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Tonya Smith Chestnut
Tonya Smith Chestnut (Democratic Party) is a member of the Alabama State Board of Education, representing District 5. She assumed office on January 18, 2021. Her current term ends on January 15, 2029.
Smith Chestnut (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Alabama State Board of Education to represent District 5. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Tonya Smith Chestnut earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Jacksonville State University, a master’s degree in education from Alabama State University, an educational specialist degree from Auburn University at Montgomery, and a doctorate in education from Concordia University.[1] Smith Chestnut’s career experience includes working as an ordained minister, the CEO and owner of an education consulting business,[2] a teacher, a central office director, and a staff member with the Alabama Department of Education.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Alabama State Board of Education election, 2024
General election
General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 5
Incumbent Tonya Smith Chestnut defeated David Perry in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tonya Smith Chestnut (D) | 55.0 | 142,007 |
| David Perry (R) | 44.9 | 115,827 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 417 | ||
| Total votes: 258,251 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Tonya Smith Chestnut advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 5.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. David Perry advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 5.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Smith Chestnut received the following endorsements.
2020
See also: Alabama State Board of Education election, 2020
General election
General election for Alabama State Board of Education District 5
Tonya Smith Chestnut defeated Lesa Keith in the general election for Alabama State Board of Education District 5 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tonya Smith Chestnut (D) | 62.7 | 161,192 |
 | Lesa Keith (R) | 37.2 | 95,593 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 245 | ||
| Total votes: 257,030 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Alabama State Board of Education District 5
Tonya Smith Chestnut defeated Fred F. Bell in the Democratic primary runoff for Alabama State Board of Education District 5 on July 14, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tonya Smith Chestnut | 61.4 | 21,302 |
 | Fred F. Bell | 38.6 | 13,417 | |
| Total votes: 34,719 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 5
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 5 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Fred F. Bell | 30.3 | 24,589 |
| ✔ | | Tonya Smith Chestnut | 19.8 | 16,044 |
| Billie Jean Young | 13.9 | 11,271 | ||
| Ron Davis | 11.1 | 8,957 | ||
 | Pamela Laffitte | 8.3 | 6,712 | |
 | Patrice McClammy | 7.3 | 5,932 | |
| Woodie Pugh Jr. | 7.0 | 5,696 | ||
| Joanne Shum | 2.3 | 1,830 | ||
| Total votes: 81,031 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Phillip Ensler (D)
- Robert White II (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Lesa Keith advanced from the Republican primary for Alabama State Board of Education District 5.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Tonya Smith Chestnut did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Tonya Smith Chestnut did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
| Alabama | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
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Candidate Alabama State Board of Education District 5 |
Officeholder Alabama State Board of Education District 5 |
Personal |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Tommie Stewart |
Alabama State Board of Education District 5 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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State of Alabama Montgomery (capital) |
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