After 20 years, there’s a new sheriff in town in Jefferson County.

Longtime Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale, a Republican, lost his bid to win a sixth term on Tuesday, conceding to his Democratic opponent, Mark Pettway.

It appears Pettway will become the county’s first African-American sheriff.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Pettway, a detective sergeant with the sheriff’s office, was leading Hale, 51 percent to 49 percent according to unofficial results released by the county. Pettway has 128,569 votes to Hale’s 121,469 votes.

The longtime sheriff eked out a win for a fifth term in 2014, defeating two challengers, 55 percent to 43 percent, but came up short on Tuesday.

“I want to congratulate Mark Pettway on winning this race tonight," Hale told supporters. "Look, he’s going to be a fine sheriff-elect, he’s going to be a good sheriff.”

Hale said he would make sure there is a smooth transition when Pettway takes office and thanked the citizens of Jefferson County and his colleagues in the sheriff’s office.

“The years that I’ve worked with them has been an honor of my life to serve as their sheriff, and we made some great strides in the public safety of this county,” he said.

In a nod to his close re-election four years ago, Hale said he has won close elections before but "at the end of the day, there’s going to be a new sheriff in town, and it’s Mark Pettway.”

Many other races throughout the county, ranging from county commissioners to state House and Senate races, either feature incumbents running unopposed or non-competitive elections.

Patricia Todd’s successor

Former state Rep. Patricia Todd’s District 54 seat will continue to be represented by a member of the LGBTQ community, with former Marine Neil Rafferty, a Democrat, handily beating independent Joseph Casper Baker III, 90 percent to 10 percent. Rafferty is openly gay.

Other state Legislature races:

State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, a Republican, led Democrat Lindsey Deckard, 60 percent to 40 percent.

Every other state Senate race in Jefferson County has only one candidate on the ballot: District 5 (Republican Sen. Greg Reed); District 15 (Dan Roberts, Republican); District 17 (Republican Sen. Shay Shelnutt); District 18 (Democratic Sen. Rodger Smitherman); District 19 (Democratic Sen. Priscilla Dunn); and District 20 (Democratic Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison.)

In state House races, incumbent Republican Rep. Allen Farley led his Democratic opponent, Suzanna Coleman, 66 percent to 34 percent.

State Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, led Democratic opponent, Felicia Stewart, 62 percent to 38 percent. Stewart is openly lesbian and had support from U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., in her race.

Jones also supported Democrat Alli Summerford in her bid against state Rep. Jim Carns. The Republican incumbent is leading over Summerford, 66 percent to 34 percent.

Other House races were unopposed.

Jefferson County Circuit Clerk

In the circuit clerk’s race, Democrat Jackie Anderson Smith led Republican Phillip Brown, 57 percent to 43 percent

County Commission

The Jefferson County Commission will see a shakeup in new members, with incumbent David Carrington retiring and Democrats George Bowman and Sandra Little-Brown losing their primaries.

Those new faces – Republican Steve Ammon and Democrats Lashunda Scales and Sheila Tyson – had no opponents in Tuesday’s election.

County Commission President Jimmie Stephens, a Republican, is also running unopposed.

Republican Commissioner Joe Knight is facing Democrat J.T. Smallwood. Knight is leading Smallwood, 62 percent to 38 percent.