Back in June, Bradley Byrne was one of the first candidates to announce his intention to run for the Alabama first congressional district seat to be vacated by then-Rep. Jo Bonner. On Tuesday, Byrne was officially the last man standing.
With 93 percent reporting, Byrne defeated Democratic nominee Burton LeFlore by a 32,506-13,989 margin.
Byrne addressed his supporters at his victory party at Moe’s BBQ in downtown Mobile and touted himself as a “conservative problem solver.”
“Tonight, the voters of South Alabama have sent a resounding message that they want a conservative problem solver with a proven track record of achieving results to represent them in Congress,” Byrne said. “They’re tired of the name-calling and political gamesmanship in Washington. They want a conservative leader who will fight to represent our principles, but who also knows how to sit around a table and work out our differences. We here in southwest Alabama know the great and simple truth from the Pledge of Allegiance, that we are, indeed, ‘One Nation, Under God’ – and that, working together, we can be a great nation.”
“As a community, we have such a bright future ahead of us – the potential to be an economic leader in our state and throughout the Gulf Coast region, bringing good-paying jobs and a better quality of life to South Alabama,” he continued. “But we can’t get there alone. We need a leader who will forge partnerships and promote pro-growth policies that will attract more investment and jobs to our community. That’s exactly what I plan to do as your Congressman. This has been a hard-fought campaign, but the real work is just beginning. I want to hear from you. Our door is always open – let us know how we can help. This is your seat, and I will work hard to build on the trust you’ve placed in me with your vote, one person at a time.”
In addition to a big victory at the polls, Byrne overwhelmed LeFlore in the campaign fundraising department by a $1.1 million-to-$7,000 margin.
Both the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee congratulated Byrne for his Tuesday night victory.
“Congratulations to Congressman-elect Bradley Byrne on his victory tonight,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “He will join the Republican majority in the House of Representatives as they continue their work to support job creation and to grow the economy. I am confident he will represent his constituents well as he fights to undo the damage of ObamaCare and Democrats’ disastrous agenda.”
“Congratulations are in order for Representative-Elect Bradley Byrne as the victor in Alabama’s special election for Congress,” NRCC Chairman Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said in a statement. “Bradley’s strong conservative principles and dedication to his community will be a welcomed addition to the halls of Congress. He has a history of working hard for Alabamans for almost two decades, and I know he will continue that precedent as a United States Representative.
Byrne will be sworn into office at the beginning of the second session of the 113th Congress on January 7, 2014.
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