1978 Alabama Senate election
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All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 District results Democratic: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90–100% Unopposed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Alabama |
|---|
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 Government |
The 1978 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 8, 1978, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. The result was an electoral wipeout, as all 35 candidates elected were members of the Democratic Party. While 35 districts were up for election, only 9 saw Republican opposition.[2] Both of the state's Black senators, U. W. Clemon and J. Richmond Pearson, won re-election, with the newly-elected Michael Figures joining their ranks.[3]
Primary elections were held on September 5 with runoffs on September 26. This election used the same legislative map as was used in 1974, utilizing single-member districts.
Incumbent president pro tempore Joe Fine did not run for another term, instead opting for an attorney general campaign, which was unsuccessful.[4] Finis St. John was unanimously elected president on January 9, 1979.[5]
Summary
[edit]| Party | Candidates | Seats | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Num. | Vote | % | 1974 | Before | Won | +/– | ||
| Democratic | 35 | 126,341 | 68.91% | 35 | 34 | 35 |  1
| |
| Republican | 9 | 55,814 | 30.44% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| |
| Independents | 1 | 1,183 | 0.65% | 0 | 1 | 0 |  1
| |
| Total | 45 | 183,338 | 100% | 35 |
| |||
By district
[edit]†: Incumbent did not run for reelection. ‡: Lost re-election.
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Oscar Peden‡[b] | Ind[c] | Bobby Denton | Dem | ||
| 2nd | Joe Fine† | Dem | Charlie Britnell | Dem | ||
| 3rd | Bingham Edwards† | Dem | Charles Martin | Dem | ||
| 4th | Finis St. John | Dem | Finis St. John | Dem | ||
| 5th | Robert Wilson† | Dem | Bob Hall | Dem | ||
| 6th | Albert McDonald | Dem | Albert McDonald | Dem | ||
| 7th | Bill King† | Dem | Bill Smith | Dem | ||
| 8th | John Baker† | Dem | James Lemaster | Dem | ||
| 9th | Sid McDonald† | Dem | Hinton Mitchem | Dem | ||
| 10th | Gerald Waldrop‡ | Dem | Larry Keener | Dem | ||
| 11th | George McMillan† | Dem | Dewey White | Dem | ||
| 12th | Pat Vacca | Dem | Pat Vacca | Dem | ||
| 13th | J. Richmond Pearson | Dem | J. Richmond Pearson | Dem | ||
| 14th | Bob Ellis‡ | Dem | Mac Parsons | Dem | ||
| 15th | U. W. Clemon | Dem | U. W. Clemon | Dem | ||
| 16th | Richard Shelby† | Dem | Ryan deGraffenried | Dem | ||
| 17th | Eddie Hubert Gilmore† | Dem | Doug Cook | Dem | ||
| 18th | Lester Hill Proctor | Dem | Lester Hill Proctor | Dem | ||
| 19th | John Teague | Dem | John Teague | Dem | ||
| 20th | Donald Stewart† | Dem | Donald Holmes | Dem | ||
| 21th | Ted Little | Dem | Ted Little | Dem | ||
| 22th | G. J. Higginbotham[d] | Dem | G. J. Higginbotham | Dem | ||
| 23th | T. Dudley Perry† | Dem | Mike Weeks | Dem | ||
| 24th | Sam Adams† | Dem | Chip Bailey | Dem | ||
| 25th | Crum Foshee†[e] | Dem | Wallace Miller | Dem | ||
| 26th | Jerry Powell‡ | Dem | Don Harrison | Dem | ||
| 27th | Fred Jones† | Dem | Bishop N. Barron | Dem | ||
| 28th | Wendell Mitchell† | Dem | Cordy Taylor | Dem | ||
| 29th | Earl Goodwin[f] | Dem | Earl Goodwin | Dem | ||
| 30th | Bert Bank† | Dem | Edward Robertson | Dem | ||
| 31st | Maston Mims† | Dem | Reo Kirkland Jr. | Dem | ||
| 32nd | Dick Owen‡ | Dem | Bob Gulledge | Dem | ||
| 33rd | Mike Perloff‡ | Dem | Michael Figures | Dem | ||
| 34th | L. W. Noonan† | Dem | Sonny Callahan | Dem | ||
| 35th | Bill Roberts† | Dem | Bob Glass | Dem | ||
Incumbents
[edit]Successfully sought re-election
[edit]- District 4: Finis St. John (Democratic)
- District 6: Albert McDonald (Democratic)
- District 12: Pat Vacca (Democratic)
- District 13: J. Richmond Pearson (Democratic)
- District 15: U. W. Clemon (Democratic)
- District 18: Lester Hill Proctor (Democratic)
- District 19: John Teague (Democratic)
- District 21: Ted Little (Democratic)
- District 22: G. J. Higginbotham (Democratic)
- District 29: Earl Goodwin (Democratic)
Lost re-election
[edit]- District 1: Oscar Peden (Independent) ran for re-election as a Democrat and lost the nomination to Bobby Denton.
