Selma native Katherine Robertson wins race for Alabama attorney general

Katherine Robertson won the race for Alabama attorney general early Wednesday morning, becoming the first woman to hold the office in state history.

As of 7:01 a.m., Robertson, chief counsel in the AG’s office, received 919,903 votes (54.9%) in unofficial returns. Democratic nominee Jeff McLaughlin, a former state representative from Guntersville, garnered 753,384 votes, almost 45%.

The numbers were taken from the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. The Associated Press called the race at 1:37 a.m. Wednesday.

“I want to thank everyone who bought into my vision for this office: the sheriffs and farmers, the elected officials and everyday Alabamians who stood with us,” Robertson said in a statement sent Wednesday morning before the AP called the race. “Thanks to every one of you who filled in the bubble with my name, a small-town girl from Selma is now the first woman elected Attorney General. This victory is for you.”

Robertson will succeed Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who has held the office since 2017 and was term-limited. Marshall sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate earlier this year but finished third in the primary.

Robertson highlighted endorsements she received from Second Amendment rights groups such as the National Rifle Association on her campaign website. She also posted endorsements from the Coosa, Tuscaloosa and Madison sheriffs’ offices.

A message was sent to the McLaughlin campaign Tuesday evening seeking comment.

McLaughlin did not have a significant campaign presence until September when his website went online. On it, McLaughlin pledged to address corruption and to hold state officials accountable. He also promised to protect consumers in Alabama and equally apply justice in the state, “protecting the rights of every Alabamian and refusing to use the office to settle political scores.”

In an interview in September, McLaughlin said he would use the authority of the office to help ensure that consumers in Alabama will pay the lowest power rates possible.

Robertson defeated Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell for the Republican nomination in June.

The Republican nominee held a major cash advantage in the race. Robertson raised a total of $4.4 million for the primary and general elections this year and spent a total of $5.3 million through Friday, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. McLaughlin raised just under $51,000 and spent about $45,000.