Blacks elected as D.A. and sheriff in largest Alabama county

There were a few disappoints for people of color on election night, but there were also some victories. In Massachusetts, Ayanna Pressley became the state’s first Black Congresswoman. She will be filling the seat once held by former President John F. Kennedy. And in Alabama, Blacks have been elected for the first time to two of the top law enforcement positions in the state’s most populous county, reports the Associated Press. Jefferson County voters around Birmingham elected Black Democrat Mark Pettway as sheriff, turning back a re-election bid from longtime Republican incumbent Mike Hale, who is white. Voters also elected Black Democrat Danny Carr as district attorney. He defeated white Republican Mike Anderton, who was appointed to the position last year. The county has about 660,000 residents and is almost evenly split racially. Pettway has spent more than 25 years in law enforcement and has worked for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for nearly two decades. Carr is a longtime prosecutor who was working as chief assistant district attorney. He previously served as district attorney on an interim basis.