Alabama_elections,_2018
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Alabama on November 6, 2018. All Alabama executive officers were up for election along with all of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections took place on June 5, 2018, for both major parties.[1]
Incumbent Republican governor Kay Ivey, who assumed the office upon the resignation of Robert J. Bentley in April 2017, ran for election to a full term against Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and independent write-in Chad Chig Martin. Kay Ivey won with 60% of the votes.
The office of Lieutenant Governor was vacant prior to the election.
State House Representative Will Ainsworth, State Senator Rusty Glover, and Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh[2] were running for the Republican nomination.[3][4][5][6] Dr. Will Boyd from Florence ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Democratic primary
- Will Boyd, pastor and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2017[7]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Will Boyd | — | Uncontested | |
| Total votes | — | — | ||
Republican primary
- Will Ainsworth, state representative[6]
- Twinkle Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission[2]
- Rusty Glover, state senator[3]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Twinkle Cavanaugh | 238,333 | 43.27 | |
| Republican | Will Ainsworth | 204,465 | 37.12 | |
| Republican | Rusty Glover | 107,981 | 19.61 | |
| Total votes | 550,779 | 100 | ||
Runoff results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Will Ainsworth | 176,680 | 51.49 | |
| Republican | Twinkle Cavanaugh | 166,475 | 48.51 | |
| Total votes | 343,155 | 100 | ||
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Will Ainsworth (R) |
Will Boyd (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cygnal (R) | July 24–25, 2018 | 1,027 | ± 3.1% | 53% | 41% | 6% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Will Ainsworth | 1,044,941 | 61.25 | |
| Democratic | Will Boyd | 660,013 | 38.69 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 1,023 | 0.06 | |
| Total votes | 1,705,977 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Incumbent Republican attorney general Steve Marshall, was appointed to the office by Governor Robert J. Bentley in February 2017, ran for election to a full term against, Joseph Siegelman, the son of the former governor Don Siegelman. Marshall won with 58.8% of the votes.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Marshall (incumbent) | 1,004,438 | 58.79 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Siegelman | 702,858 | 41.14 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 1,141 | 0.07 | |
| Total votes | 1,708,437 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Incumbent Republican secretary of state John Merrill ran for re-election to a second term.
Democratic primary
- Lula Albert
- Heather Milam
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Heather Milam | 160,738 | 63.67 | |
| Democratic | Lula Albert | 91,736 | 36.33 | |
| Total votes | 252,474 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
- Michael Johnson
- John Merrill, incumbent
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Merrill (incumbent) | 334,922 | 71.64 | |
| Republican | Michael Johnson | 132,601 | 27.84 | |
| Total votes | 467,523 | 100 | ||
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
John Merrill (R) |
Heather Milam (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cygnal (R) | July 24–25, 2018 | 1,027 | ± 3.1% | 57% | 38% | 5% |
Results
Governing magazine projected the race as "safe Republican".[12]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Merrill (incumbent) | 1,032,425 | 61.02 | |
| Democratic | Heather Milam | 658,537 | 38.92 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 1,064 | 0.06 | |
| Total votes | 1,692,026 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Incumbent Republican state auditor Jim Zeigler was running for re-election to a second term.
Democratic primary
- Miranda Joseph[7]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Miranda Joseph | — | Uncontested | |
| Total votes | — | — | ||
Republican primary
- Stan Cooke
- Elliott Lipinsky
- Jim Zeigler, incumbent
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Zeigler (incumbent) | 261,418 | 55.62 | |
| Republican | Stan Cooke | 153,160 | 32.59 | |
| Republican | Elliott Lipinsky | 55,437 | 11.79 | |
| Total votes | 470,015 | 100 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Zeigler (incumbent) | 1,018,466 | 60.43 | |
| Democratic | Miranda Joseph | 665,679 | 39.49 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 1,362 | 0.08 | |
| Total votes | 1,685,507 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Incumbent Republican state treasurer Young Boozer was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third consecutive term.
Democratic primary
No Democratic candidates filed to run in the primary.
Republican primary
- David Black
- Stephen Evans
- John McMillan, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John McMillan | 273,374 | 61.18 | |
| Republican | David Black | 95,454 | 21.36 | |
| Republican | Stephen Evans | 78,010 | 17.46 | |
| Total votes | 446,838 | 100 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John McMillan | 1,085,054 | 97.14 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 31,968 | 2.86 | |
| Total votes | 1,117,022 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third consecutive term. The Republican candidates are Lowndesboro Mayor and Lowndes County GOP chairman Rick Pate, former FBI field intelligence supervisor T. O. (Tracy) Crane, State Senator Gerald Dial, and Cecil Murphy.
Democratic primary
No Democratic candidates filed to run in the primary.