- District 10: Gerald Waldrop (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Larry Keener.
- District 14: Bob Ellis (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Mac Parsons.
- District 26: Jerry Powell (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Don Harrison.
- District 32: Dick Owen (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Bob Gulledge.
- District 33: Mike Perloff (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Michael Figures.
Did not seek re-election
[edit]The following candidates retired or sought other offices:[6]
- District 2: Joe Fine (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for attorney general.
- District 3: Bingham Edwards (Democratic) retired.
- District 5: Bob Wilson (Democratic) retired.
- District 7: Bill King (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.
- District 8: John Baker (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran in the U.S. Senate general election.
- District 9: Sid McDonald (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for governor.
- District 11: George McMillan (Democratic) successfully ran for lieutenant governor.
- District 16: Richard Shelby (Democratic) successfully ran in Alabama's 7th congressional district.
- District 17: Eddie Hubert Gilmore (Democratic) retired.
- District 20: Donald Stewart (Democratic) successfully ran in the U.S. Senate special election.
- District 23: Dudley Perry (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for attorney general.
- District 24: Sam Adams (Democratic) retired.
- District 25: Crum Foshee (Democratic) retired.
- District 27: Fred Jones (Democratic) retired.
- District 28: Wendell Mitchell (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran in Alabama's 2nd congressional district.
- District 30: Bert Bank (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.
- District 31: Mastom Mims (Democratic) retired.
- District 34: Red Noonan (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran in Alabama's 1st congressional district.
- District 35: Bill Roberts (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.
General election results
[edit]| District | Democratic | Republican | Independents | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Votes | Maj. | Mrg. | |
| 5th | Robert Hall | 15,806 | 93.04% | — | — | — | Bill Kitchens | 1,183 | 6.96% | 16,989 | +14,623 | +86.07% |
| 10th | Larry Keener | 14,324 | 67.18% | Jimmy Dill | 6,999 | 32.82% | — | — | — | 21,323 | +7,325 | +34.35% |
| 11th | Dewey White | 16,300 | 70.56% | James K. Watley | 6,801 | 29.44% | — | — | — | 23,101 | +9,499 | +41.12% |
| 12th | Pat Vacca (inc.) | 12,299 | 53.81% | Evan Veal | 10,557 | 46.19% | — | — | — | 22,856 | +1,742 | +7.62% |
| 18th | Lister Proctor (inc.) | 13,565 | 66.76% | Tom Longshore | 6,755 | 33.24% | — | — | — | 20,320 | +6,810 | +33.51% |
| 24th | Chip Bailey | 10,183 | 62.05% | Richard A. Britt | 6,228 | 37.95% | — | — | — | 16,411 | +3,955 | +24.10% |
| 26th | Don Harrison | 15,526 | 77.30% | Bob E. Allen | 4,560 | 22.70% | — | — | — | 20,086 | +10,966 | +54.60% |
| 27th | Bishop Barron | 15,751 | 75.82% | Herbert Morton | 5,023 | 24.18% | — | — | — | 20,774 | +10,728 | +51.64% |
| 33rd | Michael Figures | 8,139 | 56.79% | James B. Norsworthy | 6,193 | 43.21% | — | — | — | 14,332 | +1,946 | +13.58% |
| 35th | Bob Glass | 4,448 | 62.24% | Danny Perry | 2,698 | 37.76% | — | — | — | 7,146 | +1,750 | +24.49% |
| Source: The Birmingham News[7] | ||||||||||||
Elected unopposed
[edit]The following candidates did not see any competition in the general election:
- District 1: Bobby Denton (Democratic, inc.)
