Republican Barbara Alby Wins Runoff Election for 5th Assembly District Seat

Barbara Alby’s third try for a seat in the state Assembly was successful, as the Republican activist from Sacramento County defeated three other candidates Tuesday in the 5th Assembly District runoff election.

Alby will fill the seat left vacant by the death of B. T. Collins. Collins, who had defeated Alby twice in Republican primaries, died in March of a heart attack.

With all but two of the district’s 162 precincts reporting, Alby had 22,260 votes, or 48.3%. Democrat Joan Barry was second, with 18,062 votes, or 39.2%. When Alby is sworn in, Democrats will hold a 48-32 advantage in the Assembly.

Democrats called Alby an extremist, in part because of her strong anti-abortion views. But she ignored the critics and campaigned largely on economic issues. Alby will fill the remainder of Collins’ term and will have to run again next year for a new two-year term.