List of special elections to the Alabama Senate
| Elections in Alabama |
|---|
| Government |
This is a list of special elections to the Alabama Senate. Such elections are called by the governor of Alabama to fill vacancies that occur when a member of the Alabama Senate dies or resigns before the next general election. Winners of these elections serve the remainder of the term and are often candidates in the next election for their districts. General elections are held during the midterms.
For much of the first half of the 20th century, a "gentleman's agreement" compelled state senators to not seek re-election to allow counties from a different county to serve, meaning no county in a multi-county district would be represented two legislatures in a row. During special elections, new senators elected were generally from the same county as the outgoing senator. This practice began to die out in the 1960s. Only three districts kept the agreement by 1971 as reapportionment caused rural districts to take on more counties, making the rotation infeasible.[1][2]
Special elections to the Alabama Senate have occurred as early as 1820, when Nicholas David was elected to fill the vacancy in the Limestone senatorial district caused by the resignation of Thomas Bibb upon his succession to the governorship.[3]
2023–2026 Legislature
The following races took place after the 2022 general election:
| District | County(ies)[4] | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | Fayette Jefferson (p) Lamar Tuscaloosa (p) Walker |
Jun. 24, 2025 | Greg Reed (R) | Matt Woods (R) | Rep hold. | Incumbent senator resigned January 1, 2025 to serve as an advisor for Governor Kay Ivey's administration. | ||
| 9th | Blount (p) Marshall Madison (p) |
Jan. 9, 2024 |
Clay Scofield (R) | Wes Kitchens (R) | Rep hold. | Incumbent senator resigned October 30, 2023 to join the private sector. General election cancelled after the Republican primary, as no other candidates remained. | ||
2019–2022 Legislature
The following races took place after the 2018 general election:
| District | County(ies)[5] | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | Bibb Chilton (p) Shelby (p) |
Jul. 13, 2021 | Cam Ward (R) | April Weaver (R) | Rep hold. | Incumbent senator resigned December 7, 2020 after being appointed to the state Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. | ||
| 26th | Montgomery (p) | Mar. 2, 2021 | David Burkette (D) | Kirk Hatcher (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned September 1, 2020 after a campaign finance violation conviction. | ||
2015–2018 Legislature
The following race took place after the 2014 general election:
| District | County(ies)[6] | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26th | Montgomery (p) | May 15, 2018 | Quinton Ross (D) | David Burkette (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned October 2, 2017 to become president of the Alabama State University. | ||
2011–2014 Legislature
The following race took place after the 2010 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35th | Mobile (p) | Dec. 10, 2013 |
Ben Brooks (R) | Bill Hightower (R) | Rep hold. | Incumbent senator resigned December 4, 2012 after being elected a circuit judge of Mobile County. General election cancelled after the Republican runoff, as no other candidates remained.[7] | ||
2007–2010 Legislature
The following races took place after the 2006 general election:
| District | County(ies)[8] | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19th | Jefferson (p) | Jun. 30, 2009 |
Edward McClain (D) | Priscilla Dunn (D) | Dem hold. | Seat vacated on January 21, 2009 after a felony conviction. General election cancelled after the Democratic runoff, as no other candidates remained.[9] | ||
| 7th | Madison (p) | Jun. 7, 2009 | Parker Griffith (D) | Paul Sanford (R) | Rep GAIN. | Incumbent senator resigned January 3, 2009, after being elected to the United States House of Representatives.[10] | ||
| 22nd | Baldwin (p) Choctaw (p) Clarke (p) Conecuh (p) Escambia Mobile (p) Monroe (p) Washington |
Jun. 2, 2009 | Pat Lindsey (D) | Marc Keahey (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died January 11, 2009.[11] | ||
| 32nd | Baldwin (p) | Oct. 16, 2007 | Bradley Byrne (R) | Trip Pittman (R) | Rep hold. | Incumbent senator resigned May 24, 2007 to become chancellor of the Alabama Community College System.[12] | ||
2003–2006 Legislature
The following race took place after the 2002 general election:
| District | County(ies)[13] | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24th | Bibb (p) Choctaw (p) Greene Hale (p) Marengo (p) Perry (p) Sumter Tuscaloosa (p) |
Jan. 25, 2005 | Charles Steele Jr. (D) | Bobby Singleton (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned August 10, 2004 after being elected vice president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.[14] | ||
1975–1978 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1974 general election:
| District | County(ies)[15] | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18th | Coosa Chilton Jefferson (p) Shelby (p) Talladega (p) |
Aug. 16, 1977 | Obie Littleton (D) | Lister Hill Proctor (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in March 1977 after being convicted of fraud. | ||
| 22nd | Barbour (p) Chambers (p) Lee (p) Russell |
Feb. 22, 1977 | C. C. Torbert Jr. (D) | G. J. Higginbotham (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in November 1976 after being elected to the Alabama Supreme Court. | ||
| 1st | Colbert (p) Franklin (p) Lauderdale |
Feb. 1, 1977 | Ronnie Flippo (D) | Oscar Peden (I) | Ind GAIN. | Incumbent senator resigned in November 1976 after being elected to the United States House of Representatives. | ||
| 25th | Coffee (p) Covington Geneva Houston (p) |
Nvo. 2, 1976 | Crum Foshee (D) | Wallace Miller (D) | Dem hold. | Seat vacated after a mail fraud conviction. After the conviction was overturned, the Senate reinstated Foshee on March 21, 1978. | ||
| 29th | Autauga (p) Dallas (p) Greene (p) Hale (p) Marengo Perry Sumter (p) |
