1958 Alabama Senate election

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The 1958 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 4, 1958, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. Across the 35 districts, only one, District 13 in Jefferson County, was actually at stake in the November general election. As the Democratic Party was dominant in the state, state legislative seats were generally decided at the Democratic primary election. This was the last time an Alabama Senate general election used the original 1901 district map, as district boundaries would be adjusted in July 1962.

Quick facts All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...
1958 Alabama Senate election
← 1954
November 4, 1958
1962 →
All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate
18 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Broughton Lamberth
(did not stand)		 —
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 11, 1955 —
Leader's seat 10th–Tallapoosa Co. —
Last election 35 seats, 99.9% New
Seats won 35 0
Popular vote 229,542 5,941
Percentage 97.48% 2.52%
Winners by vote share
Democratic:      80–90%      Unopposed
President pro tempore before election

Broughton Lamberth
Democratic

 Elected President pro tempore

Vaughan Hill Robison
Democratic

Close

This election saw numerous senators aligned with incumbent governor Jim Folsom lose their primaries, whether they were running for re-election or to some other office.[1] Among this group was president pro tempore Broughton Lamberth of Tallapoosa County, who unsuccessfully ran for the state house.[2]

The Democratic primary election was held on May 6 with runoff elections on June 3. The sole Republican candidate, John F. Dyer, was nominated by party convention on May 30.[3]

At the beginning of the 1959 session, Vaughan Hill Robison of Montgomery County was unanimously elected president pro tempore.[4]

Summary

More information Party, Candidates ...
Party Candidates Seats
Num. Vote % Before Won +/–
Democratic 35229,54297.48% 3535Steady
Republican 15,9412.52%00Steady
Total 36235,483100%3535Steady
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Incumbents

Every incumbent senator in a multi-county district chose not to seek re-election, as a gentlemen's agreement compelled state senators to give up their seats to allow a candidate from another county to serve.[5]

Won re-election

  • District 7: A. C. Shelton (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 8: G. Kyser Leonard (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 20: E. O. Eddins (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 22: Roland Cooper (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 28: Vaughan Hill Robison (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 30: Walter C. Givhan (Democratic) won re-election.

Eliminated in primary

  • District 4: T. Herman Vann (Democratic) lost renomination to Dave Archer.
  • District 16: Joe Davis (Democratic) lost renomination to Carl C. Golson.
  • District 33: Garet Van Antwerp (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Will G. Caffey.

Did not seek re-election

  • District 1: Milton C. Grisham (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 2: Joe Calvin (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 3: Harlan G. Allen (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Cullman County.[6]
  • District 5: Smith C. Dyar (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Marshall County.[7]
  • District 6: Escar Roberts (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 9: George W. Yarbrough (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Randolph County.[8]
  • District 10: President pro tempore Broughton Lamberth (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Tallapoosa County.[9]
  • District 11: E. W. Skidmore (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.[10]
  • District 12: Reuben L. Newton (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the first state house seat in Walker County.[1]
  • District 13: Albert Boutwell (Democratic) successfully ran for lieutenant governor.
  • District 14: Albert Davis (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Pickens County.[11]
  • District 15: Dave L. Yarbrough (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 17: Tulley Goodwin (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Covington County.[12]
  • District 18: H. P. James (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 19: Gerald Bradford (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 21: Ralph L. Jones (Democratic) successfully ran for the state house seat in Monroe County.[12]
  • District 23: Neil Metcalf (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Geneva County.[13]
  • District 24: George E. Little (Democratic) successfully ran for probate judge of Clayton County.[14]
  • District 25: Ben Reeves (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Pike County.[15]
  • District 26: Sam M. Engelhardt (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.[16]
  • District 27: Joseph W. Smith (Democratic) successfully ran for the second state house seat in Russell County.[12]
  • District 29: M. H. Moses (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in DeKalb County.[17]
  • District 31: Berry Lynchmore Cantrell (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Colbert County.[1]
  • District 32: David M. Hall (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the State Executive Democratic Committee from the 6th congressional district.[18]
  • District 34: Staten Tate (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Coosa County.[19]
  • District 35: Richmond Flowers Sr. (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for attorney general.[20]

General election results

District 13 (Jefferson County)

More information Party, Candidate ...
District 13 election[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry Dumas 37,202 86.23%
Republican John F. Dyer 5,941 13.77%
Total votes 43,143 100.00%
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Elected without opposition

Every candidate elected with no opponents was a Democrat.

