1970 Alabama Senate election

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The 1970 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 3, 1970, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. Every single seat was won by a white male Democrat.[1] In the previous general election, one Republican, Leland Childs, was elected, but had unsuccessfully sought re-election as a Democrat.[2]

Quick facts All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...
1970 Alabama Senate election
← 1966
November 3, 1970
1974 →
All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate
18 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader O.J. Goodwyn
(did not stand)		 — Leland Childs
(lost re-election)[a]
Party Democratic National Democratic Republican
Leader since January 10, 1967 — January 10, 1967
Leader's seat 24th p. 2 — 12th p. 2
Last election 34 seats, 61.2% New 1 seat, 37.6%
Seats won 35 0 0
Seat change Increase 1 Steady Decrease 1
Popular vote 1,246,646 188,808 7,469
Percentage 82.51% 12.50% 0.49%
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
Democratic:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%      Unopposed
President pro tempore before election

O.J. Goodwyn
Democratic

 Elected President pro tempore

Pierre Pelham
Democratic

Close

The Democratic primaries were held on May 5 with runoffs on June 2, which candidates had until February 28 to qualify for. Neither the Republican Party nor the NDPA held primaries for state office, instead opting to nominate by party convention. The Republican convention took place in Birmingham on July 17.[3]

This was the last state senate election in Alabama before a 1973 federal court order mandated a new legislative map with single-member districts. At this point, the state had used a mixed system of single-member and multi-member districts to allocate seats in the legislature, all based on pre-existing county lines.[4]

Summary

Apportionment of the Alabama Senate as of 1970
More information Party, Candidates ...
Party Candidates Seats
Num. Vote % Before Won +/–
Democratic 351,246,64682.51%3435Increase 1
NDPA 13188,80812.50%00Steady
Conservative 951,6683.42%00Steady
Independent Party 213,3590.88%00Steady
Republican 27,4690.49%10Decrease 1
Whig 12,8770.19%00Steady
Write-in —70.0005%—0Steady
Total 621,510,827100%3535Steady
Close

By district

†: Incumbent did not run for reelection. ‡: Lost re-nomination.

More information District, Incumbent ...
District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1st Stewart O'Bannon Dem Stewart O'Bannon Dem
2nd Bob Harris Dem Bob Harris Dem
3rd Jack Giles Dem Gene McLain Dem
4th Dan Stone‡ Dem Kenneth Hammond Dem
5th Emmet Oden † Dem Joe Fine Dem
6th Fred Folsom † Dem Bob Wilson Dem
7th Aubrey Carr Dem Aubrey Carr Dem
8th Ollie Nabors † Dem Richard Malone Dem
9th Woodrow Albea‡ Dem Fred Ray Lybrand Dem
10th Jimmy Branyon Dem Jimmy Branyon Dem
11th E. W. Skidmore † Dem Richard Shelby Dem
12th p. 1 Pat Vacca Dem Pat Vacca Dem
12th p. 2 Leland Childs Rep[b] Tom King Dem
12th p. 3 John Hawkins Dem John Hawkins Dem
12th p. 4 Richard Dominick Dem Richard Dominick Dem
12th p. 5 George L. Bailes Dem George L. Bailes Dem
12th p. 6 Eddie H. Gilmore Dem Eddie H. Gilmore Dem
12th p. 7 Hugh Morrow † Dem Doug Cook Dem
13th G. Kyser Leonard † Dem Robert Weaver Dem
14th Walter C. Givhan Dem Walter C. Givhan Dem
15th W. G. McCarley † Dem Obee J. Littleton Dem
16th Tom Radney Dem Robert H. Wilder Dem
17th Bo Torbert † Dem Don Horne Dem
18th Pat Lindsey Dem Pat Lindsey Dem
19th Roland Cooper Dem Roland Cooper Dem
20th Alton Turner † Dem Crum Foshee Dem
21st p. 1 Junie Pierce Dem Junie Pierce Dem
21st p. 2 O. J. Goodwyn Dem Tom Jones Dem
22nd W. Ray Lolley‡ Dem L. L. Dozier Dem
23rd James S. Clark Dem James S. Clark Dem
24th p. 1 L. W. Noonan Dem L. W. Noonan Dem
24th p. 2 Pierre Pelham Dem Pierre Pelham Dem
24th p. 3 William McDermott Dem Robert W. Edington Dem
25th J. Ernest Jackon † Dem Dick Owen Jr. Dem
26th Jim Adams † Dem Larry Register Dem
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Incumbents

Won re-election

The following incumbent senators sought and won re-election:

