---
title: "Pettway Wins Third Term as Jefferson County Sheriff in Birmingham"
url: https://www.herebirmingham.com/2026/11/04/pettway-wins-third-term-jefferson-county-sheriff/
date: 2026-11-04T07:02:31-06:00
modified: 2026-11-04T07:02:31-06:00
author: "Courtney E. Aguirre"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Birmingham"
attribution: "HERE Birmingham"
---

# Pettway Wins Third Term as Jefferson County Sheriff in Birmingham

> BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway won a third term Tuesday, easily turning back Republican Jacob Reach, as voters across the Birmingham area finished deciding county and legislative races. With every precinct counted, Pettway, a Democrat, had 66.02% of the vote to 33.91% for Reach, a margin of more than 78,000 votes, with

*Source: [HERE Birmingham](https://www.herebirmingham.com/2026/11/04/pettway-wins-third-term-jefferson-county-sheriff/) — November 4, 2026 by Courtney E. Aguirre*

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway won a third term Tuesday, easily turning back Republican Jacob Reach, as voters across the Birmingham area finished deciding county and legislative races.

With every precinct counted, Pettway, a Democrat, had 66.02% of the vote to 33.91% for Reach, a margin of more than 78,000 votes, with 161,436 votes to 82,919 in unofficial county returns. Pettway held off on claiming victory at a downtown Birmingham watch party until the final numbers posted shortly after midnight. Afterward he said his priorities include building trust with neighborhoods, opportunities for young people and more raises for deputies. Turnout in Jefferson County reached 50%, ahead of the statewide rate of 44%.

Pettway first won the office in 2018 by unseating longtime Sheriff Mike Hale, becoming the county’s first Black sheriff, and was reelected in 2022. Hale endorsed him in this year’s Democratic primary.

In the Bessemer Division, Democrat Charles R. Winston won the assistant tax assessor post with 66.14% over Republican Delor Baumann.

Legislative races in the metro split. Democrat Nell Brown edged Republican Leigh Hulsey for House District 15 with 51.19%, while Republican Mike Shaw held off Democrat Jim Toomey 51.15% to 48.82% in House District 47. Republican Susan DuBose won House District 45 with 63.41%, Republican Brian Brinyark took House District 16 with 82.85% over Democrat Christian Martin, and Republican J.T. Jabo Waggoner won the District 16 state Senate seat with 53.67% over Democrat Spencer Stone.

All results are unofficial until certified.