  • District 1: Elbert Bertram Haltom Jr. (Democratic) received 5,917 votes.
  • District 2: Robert R. Berryman (Democratic) received 6,597 votes.
  • District 3: Elwood Rutledge (Democratic) received 10,792 votes.
  • District 4: Dave Archer (Democratic) received 4,752 votes.
  • District 5: D. Donald Word (Democratic) received 6,804 votes.
  • District 6: Ray Wyatt (Democratic) received 12,088 votes.
  • District 7: A. C. Shelton (inc., Democratic) received 5,874 votes.
  • District 8: G. Kyser Leonard (inc., Democratic) received 4,919 votes.
  • District 9: Bill Hines (Democratic) received 5,027 votes.
  • District 10: Bud Woodall (Democratic) received 7,810 votes.
  • District 11: Ryan deGraffenried Sr. (Democratic) received 5,664 votes.
  • District 12: Woodrow Roberts (Democratic) received 10,287 votes.
  • District 14: Aubrey Green (Democratic) received 2,788 votes.
  • District 15: Joe Graham (Democratic) received 8,052 votes.
  • District 16: Carl Golson (Democratic) received 822 votes.
  • District 17: R. G. Kendall (Democratic) received 7,903 votes.
  • District 18: Norman R. Crawford (Democratic) received 2,819 votes.
  • District 19: Dennis Porter (Democratic) received 4,475 votes.
  • District 20: E. O. Eddins (inc., Democratic) received 1,694 votes.
  • District 21: Douglas Webb (Democratic) received 8,238 votes.
  • District 22: Roland Cooper (inc., Democratic) received 1,031 votes.
  • District 23: Rufus Barnett (Democratic) received 3,500 votes.
  • District 24: Jimmy Clark (Democratic) received 1,510 votes.
  • District 25: Alton Turner (Democratic) received 6,504 votes.
  • District 26: Snag Andrews (Democratic) received 2,229 votes.
  • District 27: Yetta Samford (Democratic) received 4,270 votes.
  • District 28: Vaughan Hill Robison (inc., Democratic) received 9,333 votes.
  • District 29: George Godfrey (Democratic) received 8,252 votes.
  • District 30: Walter C. Givhan (inc., Democratic) received 2,353 votes.
  • District 31: Hugh Moses (Democratic) received 9,753 votes.
  • District 32: W. F. Wilson (Democratic) received 2,296 votes.
  • District 33: Will G. Caffey (Democratic) received 10,185 votes.
  • District 34: John E. Gaither (Democratic) received 4,401 votes.
  • District 35: Carl S. Farmer (Democratic) received 3,401 votes.

Democratic primary results

Runoff results by district

Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. An asterisk (*) denotes a runoff winner who trailed in the first round.

More information District, Winner ...
District Winner Loser Total
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
12th Woodrow Roberts13,97355.37% Thomas Veasey11,26344.63% 25,236+2,710+10.74%
19th Dennis Porter7,25052.98% Jack Miller6,43547.02% 13,685+815+5.96%
20th E. O. Eddins (inc.)2,14252.44% Edward W. Drinkhard1,94347.56% 4,085+199+4.87%
21st Douglas S. Webb10,35653.52% Claude D. Kelley8,99246.48% 19,348+1,364+7.05%
29th George E. Godfrey7,57651.84% J. B. Burkhalter7,03848.16% 14,614+538+3.68%
31st Hugh Moses11,63451.29% Solon Gregg11,05048.71% 22,684+584+2.57%
33rd Will G. Caffey17,62550.45% John M. Tyson17,31449.55% 34,939+311+0.89%
Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1959 (p. 594)[22]
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Additionally, runoffs in District 3, District 10, and District 24 were planned, but were canceled after candidates withdrew from their races. All three withdrawals were from candidates who placed second in the first round.

  • District 3: Elwood Rutledge won the Democratic nomination after Raymond Lowery withdrew.[23]
  • District 10: W. Carvel Woodall won the Democratic nomination after Upshaw G. Jones withdrew.[24]
  • District 24: Jimmy Clark won the Democratic nomination after Charles L. Weston withdrew.[25]

First round results by district

Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff, first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff.