  • District 1: Stewart O'Bannon
  • District 2: Bob Harris
  • District 7: Aubrey Carr
  • District 10: Jimmy Branyon
  • District 12, place 1: Pat Vacca
  • District 12, place 3: John Hawkins
  • District 12, place 4: Richard Dominick
  • District 12, place 5: George L. Bailes
  • District 12, place 6: Eddie H. Gilmore
  • District 14: Walter C. Givhan
  • District 18: Pat Lindsey
  • District 19: Roland Cooper
  • District 21, place 1: Junie Pierce
  • District 23: James S. Clark
  • District 24, place 1: L. W. Noonan
  • District 24, place 2: Pierre Pelham

Eliminated in primary

The following incumbent senators were defeated at their respective Democratic primary:

  • District 4: Dan Stone lost re-nomination to Kenneth Hammond.
  • District 9: Woodrow lost re-nomination to Albea Fred Lybrand.
  • District 12, place 2: Leland Childs (R–Jefferson) ran for re-election as a Democrat, but lost the nomination to Tom King.
  • District 22: W. Ray Lolley lost re-nomination to L. L. Dozier.

Did not seek re-election

The following incumbent senators did not seek re-election:

General election results

More information District, Democratic ...
District Democratic National Democratic Others Total
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
2nd Bob Harris (inc.)18,23595.10% Tom King9404.90% ——— 19,175+17,295+90.20%
7th Aubrey Carr (inc.)19,18494.98% Lynn Ridgeway1,0145.02% ——— 20,198+18,170+89.96%
9th Fred Ray Lybrand14,59977.13% ——— Robert Simmons Jr. (Rep.)4,32922.87% 18,928+10,270+54.26%
10th Jimmy Branyon (inc.)17,98976.62 Rev. H. Western5,49023.38% ——— 23,479+12,499+53.23%
12th p. 1 Pat Vacca (inc.)93,82674.39% John Billingsley25,91720.55% William Mori (Con.)6,3805.06% 126,123+67,909+53.84%
12th p. 2 Tom King91,65072.30% T. L. Crowell24,00118.93% Lionel Ledbetter (Con.)11,1048.76% 126,755+67,649+53.37%
12th p. 3 John Hawkins (inc.)98,57779.56% Herbert Johnson22,44818.12 Virginia Davis (Whi.)2,8772.32% 123,902+76,129+61.44%
12th p. 4 Richard Dominick (inc.)90,75972.56% William. M. Pruitt23,06218.44% William L. Gann (Con.)11,2559.00% 125,076+67,697+54.12%
12th p. 5 George L. Bailes (inc.)87,56868.52% Georgia Price23,81618.64% 2 others[c]16,41212.85% 127,796+63,752+49.89%
12th p. 6 Eddie H. Gilmore (inc.)96,05477.00% Charles F. Williams23,16018.57% Homer Sanders (Con.)5,5344.44% 124,748+72,894+58.43%
12th p. 7 Doug Cook95,26576.25% Emory. L. Whittaker24,42419.55% Wesley Jacobs (Con.)5,2424.20% 124,931+70,841+56.70%
14th Walter C. Givhan (inc.)16,24781.30% L. L. Anderson3,73618.70% Carl Morgan (write-in)10.01% 19,983+12,511+62.61%
16th Robert H. Wilder6,29084.17% ——— Bill Lacy (Con.)1,18315.83% 7,473+5,107+68.34%
18th Pat Lindsay (inc.)14,53358.13% O. B. Wilson7,32829.31% E. T. Rolison Jr. (Rep.)3,14012.56% 25,001+7,205+28.82%
19th Roland Cooper (inc.)17,12083.14% Damon Kiel3,47216.86% ——— 20,592+13,648+66.28%
21st p. 2 Tom Jones27,76695.35% ——— Virgil Chrane (Con.)1,3554.65% 29,121+26,411+90.69%
23rd James S. Clark (inc.)12,75193.21% ——— Zeke Calhoun (AIP)9296.79% 13,680+11,822+86.42%
24th p. 3 Robert W. Edington48,18690.39% ——— W. C. Boykin (Con.)5,1239.61% 53,309+43,063+80.78%
Source: 1975 Alabama Official and Statistical Register (p. 215–217)[7]
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Elected without opposition

The following candidates were the only candidates to file for their district's general election:

