In 2020, Patrick Braxton became the first Black mayor in Newbern, Alabama's 166-year history because he was curious.
And all it took was filling out the paperwork and paying a $50 qualifying fee.
A few weeks later, he was notified that he had become the mayor of Newbern.
“I was on top of the world, I had won the lottery," Braxton said.
Braxton was the only person to enter the race, so he won by default. This is unusual, but what's more unusual is that in his 57 years, he does not remember there ever being an election in Newbern.
“I never recalled an election,” Braxton said. “You just get up the next morning and they tell you, this man is the mayor. And everybody just went along with it."
The town of Newbern has a population of fewer than 300 people and is about 85% Black. But the town’s leadership is predominantly white. When Braxton asked Haywood “Woody” Stokes III, the former mayor, how to run for the position, he says he was told that wasn’t possible.
“We don’t have no voting machines and we don’t have no ballots to have an election for mayor,” Braxton said the former mayor told him.
“I just looked at him,” Braxton said. “The kind of look like 'you gotta be kidding me.'”
Braxton believes that conversation was about race – the predominantly white leadership's desire to stay in power, he said. But he also points out that people in Newbern weren’t knowledgeable about elections. They didn't know they could run for mayor because no one ever talked about it.
The last legitimate election in Newbern was at least 60 years ago, Capital B reported. Town leaders handed down the positions as they saw fit, which usually went to white residents. But Braxton believes he and his community have to take some of the blame.
“We allowed that to happen by not saying nothing, sitting back for years just letting it go.
“Even me, I hold myself accountable for that. For not opening my mouth and saying, 'Why are we not having elections? Why is this? We need to put a stop to this and do it the right way.'”
Once he got word he had won, Braxton began appointing both Black and white people to the City Council.
But before he could take his oath of office, Braxton said the town’s former leadership held a secret meeting to keep him from taking office and appointing a predominantly Black City Council. The former leadership then reinstated themselves into those positions.
A lawsuit filed by Braxton alleges that the former mayor and council members locked Braxton and his appointees out of the Town Hall. Braxton also alleges that he has been blocked from accessing the town’s finances and official mail.
But keeping Braxton from accessing his mayoral responsibilities are not all. He said the old regime is keeping tabs on him.
"I was locked out the fire department and a lady happened to die."
"I was followed from my mother house back into Newbern."
“I was over there on the shoulder just bout barely moving trying to make sure I stay out his way then he looked in the vehicle, I can see him just clear as day, looked at me grinning and kept on by.”
Braxton alleges being followed by a drone, ran off the road on his way back to Newbern, and being locked out of the fire department where he volunteers.
But none of those tactics will stop him from taking office, he said.
“Put me right back in my actual seat and let them know they not gonna run this town no more,” Braxton said.
Braxton remains in litigation and has to be careful about what he can say about the case, he said. But Braxton and his team are confident they will win the lawsuit and he will be reinstated as mayor.
Braxton is looking to the future and has a message for the people of Newbern:
“I’d like everyone to know that in 2025 get out and vote because I will be seeking reelection.”
Watch our explainer breakdown here.