Knapp Wins Alabama House District 65 Seat
Republican John Knapp captured the district after predecessor Brett Easterbrook left office amid a pending attempted human trafficking charge.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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Republican John Knapp won Alabama House District 65 in the Tuesday election, receiving 85% of the vote with more than 73% counted. Independent candidate Elaine Beech received 14%, and no Democrat ran in the district this year.
Why it matters
The race replaces a representative who faces a pending criminal charge after being caught up in a prostitution sting in Atmore, shifting the seat to a new Republican officeholder. For Alabama voters, the result reflects how a scandal-affected seat was filled in the state's legislature.
Brett Easterbrook faces a charge of attempted human trafficking, with a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 18. The charge stems from his involvement in an October prostitution sting in Atmore, and he did not seek re-election.
The players
John Knapp
Knapp is a Republican who won the District 65 seat in the general election after winning his party's primary.
Brett Easterbrook
Easterbrook is a former Republican state representative who held District 65 from 2018 and faces a pending attempted human trafficking charge.
Elaine Beech
Beech is an independent candidate who previously represented District 65 as a Democrat from 2009 to 2018.
The details
Easterbrook, a Republican who held District 65 from 2018, was one of several public officials caught up in an October prostitution sting in Atmore. Beech, who previously represented the district as a Democrat from 2009 to 2018, ran as an independent and received significant financial support, including from groups that regularly back Republican candidates.
Timeline
October: Easterbrook was caught up in the prostitution sting in Atmore.
Nov. 18: Preliminary hearing set for Easterbrook's attempted human trafficking charge.
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election held for Alabama House District 65.
Legal Context
The election follows the district's shift from Democratic to Republican control, with Beech's Democratic tenure from 2009 to 2018 succeeded by Republican officeholders. The seat's change in hands comes as Easterbrook's criminal case moves toward a preliminary hearing.
Voters in District 65, which covers all of Washington County and portions of Baldwin, Choctaw and Clarke counties, now have a new Republican representative in the state House. The change of officeholder also means the district's seat is no longer held by an official facing a pending criminal case.
The takeaway
Voters in a district with a scandal-affected seat now have a new representative, and the outcome of the pending charge against the former officeholder will determine whether the case moves forward. Readers can follow the Nov. 18 hearing for the next development.
What happens next
Easterbrook's preliminary hearing on his attempted human trafficking charge is scheduled for Nov. 18.
Further reading
Explore more Sex Crimes coverage in Alabama for context on related criminal cases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Al.
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