The Democratic primary in the special election to replace longtime Alabama Rep. John Rogers is headed to a runoff.

Kelvin Datcher will face Frank Woodson in a runoff election on July 16 to determine the Democratic party’s nominee for the House District 52 seat representing parts of Birmingham and Jefferson County.

“We are overwhelmed by the support we’re getting from one side of the district to the other,” Datcher told AL.com. “I couldn’t be more thrilled about the outcome tonight.”

The candidate who wins the runoff will face Carlos Crum, the only Republican candidate in the heavily Democratic district, in the general special election on Oct. 1.

In Tuesday’s primary, Datcher, an aide to Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and the city’s deputy director of community development, received nearly 38% of the votes.

Woodson, the president and CEO of CityServe Alabama, a network of local churches, received just shy of 18% of the votes.

“Tonight I feel great,” Woodson said. “Tomorrow we unite as a team of leaders across our community and we begin to hear what the people have to say.”

Turnout in the race was dismal with just 1,344 of 34,231 registered voters participating. That’s just under 4%.

Coming out atop the six-candidate field, Datcher received 510 votes. Woodson received 239 votes, beating Latonia Millhouse, the third place finisher, by just three votes.

Woodson said the results of the election, including the vast numbers of people who did not vote, showed that residents want a change.

“One of the things I wanted to run was a campaign for better business, better politics, and a better community,” Woodson told AL.com.”We need to be clear on the message that’s being sent by the majority.”

This is Datcher’s first time seeking elected office after two decades in public service. He has previously served as a chief of staff to Sheila Tyson, who was a city councilwoman at the time. He also worked as a policy analyst for the Jefferson County Department of Health.

Datcher said he has the skills and experience to forge a stronger relationship between Birmingham and state government.

“There are lots of conversations of commonality that we can have with folks on both sides of the aisle that would resonate with everybody in the state of Alabama, and sometimes you have to come at an issue from different angles to get to the same place,” he told AL.com in an earlier interview. “There are decisions made in public policy that have been a blessing to me and my family and this is an opportunity for me to try to contribute and give back to others who want to pursue their own dreams.”

Woodson formerly served as executive director of Mission Birmingham, a faith-based community development organization.

He was appointed by former Governor Robert Bentley to the Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Service.

Datcher and Woodson knocked four other Democrats out of the race tonight: Millhouse, Dedra Campbell, Eric Major and Eyrika Parker.

This is the first time in more than 40 years that the district will have a new representative. John Rogers in March resigned after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges in a kickback scheme that also brought down another state lawmaker.

Prosecutors said Rogers misused public money intended for Jefferson County nonprofit agencies. State Rep. Fred Plump also resigned and pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme.

Rogers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

He will be sentenced on July 26. Prosecutors have recommended that the judge reduce his charges and sentence him to 14 months of house arrest, followed by supervised release.