  • District 1: Stewart O'Bannon (inc.) received 19,448 votes.
  • District 3: Gene McLain received 28,832 votes.
  • District 4: Kenneth Hammond received 16,839 votes. 1 write-in vote was recorded.
  • District 5: Joe Fine received 17,738 votes.
  • District 6: Bob Wilson received 24,163 votes. 2 write-in votes were recorded.
  • District 8: Richard Malone received 15,879 votes.
  • District 11: Richard Shelby received 18,511 votes.
  • District 13: Robert Weaver received 18,059 votes.
  • District 15: Obie J. Littleton received 18,356 votes.
  • District 17: Don Horne received 15,133 votes.
  • District 20: Crum Foshee received 16,363 votes.
  • District 21, place 1: Junie Pierce (inc.) received 26,834 votes.
  • District 22: L. L. Dozier received 18,509 votes. 2 write-in votes were recorded.
  • District 24, place 1: L. W. Noonan received 40,020 votes.
  • District 24, place 2: Pierre Pelham (inc.) received 41,277 votes.
  • District 25: Dick Owen received 16,215 votes. 1 write-in vote was recorded.
  • District 26: Larry Register received 19,497 votes.

Democratic primary results

Five Black Americans ran in the state senate primaries. Henry Parker, Larry F. Haygood and Austin Sumbry were eliminated in the first round in May, while L. H. Pitts and L. L. Anderson advanced to the June runoff.[8] Neither won the Democratic nomination.

Runoff results by district

Three incumbent senators won re-nomination in the runoff, while three lost re-nomination.[9] Robert H. Wilder initially faced a runoff in District 16 against L. L. Still, but Still declined to participate in the runoff, allowing Wilder to advance to the general election.[10]

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

More information District, Winner ...
District Winner Loser Total
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
1st Stewart O'Bannon (inc.)16,63950.27% Murry Beasley16,45949.73% 33,098+180+0.54%
4th Kenneth Hammond16,99958.23% Dan Stone (inc.)12,19341.77% 29,192+4,806+16.46%
6th Robert Wilson21,08854.13% Hubert Taylor17,87145.87% 38,959+3,217+8.26%
8th Richard Malone*14,92250.55% Gary Burns14,59949.45% 29,521+323+1.09%
9th Fred Lybrand13,87850.49% Woodrow Albea (inc.)13,60749.51% 27,485+271+0.99%
12th p. 1 Pat Vacca (inc.)98,05156.91% Lucius Pitts74,23443.09% 172,285+23,817+13.82%
12th p. 2 Tom King94,45557.01% Leland Childs (inc.)71,24042.99% 165,695+23,215+14.01%
13th Robert Weaver13,44062.97% Mallory Hammonds7,90337.03% 21,343+5,537+25.94%
14th Walter C. Givhan (inc.)14,56065.56% L. L. Anderson7,65034.44% 22,210+6,910+31.11%
21st p. 2 W. Tom Jones*23,42353.13% James W. Cameron20,66246.87% 44,085+2,761+6.26%
22nd L. L. Dozier*15,60751.63% Neil Metcalf14,61948.37% 30,226+988+3.27%
26th Larry Register*15,48955.62% William Matthews12,35844.38% 27,847+3,131+11.24%
Source: The Huntsville Times[9]
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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 Ref.
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
1st Stewart O'Bannon (inc.)6,02539.53% Bob Broadfoot3,58623.53% 2 others[d]5,63236.95% 15,243+2,439+16.00% [11]
3rd Gene McLain*22,54860.39% Harry L. Pennington14,79039.61% ——— 37,338+7,758+20.78% [12]
4th Kenneth Hammond11,18842.69% Dan Stone (inc.)7,96530.39% Bernard Cabiness7,05326.91% 26,206+3,223+12.30% [13]
5th Joe Fine*4,16258.50% Thomas E. Snoddy1,26117.73% 3 others [e]1,69123.77% 7,114+2,901+40.78% [11]
6th Hubert Taylor16,86446.36% Robert T. Wilson15,85843.59% Leonard Wilson3,65810.05% 36,380+1,006+2.77% [14]
7th Aubrey J. Carr (inc.)*10,90552.58% John W. Starnes9,83547.42% ——— 20,740+1,070+5.16% [11]
8th Gary F. Burns8,43144.00% Richard Malone7,27537.96% Birch Anderson3,45718.04% 19,163+1,156+6.03%
9th Fred Lybrand10,44845.07% Woodrow Albea (inc.) 8,86138.22% L. S. Suggs3,87516.71% 23,184+1,587+6.85% [15]
11th Richard C. Shelby*14,00659.55% Olin W. Zeanah9,51340.45% ——— 23,519+4,493+19.10% [11]
12th p. 1 Paul Vacca (inc.)73,29649.90% Lucius H. Pitts57,90639.42% M. L. Roton15,69310.68% 146,895+15,390+10.48% [16]
12th p. 2 Tom King66,78247.06% Leland Childs (inc.)62,97344.37% Curtis Belcher12,1668.57% 141,921+3,809+2.68%
12th p. 4 Richard Dominick (inc.)*67,28751.21% Jack H. Harrison57,95244.10% Robert S. Watters6,1574.69% 131,396+9,335+7.10%
12th p. 5 George L. Bailes (inc.)*70,39151.12% Don Watts50,85236.93% H. L. Parker16,44211.94% 137,685+19,539+14.19%
12th p. 7 Doug Cook*85,51666.36% Louis Moore31,81024.68% Sam L. Chestnut11,5408.96% 128,866+53,706+41.68%
13th Robert Weaver13,75249.80% Mallory W. Hammonds9,03532.72% Sam Venable4,82917.49% 27,616+4,717+17.08% [17]
14th Walter C. Givhan (inc.)6,86544.22% Louis Lloyd Anderson4,82031.05% Carl C. Morgan3,83924.73% 15,524+2,045+13.17% [18]
15th Obie Littleton*12,78659.52% Alex Hayes6,62230.82% H. A. Rubin2,0759.66% 21,483+6,164+28.69% [11]
16th Robert H. Wilder9,28535.26% L. L. Still5,52320.97% 3 others[f]11,52743.77% 26,335+3,762+14.29%
17th Don Horne*6,01166.24% Charles E. Fuller3,06333.76% ——— 9,074+2,948+32.49%
19th Roland Cooper (inc.)*7,87458.16% Gene Garrett4,44332.82% Rob Andress1,2229.03% 13,539+3,431+25.34% [19]
20th E. C. Foshee*15,47756.88% Fletcher Jones11,73543.12% ——— 27,212+3,742+13.75% [20]
21st p. 1 Junie Pierce (inc.)*19,89856.36% J. C. Snowden12,15534.43% James V. Scoma3,2519.21% 35,304+7,743+21.93% [21]
21st p. 2 James W. Cameron11,97532.74% W. Tom Jones11,66631.89% 2 others[g]12,93935.37% 36,580+309+0.84%
22nd Neil Metcalf7,52234.50% L. L. Dozier6,26928.75% 2 others [h]8,01136.74% 21,802+1,253+5.75% [11]
23rd James S. Clark (inc.)*2,58575.70% Austin Sumbry83024.30% ——— 3,415+1,755+51.39% [22]
24th p. 3 Robert S. Edington*32,25655.33% Rassie G. Smith26,04544.67% ——— 58,301+6,211+10.65% [11]
26th William Matthews9,66043.14% Larry Register8,10936.21% 2 others[i]4,62420.65% 22,393+1,551+6.93%
Close

