MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former Alabama Republican Party chairman Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh has easily turned back political newcomer Stephen Evans of Dothan in the GOP runoff for the place 1 seat on the Alabama Public Service Commission.

With about three-fourths of the precincts reporting Tuesday night, Cavanaugh was receiving 61 percent of the vote to 39 percent for Davis.

Cavanaugh faces veteran Democratic incumbent Jan Cook in the Nov. 2 general election.

The 44-year-old Cavanaugh was the first woman to serve as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and has worked as a senior adviser to Gov. Bob Riley.

Evans is a 26-year-old newcomer to Alabama politic. He works as a retirement plan adviser.

In Pike County, Cavanaugh carried about 72 percent of the vote, with 2,005 votes to Evan’s 793.