The chairwoman of One Orlando responded that Todd's comments were not aligned with their organization, that coming out was a personal choice and doesn't support involuntary outing.

She would later attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), earning a master's degree in public administration in 1994.

[5] When George Perdue announced that he would not seek re-election after more than two decades in the Alabama House, Todd decided to run for the District 54 seat.

When no candidate wins more than half of the primary vote, Alabama law provides for a run-off election between the top two finishers.

Her run-off victory was challenged by her opponent's mother-in-law, who claimed that Todd had received "illegal votes" and had filed a campaign finance report late.

Many of the state's African-American political leaders were apparently eager to keep the seat in black hands.

[9] The challenge (like Todd's original victory) attracted national attention, making The New York Times[14] and The Washington Post,[15] among other publications.

Howard Dean, took a close interest, making no fewer than eight telephone calls to the executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party during the morning of the appeal.