Nominated without opposition

The following candidates were the only candidates to file for their district's Democratic primary, which automatically gave them the nomination:[23]

  • District 2: Bob Harris (inc.)
  • District 10: Jimmy Branyon (inc.)
  • District 12, place 3: John Hawkins (inc.)
  • District 12, place 6: Eddie H. Gilmore (inc.)
  • District 18: Pat Lindsey (inc.)
  • District 24, place 1: L. W. Noonan
  • District 24, place 2: Pierre Pelham (inc.)
  • District 25: Dick Owen originally faced opposition in the Democratic primary, but his opponents withdrew.[24]

Republican convention

On July 17–18, the Republican state convention nominated three candidates for state senate:[25]

  • District 9: Robert Simmons Jr.
  • District 17: Jerry Cook
  • District 18: E. T. Rolison Jr.

Cook, however, had withdrawn as a candidate a few days before the convention. An attempt was made to get Democratic incumbent Bo Torbert to run as a Republican, he rejected the offer.[26]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Ran in the Democratic primaries
  2. [b]
    First elected as a Republican, unsuccessfully ran for re-election as a Democrat
  3. [c]
    Don Watts (AIP): 12,430, 9.73%; Jim McLendon (Con.): 3,982, 3.12%
  4. [d]
    James D. Alexander: 2,824, 18.53%; Murray W. Beasley: 2,808, 18.42%
  5. [e]
    Wayne Gentry: 897, 12.61%; Frank Murray: 611, 8.59%; Edsel F. Moore: 183, 2.57%
  6. [f]
    Larry F. Haygood: 4,997, 18.97%; W. C. Forehand: 4,903, 18.62%; Oscar David Cook: 1,627, 6.18%
  7. [g]
    Calvin Whitesell: 10,266, 28.06%; Robert Muncaster: 2,673, 7.31%
  8. [h]
    W. Ray Lolley (inc.): 4,131, 18.95%; John B. Crawley: 3,880, 17.80%
  9. [i]
    Charles H. Davis: 2,334, 10.42%; George L. Keel: 2,290, 10.23%

References

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