Bill Hightower wins District 35 runoff

Updated: Wednesday, 13 Mar 2013, 4:42 AM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 12 Mar 2013, 8:53 PM CDT

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile businessman Bill Hightower has defeated state Rep. Jim Barton of Mobile in the Republican runoff for state Senate District 35.

With 68 of 69 boxes reporting, Hightower got 4,228 to Barton's 2,359 votes. There is no Democratic candidate for District 35, which includes parts of downtown Mobile to Dauphin Island.

The special election was needed after Ben Brooks resigned his Senate seat to become a circuit judge in Mobile.

Barton will retain his seat in the Alabama House.