- District 2: Charlie Britnell (Democratic)
- District 3: Charles Martin (Democratic)
- District 4: Finis St. John (Democratic, inc.)
- District 6: Albert McDonald (Democratic, inc.)
- District 7: Bill Smith (Democratic)
- District 8: James Lemaster (Democratic)
- District 9: Hinton Mitchem (Democratic)
- District 13: J. Richmond Pearson (Democratic, inc.)
- District 14: Mac Parsons (Democratic)
- District 15: U. W. Clemon (Democratic, inc.)
- District 16: Ryan deGraffenried (Democratic)
- District 17: Doug Cook (Democratic)
- District 19: John Teague (Democratic, inc.)
- District 20: Donald Holmes (Democratic)
- District 21: Ted Little (Democratic, inc.)
- District 22: G. J. Higginbotham (Democratic, inc.)
- District 23: Mike Weeks (Democratic)
- District 25: Wallace Miller (Democratic)
- District 28: Cordy Taylor (Democratic)
- District 29: Earl Goodwin (Democratic, inc.)
- District 30: Edward Robertson (Democratic)
- District 31: Reo Kirkland Jr. (Democratic)
- District 32: Bob Gulledge (Democratic)
- District 34: Sonny Callahan (Democratic)
Democratic primary results
[edit]Democrats contested every seat in the state senate. Of the 35 incumbent Democratic senators, only 16 sought election (46 percent). Of the 16 who sought re-election:
- 5 were re-nominated unopposed;
- 5 won their primaries;
- 6 lost their primaries.
Runoff results by district
[edit]Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. An asterisk (*) denotes a runoff winner who was the runner-up in the first round.
| District | Winner | Loser | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Votes | Maj. | Mrg. | |
| 1st | Bobby Denton | 15,490 | 56.02% | Oscar Peden (inc.) | 12,162 | 43.98% | 27,652 | +3,328 | +12.04% |
| 2nd | Charlie Britnell | 17,092 | 55.29% | Bo Renfroe | 13,819 | 44.71% | 30,911 | +3,273 | +10.59% |
| 5th | Bob Hall | 11,940 | 53.27% | Earl Lynn Barnett | 10,474 | 46.73% | 22,414 | +1,466 | +6.54% |
| 8th | James Lemaster | 22,727 | 68.50% | Roger Killian | 10,451 | 31.50% | 33,178 | +12,276 | +37.00% |
| 14th | Mac Parsons* | 12,912 | 60.65% | Bob Ellis (inc.) | 8,377 | 39.35% | 21,289 | +4,535 | +21.30% |
| 17th | Doug Cook | 17,025 | 60.37% | Buddy Armstrong | 11,178 | 39.63% | 28,203 | +5,847 | +20.73% |
| 19th | John Teague (inc.) | 12,774 | 55.87% | Bill Atkinson | 10,091 | 44.13% | 22,865 | +2,683 | +11.73% |
| 23rd | Mike Weeks | 14,833 | 55.46% | Dale Segrest | 11,914 | 44.54% | 26,747 | +2,919 | +10.91% |
| 24th | Chip Bailey | 12,356 | 54.78% | Phillip Hamm | 10,200 | 45.22% | 22,556 | +2,156 | +9.56% |
| 26th | Don Harrison | 13,615 | 54.13% | Jerry Powell (inc.) | 11,536 | 45.87% | 25,151 | +2,079 | +8.27% |
| 28th | Cordy Taylor | 14,676 | 53.34% | Edward L. Turner | 12,837 | 46.66% | 27,513 | +1,839 | +6.68% |
| 31st | Reo Kirkland Jr. | 14,898 | 55.02% | Gene Garrett | 12,181 | 44.98% | 27,079 | +2,717 | +10.03% |
| 32nd | Bob Gulledge | 16,074 | 61.01% | Dick Owen (inc.) | 10,273 | 38.99% | 26,347 | +5,801 | +22.02% |
| Source: The Birmingham Post-Herald[8] | |||||||||
First round results by district
[edit]Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff, first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff.
