Alabama Republicans celebrated a landslide victory Tuesday night in the Senate District 14 special election that gave Republican candidate April Weaver a four-to-one victory over Democratic candidate Virginia Applebaum.
Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl congratulated Weaver on her victory.
“On behalf of the Alabama Republican Party, I am excited to welcome April Weaver back to the Alabama Legislature following her service in the Trump administration,” Wahl said. “Senator-elect Weaver brings a wealth of legislative experience to the State Senate, having previously served in the Alabama House. Additionally, her extensive background in healthcare – including her position in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – will be valuable to not only her district, but to our state overall as we continue to emerge from the COVID pandemic.”
As of press time, Applebaum had just 19.61 percent of the vote to April Weaver’s 80.24 percent.
Weaver served in the Trump administration as a regional director for the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Thank you, District 14 voters! It is my honor to work for you!” Senator-elect Weaver said.
“I am deeply proud of the incredible things we were able to accomplish to make our country stronger, safer and more secure and was humbled that President Trump chose me to help during this health crisis,” Weaver said when she announced her candidacy.
Weaver has previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives for 10 years, five of them as the chair of the House Health Committee.
“I have always been a fiscal conservative and I have been proud to stand up for the pocketbooks of the families I have represented,” Weaver said. “Senate District 14 needs a proven conservative with courage to stand up for them. My entire career in public service has demonstrated that I am that type of conservative.”
Weaver also formerly served as the chairman of the Shelby County House Delegation from October 2016 through May 2020. Weaver is a trained nurse and has spent over 20 years working in hospital administration.
Once sworn in, Weaver will be the only Republican woman in the state Senate. Her District 14 seat includes portions of Shelby, Chilton and Bibb Counties. SD14 became vacant when Sen. Cam Ward left to become the director of the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.
During her tenure in the state House, Weaver had a reputation of being a hardworking, strong conservative on both fiscal and social issues.
The Legislature is expected to meet in a special session in mid to late August to address the prison situation and again in late October to address redistricting the state ahead of the 2022 election. Weaver will have to face re-election next year like the rest of the state Legislature.
The Republican primary will be May 24, 2022.
