By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Voters in Alabama House District 52 will return to the polls on June 16 to decide who will represent the district in Montgomery after two challengers emerged from a crowded Democratic primary and unseated incumbent Rep. Kelvin Datcher in one of the election cycle’s biggest surprises.
Attorney and educator Gigi Hayes and longtime political organizer LaTonya Millhouse advanced to the runoff after both outperformed Datcher in the May primary, setting up a contest between two candidates who say they are best equipped to address the needs of a district that includes portions of Birmingham, Fairfield, Homewood and Mountain Brook.
While both candidates have emphasized community engagement and economic opportunity, they have offered different visions for how to move District 52 forward.
Hayes, an attorney, educator and community advocate, has built her campaign around improving public safety, strengthening educational opportunities and expanding economic growth throughout the district. In a March interview with Urbanham.com, Hayes described her commitment to creating safer neighborhoods and increasing opportunities for families while drawing on her experience in law, education and business leadership.
Hayes has also highlighted her work in the community and her desire to bring practical solutions to issues affecting residents throughout District 52.
Millhouse, meanwhile, points to more than three decades of community involvement and political activism as evidence of her commitment to the district.
“I have a couple things that I wanted to highlight, and that is my communication, my community service and my dedication to the community,” Millhouse told The Birmingham Times. “I’ve been involved over 30 years in the community.”
A lifelong resident of the area, Millhouse said her roots in District 52 give her a unique understanding of both its history and its challenges.
“I’ve lived in the district all of my life,” she said. “I know a lot of the history about the district, a lot of the things that transpired in the past. And a lot of the reasons why we’re here in the situation we’re in, and so I feel like that history and that experience will put me in a better position to serve the district.”
Economic development and workforce preparation remain central to Millhouse’s platform. She said she wants to focus on creating opportunities that help residents build sustainable careers and strengthen local communities.
“My plan is I would like to focus on pathways instead of pipelines,” she said. “District 52 is rich in history. We need investment in small business. Pathways instead of pipelines. I am going to support working families.”
Millhouse also said she wants to prioritize affordable housing, access to healthcare and resources for returning citizens through what she calls a “Ready Day One” initiative. The program would help formerly incarcerated individuals secure identification documents and other necessities before reentering the workforce.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, Millhouse said she hopes residents remember that her campaign is rooted in long-term community service rather than political ambition.
“District 52 is my home. It’s not a campaign stepping stone or a political opportunity,” she said.
The runoff comes at a pivotal moment for District 52, where residents have expressed concerns about economic development, neighborhood investment, education and public services. Both candidates say they are prepared to advocate for the district’s needs in Montgomery, but each argues that her experience makes her uniquely qualified for the role.
For Hayes, that argument centers on her professional background as an attorney and educator and her focus on policy solutions aimed at improving quality of life for families across the district.
For Millhouse, the distinction lies in her decades of community involvement and firsthand knowledge of the district’s history and residents.
“If they stand for me, I am definitely going to stand for them for the next four years,” Millhouse said.
The winner of the June 16 runoff will become the Democratic nominee for House District 52 and will move one step closer to representing the district in the Alabama Legislature.
Polls will be open Tuesday, June 16, and voters who participated in the Democratic primary will be eligible to vote in the Democratic runoff.