| District | First place | Runners-up | Others | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Votes | Maj. | Mrg. | |
| 1st | Bobby Denton | 9,837 | 39.81% | Oscar Peden (inc.) | 8,048 | 32.57% | Bob Hill | 6,825 | 27.62% | 24,710 | +1,789 | +7.24% |
| 2nd | Charlie Britnell | 8,064 | 24.91% | Bob Rentroe | 7,259 | 22.42% | 3 others[g] | 17,051 | 52.67% | 32,374 | +805 | +2.49% |
| 3rd | Charles Martin* | 11,347 | 53.86% | Wesley Lavender | 9,719 | 46.14% | — | — | — | 21,066 | +1,628 | +7.73% |
| 5th | Bob Hall | 8,918 | 47.49% | Earl Barnett | 7,519 | 40.04% | Buddy Todd | 2,343 | 12.48% | 18,780 | +1,399 | +7.45% |
| 6th | Albert McDonald (inc.)* | 11,936 | 64.38% | Wayne Tidwell | 6,603 | 35.62% | — | — | — | 18,539 | +5,333 | +28.77% |
| 7th | Bill Smith* | 11,213 | 63.72% | Loretta Spencer | 6,383 | 36.28% | — | — | — | 17,596 | +4,830 | +27.45% |
| 8th | James Lemaster | 4,712 | 21.67% | Roger Killian | 4,613 | 21.22% | 4 others[h] | 12,418 | 57.11% | 21,743 | +99 | +0.46% |
| 10th | Larry Keener* | 13,942 | 53.42% | Gerald Waldrop (inc.) | 8,538 | 32.72% | Retha Deal Wynot | 3,617 | 13.86% | 26,097 | +5,404 | +20.71% |
| 11th | Dewey White* | 12,102 | 81.61% | A. A. Kelley | 2,727 | 18.39% | — | — | — | 14,829 | +9,375 | +63.22% |
| 14th | Bob Ellis (inc.) | 6,088 | 38.30% | Mac Parsons | 5,908 | 37.17% | 2 others[i] | 3,898 | 24.52% | 15,894 | +180 | +1.13% |
| 15th | U. W. Clemon (inc.)* | 8,178 | 88.69% | Phillip Lenud | 588 | 6.38% | TaRone Marquette | 455 | 4.93% | 9,221 | +7,590 | +82.31% |
| 16th | Ryan deGraffenried* | 12,870 | 68.22% | John Goodson | 5,995 | 31.78% | — | — | — | 18,865 | +6,875 | +36.44% |
| 17th | Doug Cook | 10,492 | 44.35% | Buddy Armstrong | 7,300 | 30.86% | Byron Chew | 5,865 | 24.79% | 23,657 | +3,192 | +13.49% |
| 19th | John Teague (inc.) | 9,050 | 48.27% | Billy Atkinson | 4,764 | 25.41% | 2 others[j] | 4,934 | 26.32% | 18,748 | +4,286 | +22.86% |
| 20th | Donald Holmes* | 12,151 | 51.57% | Jim Main | 4,999 | 21.22% | 2 others[k] | 6,411 | 27.21% | 23,561 | +7,152 | +30.36% |
| 21st | Ted Little (inc.)* | 16,032 | 55.85% | Larry Morris | 12,675 | 44.15% | — | — | — | 28,707 | +3,357 | +11.69% |
| 23rd | Mike Weeks | 9,368 | 40.80% | Dale Segrest | 8,755 | 38.13% | Charles L. Weston | 4,837 | 21.07% | 22,960 | +613 | +2.67% |
| 24th | Chip Bailey | 4,929 | 25.86% | Phillip J. Hamm | 4,032 | 21.16% | 4 others[l] | 10,098 | 52.98% | 19,059 | +897 | +4.71% |
| 25th | Wallace Miller* | 13,635 | 54.17% | Nathan Mathis | 8,600 | 34.17% | Nick Zorn | 2,936 | 11.66% | 25,171 | +5,035 | +20.00% |
| 26th | Don Harrison | 6,970 | 35.58% | Jerry Powell (inc.) | 6,631 | 33.85% | Bobby Bowles | 5,987 | 30.56% | 19,588 | +339 | +1.73% |
| 27th | Bishop N. Barron* | 10,435 | 54.20% | Don Camp | 7,225 | 37.53% | Clair Chisler | 1,591 | 8.26% | 19,251 | +3,210 | +16.67% |
| 28th | Cordy Taylor | 8,162 | 36.40% | Edward L. Turner | 8,096 | 36.11% | Gordon Allen | 6,165 | 27.49% | 22,423 | +66 | +0.29% |
| 29th | Earl Goodwin (inc.)* | 14,323 | 60.59% | John A. Lockett | 9,316 | 39.41% | — | — | — | 23,639 | +5,007 | +21.18% |
| 30th | Edward Robertson* | 13,174 | 62.30% | Dawson Chism | 7,972 | 37.70% | — | — | — | 21,146 | +5,202 | +24.60% |
| 31st | Reo Kirkland Jr. | 10,675 | 39.59% | Gene Garrett | 7,192 | 26.67% | 3 others[m] | 9,095 | 33.73% | 26,962 | +3,483 | +12.92% |
| 32nd | Bob Culledge | 10,963 | 46.37% | Dick Owen (inc.) | 8,051 | 34.06% | Percy L. Beech | 4,626 | 19.57% | 23,640 | +2,912 | +12.32% |
| 33rd | Michael Figures* | 6,480 | 53.58% | Mike Perloff (inc.) | 3,510 | 29.02% | James McCullough | 2,104 | 17.40% | 12,094 | +2,970 | +24.56% |
| 35th | Bob Glass* | 7,229 | 53.07% | John M. Tyson | 6,392 | 46.93% | — | — | — | 13,621 | +837 | +6.14% |
| Source: The Birmingham News[9] | ||||||||||||
Nominated without opposition
[edit]The following candidates were the only candidates to file for their district's Democratic primary
- District 4: Finis St. John (inc.)
- District 9: Hinton Mitchem
- District 12: Pat Vacca (inc.)
- District 13: J. Richmond Pearson (inc.)
- District 18: Lester Hill Proctor (inc.)
- District 22: Dutch Higginbotham (inc.)
- District 34: Sonny Callahan
Republican primary results
[edit]Republicans contested nine state senate seats. Due to a general lack of Republican candidates across the state, only one of these districts, District 11, required a primary.
