Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox has won the Democratic nomination in the Alabama gubernatorial primary.
Maddox won 54.6 percent of Democratic votes, receiving 154,558 votes in total, according to the the New York Times.
"With our victory tonight, I believe that a new day is possible in our politics," Maddox told supporters at his election watch party in Tuscaloosa. "We can lift the veil of darkness we have been under for the past eight years due to failed leadership."
Maddox won with a 25.6 percentage point lead over former Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, who received 29 percent of Democratic votes for a total of 82,099 votes.
Sue Bell Cobb conceded at her watch party in Montgomery.
"It's time for all Democrats to unite and work as one toward an Alabama that we can be proud of and not embarrassed by," Cobb said. "Change is coming, and I feel it in the air."
The New York Times also recorded former Alabama State Rep. James C. Fields at 8 percent of the vote with 22,635 total votes. Minister Anthony White secured 9,676 votes at 3.4 percent, while Doug "New Blue" Smith came in close at 3.3 percent with 9,244. Christopher Countryman won 1.7 percent of the Democratic vote with a total of 4,923 votes.
Despite having won the Democratic nomination for Alabama governor, Maddox plans to put the state's people over party politics.
"I've listened. I've listened hard, and our people want a governor with vision, integrity and energy," Maddox said.
If elected, Maddox said he will work to actualize his plan for a New Covenant. According to his campaign site, Maddox's New Covenant stressed the need for better state infrastructure, job development, improved healthcare and a state lottery to fund education.
The Democratic gubernatorial nominee emphasized that under his leadership, all Alabamians will work "shoulder-to-shoulder" to bring change to the state.
Maddox extended his gratitude to supporters. He also expressed his desire to work with his Democratic opponents to build a stronger Alabama.
Cheers rang from the crowd as Maddox thanked his wife Stephanie Maddox for being his strongest supporter throughout his campaign. In his victory speech, the Tuscaloosa mayor recounted the story of a city-wide search for a child during the 2011 tornado crisis.
"Almost instantly, people began digging in this frantic search to find that child," Maddox said. "As everyone was coming to this moment, the petty differences that often divide us quickly evaporated."
Maddox implores Alabama to keep in mind his experience during the Tuscaloosa tornado. Maddox hopes to bring together all Alabamians to work toward a common goal.
"I bore witness to something inspiring: Alabamians of all races, backgrounds and political beliefs, reflecting the image of God," Maddox said. "I was honored to see who we are, but more importantly, I got to see who we could be."
Through his campaign, Maddox hopes to see Alabama reestablish values of kindness, respect and togetherness.
"While incompetency and corruption have reigned in Montgomery, all we could hear is the sound of silence," Maddox said.
Maddox seeks to use common ground in education, employment and healthcare policy to bring improvements to Alabama.
"To the people of Alabama: I choose the future," Maddox said. "I choose to turn the pages of the past and write the new chapters that makes the twenty-first century an Alabama century."
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox will face Republican nominee Gov. Kay Ivey in the November 6, 2018, election for governor of Alabama.
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