Breaking: House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris re-elected on first ballot

[Episcopal News Service — Louisville, Kentucky] House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris was re-elected June 25, winning decisively on the first ballot and fending off challenges from the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, the deputies’ vice president, and Zena Link, a former Executive Council member.

The victory sends Ayala Harris to a second term — and her first three-year term, after she was first elected in 2022 to a two-year term at the pandemic-delayed 80th General Convention.

“I am humbled and thank you for your confidence in me and my leadership,” Ayala Harris said after the election results were announced. She concluded her brief remarks by saying, “Now, church geeks, let’s roll up our sleeves and get back to work.”

Ayala Harris received 521 votes out of the 829 certified deputies on the floor for the election. Link placed second with 241 votes and Taber-Hamilton a distance third with 64. Taber-Hamilton has said she will not run for re-election as vice president, and the election of her successor is scheduled for June 27.

The election was unusual for featuring an incumbent House of Deputies president facing a challenge. A sitting president has only faced a challenger once in modern history, in 2003, and like Ayala Harris, the incumbent that year prevailed.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with additional info later in the day, including reporting from an evening news conference with Ayala Harris.

– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.

 

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