Results by district
[edit]| District | Winner | Loser | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Votes | Maj. | Mrg. | |
| 11th | James K. Watley | 3,004 | 71.64% | Nick Kirst | 1,189 | 28.36% | 4,193 | +1,815 | +43.29% |
| Source: The Birmingham News[10] | |||||||||
Nominated without opposition
[edit]The following candidates were the only candidates to file for their district's Republican primary:
- District 10: Jimmy Dill
- District 12: Evan Veal
- District 18: Tom Longshore
- District 24: Richard A. Britt
- District 26: Bob E. Allen
- District 27: Herbert Morton
- District 33: James B. Norsworthy
- District 35: Danny Perry
1975–1978 special elections
[edit]District 19
[edit]A special election in District 19 was triggered by the resignation of incumbent Democratic senator Bobby Weaver after he plead guilty to embezzlement charges in January 1976.[11] State representative John Teague won the special election to succeed him.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | → John Teague | 3,404 | 17.44% | |
| Democratic | → Grover H. Whaley | 2,838 | 14.54% | |
| Democratic | R. H. Waid | 2,612 | 13.34% | |
| Democratic | Roy H. Coshatt | 2,343 | 12.00% | |
| Democratic | Jack A. Wallace | 2,103 | 10.77% | |
| Democratic | A. C. Shelton | 1,975 | 10.12% | |
| Democratic | Allen Hudston | 1,920 | 9.83% | |
| Democratic | Hubert Hubbard | 1,313 | 6.73% | |
| Democratic | L. N. Payne Jr. | 1,015 | 5.20% | |
| Total votes | 19,523 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Teague | 5,552 | 62.49% | |
| Democratic | Grover H. Whaley | 3,332 | 37.51% | |
| Total votes | 8,884 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Teague | 2,774 | 79.60% | −20.40% | |
| Alabama Conservative | J. P. Mitchell | 711 | 20.40% | New | |
| Total votes | 8,884 | 100.00% | |||
District 29
[edit]A special election in District 29 was triggered by the death of incumbent Democratic senator Walter C. Givhan on February 18, 1976. Republican national committeewoman Jean Sullivan and businessman Earl Goodwin both sought the seat. An apparent miscount in Dallas County put Sullivan ahead, but Goodwin took the lead after the mistake was discovered. Earl Goodwin spent over $20,000 on his successful state senate bid, spending about $15,000 on advertising.[15] In 1976, Alabama lacked any sort of provision providing for an automatic recount in a general or general special election. Sullivan considered contesting the results of the race into late September. On September 28, the deadline to file a recount, Sullivan stated that she would not contest the results, saying she "regrets that the recount cannot be done because so many people want to know the truth about the election."[16][17]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Earl Goodwin | 6,253 | 36.33% | −33.12% | |
| Republican | Jean Sullivan | 6,161 | 35.79% | New | |
| Independent | Joe Pilcher Jr. | 4,798 | 27.88% | New | |
| Total votes | 17,212 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
District 25
[edit]A special election in District 25 was triggered after incumbent Democratic senator Crum Foshee was forced to vacate his seat due to a mail fraud conviction. Radio station owner Wallace Miller easily won the special election. Over a year after Foshee's initial conviction, the Fifth Circuit Court reversed Foshee's conviction, ruling that he and his brother were entitled to a new trial. Under state law, lawmakers are disqualified from holding office if they are sentenced to prison, however they "shall be returned to office" if a conviction is overturned.[19][20] On March 21, 2025, the Senate voted to reinstate Foshee 29 to 0. Wallace Miller abstained from the vote, and there was no animosity reported between the two, with Lieutenant governor Jere Beasley stating "it was like a mother choosing between two children."[21] In the 1978 primaries, Foshee declined to run again, with Wallace Miller once again being elected state senator.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Wallace Miller | 20,270 | 79.57% | −20.43% | |
| Independent | Mike Purnell | 5,203 | 20.43% | New | |
| Total votes | 25,473 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Choice | Votes |
|---|---|
 Yes
|
29 |
 No
|
0 |
| Abstentions | 2 |
| Not voting | 4 |
| Crum Foshee reinstated | |
District 1
[edit]A special election in District 1 was triggered after incumbent Democratic senator Ronnie Flippo resigned in November 1976. He was elected U.S. Representative in November 1976, but resigned from his state senate post early to allow for an earlier special election to take place.[23] Former Florence city councilor Oscar Peden, who described himself as an "Independent Democrat", won in an upset over Democratic attorney Jimmy Hunt, who was backed by the state Democratic executive committee and governor George Wallace.[24] Oscar Peden attempted to run for re-election as a Democrat in 1978, but was eliminated in the Democratic primary.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Oscar Peden | 6,009 | 52.44% | New | |
| Democratic | Jimmy Hunt | 5,449 | 47.56% | −52.44% | |
| Total votes | 11,458 | 100.00% | |||
| Independent gain from Democratic | |||||
District 22
[edit]A special election in Senate District 22 was triggered after incumbent Democratic senator C. C. Torbert Jr.'s election to the Alabama Supreme Court in 1976. Democratic member of the Alabama House of Representatives G. J. Higginbotham defeated independent Frank Roberts for the seat.[25]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | G. J. Higginbotham | 3,649 | 71.77% | −28.23% | |
| Independent | Frank Roberts | 1,435 | 28.23% | New | |
| Total votes | 5,084 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
See also
[edit]- 1978 United States Senate election in Alabama
- 1978 Alabama gubernatorial election
- List of Alabama state legislatures
Notes
[edit]- ^ Does not include uncontested seats.
- ^ Since a February 1977 special election
- ^ Ran for re-election as a Democrat
- ^ Since a February 1977 special election
- ^ Since being reinstated in March 1978
- ^ Since an August 1976 special election
- ^ Jim McRae: 6,300, 19.46%; David M. Sibley: 5,744, 17.74%; A. W. Todd: 5,007, 15.47%
- ^ John Robinson: 4,049, 18.62%; Johnny Robinson: 3,028, 13.93%; Bill Freeman: 2,677, 12.31%; Bill Inman: 2,664, 12.25%
- ^ Pud Morrison: 2,650, 16.67%; Ralph L. Bryant: 1,248, 7.85%
- ^ Phil Bradford: 2,509, 13.38%; John Martin Patteron: 2,425, 12.93%
- ^ John Casey: 4,710, 19.99%; Robert Elders: 1,701, 7.22%
- ^ Billy Nolen: 3,886, 20.39%; Critt Snellgrove: 3,082, 16.17%; Don Hudspeth; 1,613, 8.46%; Justice Bigbie: 1,517, 7.96%
- ^ J. W. Sales: 4,150, 15.39%; Buck Williams: 2,529, 9.38%; Tommy Chapman: 2,416, 8.96%
References
[edit]- ^ Bruer, Frank (15 January 1975). "Alabama Senate oks rule reform". Birmingham Post-Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ Eddins, Don (12 November 1978). "No Banner Year for State GOP; Women, Blacks Make Small Gains". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (5 November 1978). "Legislature to take on new look after voters make picks". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Lufkin Bouler, Jean (27 September 1978). "Graddick wins by big margin over Joe Fine (Jean Lufkin Bouler)". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Rawls, Phillip (10 January 1979). "Legislature meets, shuns pay raise vote". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (18 June 1978). "State Senate to have a fresh look soon". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (26 November 1978). "Vote count ushers officials into posts with no surprises". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "Demos to certify runoff results". Birmingham Post-Herald. 29 September 1978. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (10 September 1978). "Two senators lose, five facing runoffs, seven win new terms". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (8 September 1978). "GOP primary drew 28,295 votes statewide". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "Weaver resigns Senate". The Selma Times-Journal. Associated Press. 14 January 1976. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (7 May 1976). "All projected winners apparently got nod". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ "Wallace acquires 4 delegates in runoff". The Mobile Press. Associated Press. 28 May 1976. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Holmes, Ralph (9 September 1976). "Three officially ruled elected to Legislature; one of them sworn in". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Senate Bid Costs $20,000". The Montgomery Advertiser. 30 September 1976. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ Maute, Nikki Davis (28 September 1976). "Sullivan won't contest Senate election results". The Selma Times-Journal. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ Maute, Nikki Davis (28 September 1976). "Sullivan declines". The Selma Times-Journal. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ Holmes, Ralph (9 September 1976). "Three officially ruled elected to Legislature; one of them sworn in". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "No contest likely on Foshee vote". The Mobile Press. Associated Press. 22 March 1978. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Senate To Decide: Foshee Or Miller". The Dothan Eagle. 21 March 1978. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ Fox, Al (22 March 1978). "Foshee regains seat in Senate but still substitute's friend". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Miller easily wins Foshee's old seat in Alabama Senate". The Birmingham News. 3 November 1976. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Flippo Leaving State Senate Early". Alabama Journal. 9 November 1976. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Peden wins Flippo's seat over favored Demo Hunt". Birmingham Post-Herald. 2 February 1977. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Young, Bert (23 February 1977). "Higginbotham Easy Winner For Senate". The Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
