Hendrix gets new shot at District 55 seat in Tuesday special election

Travis Hendrix is a familiar name in House District 55.

Democratic voters in the district will go to the polls Tuesday to make their choice among Hendrix and seven other candidates to fill a vacancy in the Alabama House of Representatives, following former Rep. Fred Plump’s indictment on federal conspiracy charges.

In 2022, Plump unseated a fixture of the House Democratic caucus in a close primary runoff election: Former Rep. Rod Scott, who represented District 55 since 2006.

Hendrix was also in the primary field.

Once votes were counted in the 2022 primary, Hendrix secured 18% of the vote, with frontrunner Scott, seeking a fifth term to the Legislature, pulling in 25%.

Scott is the director of planning for his former colleague, House Minority Leader Craig Ford, now mayor of Gadsden. After a nail-biting primary runoff and recount defeat, his successor, Plump, left a clean slate for the current field of candidates.

There is no Republican running in the district, meaning victory in Tuesday’s primary and potential run-off election will effectively be final.

Hendrix has led in fundraising while picking up the endorsements of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville), as well as influential political groups at the state level, including BCA’s ProgressPAC, the Alabama Forestry Association, Alabama Builders PAC, and AlabamaWorks PAC.

A sergeant with the Birmingham Police Department, Hendrix said on his website, “Growing up in this area exposed me to the harsh realities faced by many residents, but it also instilled in me the values of service, sacrifice, and the power of prayer, thanks to the strong influence of my grandmother.”

On Monday, Hendrix told Yellowhammer News he’ll be talking to voters until the very last minute.

“Look, it’s simple to me, I just want to serve my community that I’ve been serving as a police officer for over 15 years. A community that I was born in, the community that has raised me, help feed my family, and that has also supported me along the way.”

“I want to support them and fight for them in the same way,” Hendrix said.

In her announcement on why a special election was triggered in HD55, Gov. Kay Ivey said, “Those in public office must be held to the highest standard, and it is unfortunate that the good folks in House District 55 have been left without representation due to poor decisions made by the individual who formerly held this seat.”

“I encourage everyone in this district to get out and vote during this special election to ensure you have a strong voice advocating for you in the Alabama Legislature going forward.”

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270