Garnering nearly 70% of the vote, Gov. Kay Ivey earned the approval of a vast majority of Alabama voters and cruised to re-election Tuesday night.

With 95% reporting, Ivey holds 67.38% of the vote. Democrat Yolanda Flowers has 29.36%, with Libertarian Jimmy Blake holding 3.27% of all votes cast.

Reacting to Ivey’s victory was the Republican Governors Association (RGA), which hailed Alabama’s 54th chief executive as a “conservative leader.”

“Better roads, more jobs and lower taxes – Alabama voters tonight overwhelmingly rewarded Governor Kay Ivey for her hard work,” said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, who co-chair RGA. “Kay is the conservative leader the Yellowhammer State needed to safeguard people from Washington liberals’ dangerous policies, and we would like to congratulate her on her overwhelming victory.”

In her address to supporters at Ravello Ristorante in Montgomery, Ivey heaped praise upon those who assisted in her re-election campaign.

“I cannot tell you how proud I am to be here with you all tonight as we celebrate this hard-fought victory,” said Ivey. “Let me tell you this – this could not have happened without each and every single one of you here tonight, and watching at home. Your thoughts, your prayers, your support – and your votes – have allowed us to win reelection tonight for another four-year term as governor of the great state of Alabama!

“From the bottom of my heart – thank you.”

Ivey went on to list the accomplishments her administration notched over the past four years.

“Whether they realize it or not, nearly every part of the world is touched by something that was made right here in Alabama,” she said. “We have delivered historic investments into our state’s infrastructure so that we can keep our roads dependable and safe. I have made it my mission as governor to put a renewed emphasis on our education system – from our earliest learners to those in our K-12 schools to those attending post-secondary institutions.

“We are investing a record amount of funds toward our educational institutions – investments that will lead to real, meaningful changes that will benefit our students and teachers for years and decades to come.

“We know how it’s done here in Sweet Home Alabama, and we’re going to keep at it.”

Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL