On Tuesday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced his endorsement of State Representative Barbara Drummond for mayor of Mobile. Drummond finished first in August’s general election, advancing to a September 23 runoff against former District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis.
“Today, I’m proud to endorse my friend Barbara Drummond for Mayor of Mobile,” Woodfin said Tuesday. “She’s proven time and again that she shows up, listens, and leads with integrity. Mobile deserves a mayor who puts people first, and Barbara is the candidate who can deliver safe neighborhoods, strong services, and economic opportunity for every family.”
Woodfin himself was recently reelected to a third term as Birmingham’s mayor in a landslide victory, proving himself to be among the most popular municipal leaders in the state. The mayor’s endorsement could help Drummond maintain her grassroots campaign’s momentum as she faces an opponent who both outraised and outspent her in the general election.
In response to the endorsement, Drummond expressed her gratitude to Woodfin and praised his leadership in Birmingham.
“When it comes to good governance from city hall, Mayor Woodfin is leading by example: tackling tough problems like crime while ensuring children in Birmingham have pathways to success,” Drummond stated. “As mayor, I look forward to working hand-in-hand to ensure Alabama’s cities make big strides forward together.”
In addition to Woodfin’s backing, Drummond’s campaign has also received endorsements from the SPLC Action Fund, Southwest Alabama Labor Council, AFL‑CIO, Communications Workers of America Local 3907, Democratic Mayor’s Association, former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, and former mayoral candidates Lawrence Battiste and Jermaine Burrell. Meanwhile, Cheriogotis holds a key endorsement from outgoing Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.
Drummond’s campaign says that it is committed to “doubling down on grassroots energy,” focusing on mobilizing voters through door-knocking, calling and texting ahead of the September 23 runoff.
“We were outraised, but not outworked,” said campaign spokesman Daniel Deriso. “Barbara’s victory in the primary showed that big money doesn’t decide elections – people do. The momentum is on our side, and we’re leaving it all on the field.”
If elected, Drummond would become the first Black woman to serve as mayor of Mobile.
