1978 Alabama gubernatorial election
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results James: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Hunt: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
|
Elections in Alabama |
---|
Government |
The 1978 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the
Hunt was the first Republican to win Cullman County since Reconstruction. This election was the only Alabama gubernatorial election between 1958 and 1982 that did not feature a member of the Wallace family.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Bill Baxley, Attorney General of Alabama
- Jere Beasley, Lieutenant Governor
- Governor
- Jim Folsom, former Governor
- K. C. Foster
- Horace Howell
- Fob James, businessman[1]
- Sid McDonald, State Senator
- Bob Muncaster
- Shorty Price, perennial candidate
- Fred Sandefer
- Cornelia Wallace, former First Lady of Alabama
- Charles Woods, businessman and perennial candidate
Results
Despite entering the race as a former Republican with low name identification and little political experience, by the time of the primary, James led Baxley, Beasley, and Brewer, who were considered the main contenders, in the polls. James placed first in the primary, followed by Baxley. Fob James then won the primary runoff against Bill Baxley.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Fob James | 256,196 | 28.47 | |
Democratic | Bill Baxley | 210,089 | 23.35 | |
Democratic | Albert Brewer | 193,479 | 21.50 | |
Democratic | Sid McDonald | 143,930 | 15.99 | |
Democratic | Jere Beasley | 77,202 | 8.58 | |
Democratic | K. C. Foster | 4,948 | 0.55 | |
Democratic | Horace Howell | 4,730 | 0.53 | |
Democratic | Jim Folsom | 4,632 | 0.52 | |
Democratic | Bob Muncaster | 1,776 | 0.20 | |
Democratic | Shorty Price | 1,396 | 0.16 | |
Democratic | Charles Woods | 700 | 0.08 | |
Democratic | Fred Sandefer | 622 | 0.07 | |
Democratic | Cornelia Wallace | 217 | 0.02 | |
Total votes | 899,917 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Fob James | 515,520 | 55.17 | |
Democratic | Bill Baxley | 418,932 | 44.83 | |
Total votes | 934,452 | 100 |
Republican primary
Candidates
- Probate Judge
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Guy Hunt | 21,499 | 83.17 | |
Republican | Bert Hayes | 2,817 | 10.90 | |
Republican | Julian Elgin | 1,534 | 5.93 | |
Total votes | 25,850 | 100 |
General election
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Fob James | 551,786 | 72.59 | |
Republican | Guy Hunt | 196,693 | 25.88 | |
Prohibition | Jim Partain | 8,103 | 1.07 | |
Independent
|
Richard Dare | 3,522 | 0.46 | |
Total votes | 760,104 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
Fob James won all but two counties: Cullman, where Hunt had been Probate Judge; and Winston, a traditionally Republican stronghold.[6]
References
- ^ "Alabama Governors: Forrest Hood (Fob) James, Jr". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ "AL Governor, 1978 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "AL Governor, 1978 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "AL Governor, 1978 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "AL Governor, 1978". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "Source for Popular Vote data: Alabama Secretary of State. Governor - 1978 Election, Alabama Secretary of State". Alabama Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
External links