More information District, First place ...
District First place Runners-up Others Total
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
2nd Robert R. Berryman*11,14063.52% J. B. Richardson6,39936.48% ——— 17,539+4,741+27.03%
3rd Elwood Rutledge7,39439.59% Raymond Lowery6,74436.11% Claude B. McCurry4,54024.31% 18,678+650+3.48%
4th Dave Archer*5,99153.82% Herman Vann (inc.)5,14146.18% ——— 11,132+850+7.64%
5th D. Donald Word*13,20369.81% Robert Sebring5,71030.19% ——— 18,913+7,493+39.62%
6th Ray Wyatt*21,39486.74% L. R. Johnston3,27113.26% ——— 24,665+18,123+73.48%
7th A. C. Shelton (inc.)*7,51352.66% R. J. Holley5,10435.77% Elvin McCary1,65011.57% 14,267+2,409+16.89%
8th G. Kyser Leonard (inc.)*6,40151.92% Graham Wright5,92848.08% ——— 12,329+473+3.84%
9th W. C. Hines*8,74467.79% E. O. Noel2,27217.62% H. O. Humphrey1,88214.59% 12,898+6,472+50.18%
10th W. Carvel Woodall7,06043.37% Upshaw G. Jones4,61528.35% Mac W. Freeman4,60528.29% 16,280+2,445+15.02%
12th J. Thomas Veazey9,43737.89% Woodrow Roberts8,75235.14% 2 others[a]6,71926.98% 24,908+685+2.75%
13th Larry Dumas*47,12856.58% John A. Jenkins36,17243.42% ——— 83,300+10,956+13.15%
14th Aubrey Green*3,67061.40% Marcus McConnell2,30738.60% ——— 5,977+1,363+22.80%
15th Joe W. Graham*9,15758.40% Alex Hayes6,52441.60% ——— 15,681+2,633+16.79%
16th Carl C. Golson*1,13859.58% Joe Davis (inc.)77240.42% ——— 1,910+366+19.16%
18th Norman R. Crawford*4,37768.25% Judson C. Locke2,03631.75% ——— 6,413+2,341+36.50%
19th Dennis Porter6,14142.12% Jack Miller4,55831.26% Grady W. Hurst3,88226.62% 14,581+1,583+10.86%
20th E. O. Eddins (inc.)1,70940.50% Edward W. Drinkard1,38332.77% W. Clyde Waldrop1,12826.73% 4,220+326+7.73%
21st Douglas S. Webb8,56238.89% Claude D. Kelley7,70835.01% Malcolm Edwards5,74726.10% 22,017+854+3.88%
22nd Roland Cooper (inc.)*1,59564.47% Josiah R. Bonner87935.53% ——— 2,474+716+28.94%
23rd Rugus Barnett*6,14055.62% Mike Sollie III4,89944.38% ——— 11,039+1,241+11.24%
24th Jimmy Clark2,14040.74% Charles L. Weston1,54629.43% 2 others[b]1,56729.83% 5,253+594+11.31%
25th Alton L. Turner*8,77651.65% Vernon Summerlin8,21648.35% ——— 16,992+560+3.30%
27th Yetta Samford*6,46254.36% Ealon M. Lambert5,42645.64% ——— 11,888+1,036+8.71%
28th Vaughan H. Robison (inc.)*17,38881.78% Ed Brown3,87518.22% ——— 21,263+13,513+63.55%
29th J. B. Burkhalter5,23234.90% George E. Godfrey3,74524.98% 2 others[c]6,01340.11% 14,990+1,487+9.92%
31st Solon Gregg10,15645.78% Hugh Moses9,84444.37% J. Marvin Davis2,1849.84% 22,184+312+1.41%
33rd John M. Tyson14,50241.34% Will G. Caffey12,79836.48% Garet Van Antwerp (inc.)7,78022.18% 35,080+1,704+4.86%
34th John E. Gaither*6,37556.23% Ed H. McBryde4,96343.77% ——— 11,338+1,412+12.45%
35th Carl S. Farmer*7,84162.92% M. W. Espy Jr.4,62137.08% ——— 12,462+3,220+25.84%
Source: The Montgomery Advertiser[26]
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Nominated without opposition

The following candidates automatically won the Democratic nomination, as no opponent filed to run against them.

Republican convention

Only one Republican, John F. Dyer, sought election to the state senate. Dyer was nominated at the Jefferson County Republican party convention on May 9,[27] and was subsequently confirmed at the state convention on May 30. About a dozen Republican state house candidates were also nominated.[3] He opposed Democratic nominee Larry Dumas at the general election and lost by 72.46 percentage points.

1955–1958 special elections

District 32

A special election in Senate District 32 (Greene–Hale) was triggered by the resignation of incumbent senator James S. Coleman after being elected to the Alabama Supreme Court in January 1957. Attorney and former state house member David Hall was selected by the Democratic executive committee to succeed Coleman.[28] The general election was canceled as no other candidate filed to run against Hall, and he was certified as the winner.[29]

More information Party, Candidate ...
1957 Alabama Senate District 32 special general election
April 30, 1957 (canceled)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Hall Unopp.
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Fuller Kimbrell: 5,171 votes, 20.76%; D. C. Grey: 1,548 votes, 6.21%
  2. [b]
    Marvin E. Edwards: 1,286 votes, 24.48%; Christie Pappas: 281 votes, 5.35%
  3. [c]
    Virgil M. Smith: 3,354 votes, 22.37%; Speer Livingston: 2,659 votes, 17.74%

References

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