Baker unseats Murray for Franklin Co. District 1 seat

RUSSELLVILLE — District 1 residents in Franklin County will have a new commissioner in November after Curtis Baker defeated incumbent Grayson Murray in the Republican runoff.

With 25 of 26 precincts reported, Baker leads Murray with 54% of the vote. The lone precinct yet to report is the absentee ballots, which will be counted in the coming days.

In total, Baker received 1,378 votes compared to Murray’s 1,149.

Both Baker and Murray advanced to the runoff after neither candidate received more than 51% of the vote in the May primaries.

Murray, 21, was appointed to the position by Gov. Kay Ivey in June 2025 after his father, Michael Murray, died in May 2025 after holding the commission seat for less than seven months.

Baker earns the seat since he faces no opponent in the general election.