Claiborne County Supervisor Albert Butler is headed to theMississippi Senate after emerging victorious from a run-offelection Tuesday night.

Senator-elect Butler will represent the counties of District 36 -Claiborne, Copiah, Jefferson and a portion of Hinds – afterdefeating Republican challenger Jimmy Strong, of Utica, by a voteof 3,781-2,496. Butler will become the 28th Democrat in theSenate.

The election was held to replace former Sen. Vincent Davis, whoresigned in December after being appointed as a chancery judge byGov. Haley Barbour.

Butler could not be reached for comment.

During his campaign, Butler set himself apart from other candidatesby supporting the consolidation of school districts and urging thecreation of an economic development alliance consisting of thecounty and municipal leadership in District 36.

He fell in line with current Mississippi Democratic principles byproposing that more money be taken from the state’s Rainy Day fundto plug budget holes and opposing college mergers of any kind.