Two-term Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) survived a well-funded challenge from political newcomer Amy Dozier Minton on Tuesday, securing the Republican nomination for Alabama Senate District 10. Jones carried all three counties in the district — Cherokee, Etowah, and a portion of DeKalb.

In Cherokee County, Jones took 1,754 votes (53.22%) to Minton’s 1,542 (46.78%). In Etowah, the race was tighter, with Jones edging Minton 5,246 (51%) to 5,040 (49%). Jones’s largest margin came in the DeKalb portion of the district, where he won 1,308 votes (70.59%) to Minton’s 545 (29.41%).

“Huge win tonight! Thank you, thank you, thank you for making me your Republican nominee for State Senate! We were honored to win ALL THREE COUNTIES!” Jones said in his victory statement. “To the Amy Minton supporters: I congratulate team Minton on a hard fought race and humbly ask to earn your vote and support on November 3rd.”

“To our supporters, volunteers, friends, and family: thank you so much for believing in us! It takes a team, and our team has been at it for over a year. The “Andrew and You” movement is alive and well, and we are grateful for each and every one of you,” Jones added.

Minton, a Rainbow City resident and member of the Alabama Public Library Service Board, was endorsed by the Alabama Farmers Federation’s FarmPAC and ran a campaign emphasizing opposition to gambling expansion, library content concerns, and traditional conservative values.

A third candidate, Jesse Battles, was removed from the ballot by the Alabama Republican Party in February over questions about his past political work and is now running as an independent in November.

Jones, who chairs the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee, entered the cycle with more than $575,000 on hand compared to Minton’s $4,800.

Jones will face Battles and Republican-turned-independent challengers in the general election.