Daniel Wolfram
With 53.2% of the vote, Allison Montgomery ousted Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby to make history in Alabama.
Democrat Allison Montgomery defeated Republican incumbent Phillip K. Rigsby in a stunning upset.
Official returns reported by local news outlets confirm she won Alabama House District 25 with 12,456 votes, taking 53.2 percent against Rigsby’s 10,929.
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Flipping the seat in Alabama
Montgomery’s victory carries major historic weight. By flipping the Huntsville-area seat, the software engineer and civil rights champion becomes the first openly transgender person elected to the Alabama state legislature.
It was an uphill climb from the start. Opponents poured money into the race, outspending her by a wide margin while attacking her gender identity.
Rather than getting pulled into personal fights, Montgomery focused on everyday concerns like funding local classrooms, battling government corruption, and fixing healthcare access.
Looking past divisions
Writing to supporters after the ballots were counted, Montgomery urged everyone to look past the political spectacle.
In her words, according to PinkNews: “I know the headlines tomorrow are gonna be provocative and catchy, but let’s focus on the most important part of this victory: we showed that a truly grassroots campaign that stands on its policies and its principles has a real shot in Alabama.”
The win comes after years of fierce debate in the state Capitol. During that time, lawmakers repeatedly targeted transgender youth with restrictive healthcare and school measures.
The tension peaked in 2022, when State Representative Neil Rafferty, then the chamber’s only openly gay member, pleaded with colleagues to reconsider criminalizing vital medical care.
Now, the incoming lawmaker is taking a brief breather before tackling policy. Emphasizing accountability, she told constituents: “I’ve been careful with my words throughout this campaign, because I know I’ll have to deliver on them later.”
