Kristin Nelson Wins Alabama House District 38
Incumbent Republican Kristin Nelson defeated Democrat Hazel Floyd in the November 2026 general election for State House District 38.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Incumbent State Representative Kristin Nelson (R-Valley) won re-election to State House District 38 in Alabama, defeating Democratic nominee Hazel Floyd. Unofficial Secretary of State results show Nelson with 9,419 votes (63.78%) to Floyd's 5,334 (36.12%).
Why it matters
The result keeps the District 38 seat in Republican hands for the Alabama House. Nelson, who first won a special election earlier in 2026 to replace Debbie Wood, now holds the seat in her own right.
Nelson received 9,419 votes, or 63.78% of the total, while Floyd received 5,334 votes, or 36.12%, according to unofficial results. The totals have not yet been certified by the state.
The players
Kristin Nelson
Kristin Nelson is the Republican state representative for Alabama House District 38, first elected in a 2026 special election to succeed Debbie Wood.
Hazel Floyd
Hazel Floyd is the Democratic nominee who lost the November 2026 race for Alabama House District 38 to Kristin Nelson.
Debbie Wood
Debbie Wood is the former Alabama state representative who resigned from the State House in 2025, creating the vacancy in District 38.
The details
Nelson, the incumbent Republican from Valley, addressed supporters in Valley after being declared the winner Tuesday night. She had previously won a special election earlier in 2026 to fill the seat vacated when Debbie Wood resigned from the State House in 2025.
Timeline
2025: Debbie Wood resigns from the State House, opening District 38.
Earlier in 2026: Nelson wins the special election to replace Wood.
November 3, 2026: General election held; Nelson is declared the winner Tuesday night.
Political Context
Nelson's win follows her special election victory earlier in 2026 to replace Debbie Wood, who resigned in 2025. The general election confirms that outcome in a full contest against Democrat Hazel Floyd.
Nelson's continued tenure means District 38 constituents retain the same representative for the upcoming legislative session. The result leaves the seat's representation unchanged for voters in the district.
The takeaway
Nelson's win shows how a special election can translate into a full-term mandate when the incumbent carries the seat into the general election. Voters in similar districts can track unofficial results against certified totals once the Secretary of State completes certification.
Further reading
Explore more Alabama election coverage for context on state legislative races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 1819 News.
