Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/office
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

Alabama, Governor

Alabama held an election for governor on November 6, 2018. The primary election was on June 5, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was February 9, 2018.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the election, the sitting governor was Kay Ivey (R), who took office on April 10, 2017, following the resignation of former governor Robert Bentley. Ivey announced she would seek a full term in 2018 on September 7, 2017.
  • Heading into the election, Alabama was a Republican trifecta. It had been under this status since 2011, when Republicans gained majorities in the state Senate and state House. Alabama was also a Republican triplex.
  • The Republican presidential candidate won Alabama in each of the past five election cycles. The most narrow margin of victory was George W. Bush's 15 percent margin in 2000, while the widest was Donald Trump's 28 percent margin in 2016.
  • Alabama was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.

    Race rating

    Race ratings: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2018

    Race trackerRace ratings
    November 5, 2018October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
    The Cook Political ReportSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
    Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
    Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe Republican

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Alabama from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Alabama Secretary of States.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Alabama every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Alabama 2000-2016

    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 62% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 34% 28%
    2012 Republican Party Mitt Romney 61% Democratic Party Barack Obama 38% 23%
    2008 Republican Party John McCain 60% Democratic Party Barack Obama 39% 21%
    2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 62% Democratic Party John Kerry 37% 25%
    2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 56% Democratic Party Al Gore 42% 14%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Alabama from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Alabama 2000-2016

    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Richard Shelby 64% Democratic Party Ron Crumpton 36% 28%
    2014 Republican Party Jeff Sessions 97% No Democratic candidate 0% 97%
    2010 Republican Party Richard Shelby 65% Democratic Party William Barnes 35% 30%
    2008 Republican Party Jeff Sessions 63% Democratic Party Vivian Figures 37% 26%
    2004 Republican Party Richard Shelby 68% Democratic Party Wayne Sowell 32.0% 36%
    2002 Republican Party Jeff Sessions 59% Democratic Party Susan Parker 40.0% 19%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Alabama.

    Election results (Governor), Alabama 2000-2016

    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Robert Bentley 64% Democratic Party Parker Griffith 36% 28%
    2010 Republican Party Robert Bentley 58% Democratic Party Ron Sparks 42% 16
    2006 Republican Party Bob Riley 57% Democratic Party Lucy Baxley 42% 15%
    2002 Republican Party Bob Riley 49% Democratic Party Don Siegelman 49% 0%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Alabama in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Alabama 2000-2016

    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016 Republican Party 6 86% Democratic Party 1 14% R+5
    2014 Republican Party 6 86% Democratic Party 1 14% R+5
    2012 Republican Party 6 86% Democratic Party 1 14% R+5
    2010 Republican Party 6 86% Democratic Party 1 14% R+5
    2008 Republican Party 5 71% Democratic Party 2 29% R+3
    2006 Republican Party 5 71% Democratic Party 2 29% R+3
    2004 Republican Party 5 71% Democratic Party 2 29% R+3
    2002 Republican Party 5 71% Democratic Party 2 29% R+3
    2000 Republican Party 5 71% Democratic Party 2 29% R+3

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Alabama Party Control: 1992-2019
    Six years of Democratic trifectasNine years of Republican trifectas

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
    Governor R D D R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R



    Demographics

    Demographic data for Alabama

    AlabamaU.S.
    Total population:4,853,875316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):50,6453,531,905
    Gender
    Female:51.5%50.8%
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:68.8%73.6%
    Black/African American:26.4%12.6%
    Asian:1.2%5.1%
    Native American:0.5%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
    Two or more:1.7%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:4%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:84.3%86.7%
    College graduation rate:23.5%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$43,623$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:23.3%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Alabama.

    As of July 2016, Alabama ' three largest cities were Birmingham (pop. est. 211,000), Montgomery (pop. est. 200,000), and Huntsville (pop. est. 195,000).