Campaign workers for Ed Henry pose for a photo after Henry won the State Representative District 9 Republican nomination. There is no Democratic qualifier in the general election. Pictured are, from left, (back) Jim Owen, Debbi Owen, Buzz Brown, Sherree Brown, Kristy Mickle, and (front) Mollie, Wendi, Katie and Ed Henry. | Brent Maze

Ed Henry will serve another term in the Alabama State Legislature, after he defeated Melvin Hasting in the Republican Primary Tuesday.

Henry finished the night with 4,296 votes compared with Hasting’s 3,205 votes for about 57 percent of the vote, which covered precincts in Morgan and Cullman Counties.

Henry said he was sweating it out early, especially with the low voter turnout, but it soon turned to joy as the vote totals rolled in.

“I was getting a little worried early on when the first numbers that came in had me losing the box in Lacey’s Spring, but it quickly turned around,” Henry said. “This was one of the ugliest campaigns I’ve seen in a long time. Considering all of the attacks that I had from AEA and my opponent, I was pleased with the results.”

Henry said he was especially pleased with the results in Cullman County, which is where Hasting is from.

“I only lost the county by 74 votes,” Henry said. “There were several new boxes, but I thought we did well there.”

Henry was first elected to the state legislature in 2010 by defeating former Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley.