Ivey advances to November general election without runoff

May 25—Gov. Kay Ivey claimed a Republican primary victory over Lindy Blanchard, Tim James and six other challengers on Tuesday, avoiding a June 21 runoff.

The incumbent will face either Democrat Yolanda Flowers or Malika Sanders-Fortier in the November general election. Flowers and Sanders-Fortier each finished with 33 percent in the race, advancing to the runoff.

With all 67 Alabama counties reporting, Ivey advanced with 54.8 percent of the vote. Blanchard, who spent more than $10 million of her own money in the race, had 19.3 percent and James 15.99 percent.

In Calhoun County, Ivey won with 8,472 votes (56.52 percent). Blanchard was second with 3,148 (21 percent). James was a distant third with 2,166 (14.45 percent).

Ivey's victory was subdued in wake of Tuesday's mass school shooting in Texas, which killed 19 students and two teachers.

"We are all thinking about those in Uvalde, Texas," Ivey wrote on Twitter. "I am heartbroken for the innocent lives lost and the loved ones who are grieving. May God be with all those affected by this horrific tragedy."

Ivey, the oldest U.S. governor at age 77, declared victory around 10:30 p.m.

"Y'all we did it," she told supporters in Montgomery.

Blanchard, the former ambassador to Slovenia under former President Donald Trump, originally filed for the U.S. Senate race. She switched to the governor's race with Trump's blessing, but his encouragement did not help. Her attack ads against Ivey did not work.

"I'm looking forward to the next step because guess what? When God closes a door, what happens? He opens another one!" Blanchard told supporters in Montgomery.

The campaign was the third gubernatorial run for the 60-year-old James, son of former Alabama Gov. Fob James. He spent more than $4 million and attacked Ivey on the andemic, abortion and a transgender school that opened in Birmingham.

"I'm going to fight every day to continue making Alabama the best state in America to live, work, raise a family, and yes, play football," Ivey said. "We know how it's done down here in sweet home Alabama, and we're going to keep at it."

James Bennett is Executive Editor. Contact him at 256-235-3540 or jbennett@annistonstar.com.