Republican primary
- Tracy Crane, former FBI field intelligence supervisor[13]
- Gerald Dial, state senator
- Cecil Murphy
- Rick Pate, Lowndesboro Mayor and Lowndes County GOP chairman
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rick Pate | 181,098 | 40.37 | |
| Republican | Gerald Dial | 134,511 | 29.98 | |
| Republican | Cecil Murphy | 77,154 | 17.20 | |
| Republican | Tracy Crane | 55,838 | 12.45 | |
| Total votes | 448,601 | 100 | ||
Runoff results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rick Pate | 176,519 | 56.70 | |
| Republican | Gerald Dial | 134,799 | 43.30 | |
| Total votes | 311,318 | 100 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rick Pate | 1,081,431 | 97.19 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 31,312 | 2.81 | |
| Total votes | 1,112,743 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
The two associate commissioner seats on the Alabama Public Service Commission was up for election. Incumbent Republican commissioners Jeremy Oden, who was appointed to the commission by Governor Bentley in December 2012, and Chip Beeker, who was first elected in 2014, were both eligible to run for re-election.
Place 1
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Cara McClure[7]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Cara McClure | — | Uncontested | |
| Total votes | — | — | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jim Bonner
- Jeremy Oden, incumbent
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeremy Oden (incumbent) | 215,540 | 50.34 | |
| Republican | Jim Bonner | 212,646 | 49.66 | |
| Total votes | 428,186 | 100 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeremy Oden (incumbent) | 1,013,072 | 60.42 | |
| Democratic | Cara McClure | 662,581 | 39.52 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 940 | 0.06 | |
| Total votes | 1,676,593 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Place 2
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Kari Powell[7]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kari Powell | — | Uncontested | |
| Total votes | — | — | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Chip Beeker, incumbent
- Robin Litaker
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chip Beeker (incumbent) | 275,184 | 68.74 | |
| Republican | Robin Litaker | 125,145 | 31.26 | |
| Total votes | 400,329 | 100 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chip Beeker (incumbent) | 1,006,713 | 60.05 | |
| Democratic | Kari Powell | 668,620 | 39.89 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 1,029 | 0.06 | |
| Total votes | 1,676,362 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Every member of the Alabama state legislature was up for election in 2018. Both state senators and state representatives serve four-year terms in Alabama. After the 2014 elections, Republicans maintained control of both chambers. In 2018, all 35 Alabama Senate seats and all 105 Alabama House of Representatives seats were up for election. These seats will not be contested in a regularly-scheduled election again until 2022.
The outcome of this election could affect partisan balance during post-2020 census redistricting.[14]
Senate
Republicans won 27 while Democrats won 8 seats. The Republican Party gained 1 seat, the 29th, which was held by an retiring independent who caucused with the Republicans.
House of Representatives
Republicans won 77 seats while Democrats won 28 seats. The Republican Party gained 5 seats.
All of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. 6 Republicans and 1 Democrat were returned. No districts changed hands.
Amendment 1
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes |
1,094,677 | 71.65 |
| No | 433,133 | 28.35 |
| Total votes | 1,527,810 | 100.00 |
Amendment 2
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
916,061 | 59.01 |
| No | 636,438 | 40.99 |
| Total votes | 1,552,499 | 100.00 |
Amendment 3
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
835,707 | 60.30 |
| No | 550,299 | 39.70 |
| Total votes | 1,386,006 | 100.00 |
Amendment 4
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
973,951 | 66.13 |
| No | 498,918 | 33.87 |
| Total votes | 1,472,869 | 100.00 |
- "Administrative Calendar: 2018 Statewide Election" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State.
- Cason, Mike (August 17, 2017). "Twinkle Cavanaugh switches to lieutenant governor's race". AL.com. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
- Cason, Mike (February 22, 2017). "Sen. Rusty Glover to run for lieutenant governor of Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- Sims, Cliff (October 29, 2015). "These are the politicians eyeing a run for Alabama's highest offices in 2018". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
- Cason, Mike (May 31, 2017). "Mary Scott Hunter to run for lieutenant governor of Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- "Will Ainsworth For Lt. Governor". Will Ainsworth For Lt. Governor.
- "Blog - Alabama Democrats". Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- "Unofficial Election Night Results". Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- "Unofficial Election Night Results". Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- "2018-Official General Election Results Certified-2018-11-27.pdf" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- "Unofficial Election Night Results". Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- Jacobson, Louis (June 4, 2018). "Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever". Governing. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- "Tocrane". Archived from the original on June 1, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- Wendy Underhill; Ben Williams (December 4, 2019), "Election Dates for Legislators and Governors Who Will Do Redistricting", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures
- Official lieutenant gubernatorial campaign websites
- Official attorney general campaign websites
- Official Secretary of State campaign websites
- Official State Auditor campaign websites
- Official place 1 public service commission websites
- Official place 2 public service commission websites