Aug. 31, 1976 | Walter C. Givhan (D) | Earl Goodwin (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died February 18, 1976. | ||
| 19th | Calhoun (p) St. Clair Talladega (p) |
Aug. 31, 1976 | Bobby Weaver (D) | John Teague (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in January 1976 after pleading guilty to embezzlement charges. | ||
1959–1962 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1958 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | Madison | Jul. 22, 1962 | James Record (D) | Billy Laxson (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in March 1962 after being appointed to the Madison County Board of Commissioners. | ||
| 4th | Madison | Dave Archer (D) | James Record (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned after being appointed circuit judge of Madison County. Special election cancelled after only one candidate filed. | |||
| 10th | Elmore Tallapoosa |
Carvel Woodall (D) | Upshaw Jones (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died February 19, 1959. Special election cancelled after only one candidate filed. | |||
1955–1958 Legislature
The following race took place after the 1954 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32nd | Greene Hale |
James S. Coleman (D) | David Hall (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in January 1957 after being elected to the Alabama Supreme Court. Special election cancelled after only one candidate filed. | |||
1951–1954 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1950 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Blount Cullman Winston |
Nov. 4, 1952 | Ben Fant (D) | Bill E. James (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died in July 1952 of a heart attack. | ||
| 17th | Butler Conecuh Covington |
Nov. 4, 1952 | T. Werth Thagard (D) | Arthur E. Gamble Jr. (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in September 1952 after being appointed a circuit judge. General election candidate was unopposed. | ||
1947–1950 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1946 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | Jackson Marshall |
Aug. 8, 1950 | C. J. Owens (D) | Chalmers Weathers (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died in December 1949. | ||
| 33rd | Mobile |
Aug. 8, 1950 | Joseph N. Langan (D) | Thomas A. Johnston III (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in May 1950 among speculation that Governor Jim Folsom would call an extraordinary session of the Alabama Legislature for the purposes of reapportionment. | ||
1943–1946 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1942 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th | Talladega | May 11, 1943 | Kenneth A. Roberts (D) | Richard B. Kelly Jr. (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in March 1943 upon his enlistment in the Navy. | ||
| 30th | Dallas | Mar. 23, 1943 | Edgar Poe Russell (D) | John L. Sherrer (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in January 1943 upon his appointment to the Alabama Department of Corrections. | ||
| 28th | Montgomery | Jan. 26, 1943 | Charles A. Stakely (D) | Silas D. Cater (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned in December 1942 upon his enlistment in the Navy. | ||
1939–1942 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1938 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | Pickens Sumter |
Mar. 26, 1940 | Verdo Elmore (D) | R. B. Doughty (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator resigned after being appointed judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit. | ||
| 23rd | Dale Geneva |
Sep. 5, 1939 | Tim Faulk (D) | Clyde M. Segrest (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died in July 1939. | ||
1935–1938 Legislature
The following races took place after the 1934 general election:
| District | County(ies) | Contest | Incumbent | Winner | Result | Cause | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | Madison | Nov. 3, 1936 | Shelby S. Fletcher (D) | Schuyler H. Richardson (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died July 1, 1936. | ||
| 14th | Pickens Sumter |
Nov. 3, 1936 | John A. Rogers (D) | Marcus E. McConnell (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died September 22, 1936. | ||
| 25th | Coffee Crenshaw Pike |
Sep. 11, 1935 | Thomas J. Thrower (D) | W. H. Stoddard (D) | Dem hold. | Incumbent senator died July 12, 1935. | ||
References
- ^ "Small Counties Worried About Broken Agreements". The Montgomery Advertiser. June 24, 1962. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "'Gentlemen's agreement' on way out". The Birmingham News. December 26, 1971. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1820. General Assembly of the State of Alabama. 1820. p. 8. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "McLendon Senate Plan 1 (enacted)" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "SB 403 (enacted)" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "SB 25 (enacted)" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Mosely, Brandon (December 21, 2013). "Wilcox and Hightower Make Republican Runoff in HD104". Alabama Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "SB 2 (enacted)" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "Paul Sanford wins District 7 seat". WAFF (TV). July 9, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Lyman, Ryan (June 2, 2009). "Keahey appears to win Senate District 22 race". AL.com. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Ferrara, David (October 17, 2009). "Pittman swamps Cooper in Baldwin vote". Mobile Press-Register. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "SB 2 (enacted)" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "New SCLC vice president resigns from state Senate". The Mobile Register. Associated Press. August 11, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Howard, Milo B. (1975). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1975. Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives and History. pp. 294–296. Retrieved June 8, 2025.