Steven L. Reed became Montgomery, Alabama’s first African-American mayor after beating out television station owner David Woods during Tuesday’s county election.
According to USA Today, in 2012, Reed was named the first African-American and youngest person to be elected as the county’s probate judge. Under his leadership, he was the first probate judge in the state to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Prior to this election, Montgomery was one of three cities in six deep southern states to not have elected an African-American as mayor. Reed will be sworn into office Nov. 12 at Montgomery City Hall.
“This election has never been about me,” Reed said in his post-election speech. “This election has never been about just my ideas. It’s been about all the hopes and dreams we have as individuals and collectively in this city.”
