Chism StrategiesChism StrategiesApril 1–5, 2021662 (LV)± 3.9%49%14%12%21%–
Debates 2021 Birmingham mayoral election debates Date & Time Host(s) Moderator(s) Link ParticipantsKey: Participant Non-invitee Invitee Brown Bell Gonzalez Hill Scales Williams Woodfin Woods1 2
Results
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites Cerissa Brown for Mayor
Lashunda Scales for Mayor Randall Woodfin (D) for Mayor Chris Woods for Mayor