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1942 Alabama Senate election
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June 2026
1942 Alabama Senate election Alabama legislative no 1938 Alabama Senate election 1938 1946 Alabama Senate election 1946 All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 November 3, 1942 File:Joe Poole.jpg Joseph N. Poole(did not stand) Democratic Party (United States) 17th–Butler Co. January 10, 1939 35 seats, 93.50% 35 67,792 99.41% 3x4.svg — Republican Party (United States) — — 0 seats, 6.47% 0 380 0.56%
File:1942 Alabama Senate election by vote share.svg 250px Winners by vote shareDemocratic: #0D0596 90–100% #08034a Unopposed President pro tempore Joseph N. Poole Democratic Party (United States) James A. Simpson Democratic Party (United States)
The 1942 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 3, 1942, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. The election used the same districts first drawn by the Alabama Constitution of 1901.
As the Democratic Party was dominant in the state, state legislative seats were generally decided at the Democratic primary election. The first round of the Democratic primary was held on May 7 with runoff elections on June 4. Only one Democratic nominee, incumbent senator James A. Simpson in Jefferson County's District 13, faced opposition in the general election, receiving 95.59% of the vote against a Republican and a Communist. Simpson was unanimously elected President pro tempore at the November 1942 opening session.Hope Sherlock Honor Is Given To Local Man https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-honor-is-given-to-lo/178193723/ 15 August 2025 The Birmingham Post 16 November 1942
The election took place concurrently with elections for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state house, and numerous other state and local offices.
Summary
Party Candidates SeatsNum.Vote%BeforeWon +/– Democratic 35 67,792 99.41% 35 35 Republican 1 380 0.56% 0 0 Communist 1 20 0.028% 0 0 Write-in 1 1 0.001% — 0 Total 38 68,192 100% 35 35
Incumbents
Won re-election
District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. won re-election.
District 4: Charles E. Shaver won re-election.
District 13: James A. Simpson won re-election.
District 20: O. D. Carlton won re-election.
District 22: J. Bruce Henderson won re-election.
District 24: Preston C. Clayton won re-election.
District 28: Charles A. Stakely won re-election.
Eliminated in primary
District 7: Henry H. Booth lost renomination to Elvin McCary.
District 33: Daniel T. McCall lost renomination to Vincent F. Kilborne.
Did not seek re-election
20em
District 1: William W. Malone did not seek re-election.
District 2: Norman W. Harris was elected to Morgan County's first state house seat.Taylor Fred Only 17 Runoff Races Necessary For Posts In Alabama's House https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-only-17-runoff-races/178933169/ 15 August 2025 The Birmingham News 11 May 1942
District 5: Herbert H. Conway unsuccessfully ran for circuit solicitor from the 9th Judicial Circuit.
District 6: John A. Lusk did not seek re-election.
District 8: W. L. Howard did not seek re-election.
District 9: Dan Boyd unsuccessfully ran for circuit solicitor from the 5th Judicial Circuit.Circuit Solicitors https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178933207/ 15 August 2025 The Birmingham News 17 May 1942
District 10: T. H. Street sought election to Tallapoosa County's first state house seat, but withdrew before the Democratic primary.Mack Jackson Enters Legislature Race; Dr. Street Withdraws https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-alexander-city-outlook-mack-jackson/178933297/ 15 August 2025 The Alexander City Outlook 19 February 1942
District 11: Hayse Tucker unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district.
District 12: Oliver E. Young did not seek re-election.
District 14: R. B. Doughty did not seek re-election. Doughty succeeded Sen. Verdo Elmore after a March 1940 special election.
District 15: Karl C. Harrison unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district.
District 16: Renzo Guy unsuccessfully ran for agriculture commissioner.
District 17: Joseph N. Poole was elected agriculture commissioner.Sparks Will Be Next Governor https://www.newspapers.com/article/shelby-county-reporter-sparks-will-be-ne/178933434/ 15 August 2025 Shelby County Reporter 14 May 1942
District 18: Howard Cooper did not seek re-election.
District 19: P. F. DeVane was elected member of the State Democratic Executive Committee from Alabama's 1st congressional district.Here Is How Your Favorite Candidate Ran In Primary https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-sdec-prim-vote/178933693/ 15 August 2025 The Birmingham News 17 May 1942
District 21: W. C. Holmes did not seek re-election.
District 23: Clyde M. Segrest was elected to Geneva County's first county commission district.Winners Announced in County Election of Tuesday, May 5th https://www.newspapers.com/article/geneva-county-reaper-winners-announced-i/178933518/ 15 August 2025 Geneva County Reaper 7 May 1942 Segrest succeeded Sen. Tim Faulk after a September 1939 special election.
District 25: J. M. Rowe unsuccessfully ran for Coffee County's sole state house seat.In Coffee county... https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-troy-messenger-in-coffee-county/178933529/ 15 August 2025 The Troy Messenger 8 May 1942
District 26: Watkins C. Johnston resigned to serve in the Navy.Watkins Johnston Serving In Navy https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tuskegee-news-watkins-johnston-servi/178933556/ 15 August 2025 The Tuskegee News 28 May 1942
District 27: W. A. Dozier did not seek re-election.
District 29: E. M. Baker did not seek re-election.
District 30: C. C. Thomas did not seek re-election.
District 31: Z. L. Weatherford did not seek re-election.
District 32: E. F. Hildreth did not seek re-election.
District 34: A. L. Crumpton did not seek re-election.
District 35: W. Perry Calhoun was elected to Houston County's third county commission district.Incumbent, Former Sheriff 20 votes apart; Three Board Incumbents Lose https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-incumbent-former-sheri/178933659/ 15 August 2025 The Dothan Eagle 6 May 1942
General election results
District 13 (Jefferson)
District 13 electionOwen Marie B. Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943 1943 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 798–801 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1943 5 August 2025
Democratic Party (US)
James A. Simpson (inc.) 8,639 95.59%
Republican Party (US)
Frank Snedeker 380 4.20%
Communist Party USA
Mary B. Southard 19 0.21%
9,038 100.00%
Elected without opposition
Every candidate elected with no opponents was a Democrat.
20em
District 1: Orlan B. Hill received 1,568 votes.
District 2: Vernon L. St. John received 1,805 votes.
District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. (inc.) received 3,796 votes. Homer Mitchell received 1 write-in vote.
District 4: Charles E. Shaver (inc.) received 999 votes.
District 5: J. B. Benson received 2,185 votes.
District 6: Sam High received 3,895 votes.
District 7: Elvin McCary received 971 votes.
District 8: Kenneth A. Roberts received 928 votes.
District 9: Will O. Watson received 1,426 votes.
District 10: Lee Hornsby received 3,367 votes.
District 11: Gordon Madison received 1,355 votes.
District 12: Reuben L. Newton received 3,234 votes.
District 14: John H. Pinson received 550 votes.
District 15: George M. Taylor received 4,375 votes.
District 16: J. Monroe Black received 403 votes.
District 17: Tully A. Goodwin received 1,870 votes.
District 18: T. J. Jones received 881 votes.
District 19: Gerald Bradford received 1,968 votes.
District 20: O. D. Carlton (inc.) received 590 votes.
District 21: W. W. Garrett received 2,315 votes.
District 22: J. Bruce Henderson (inc.) received 508 votes.
District 23: Douglas Brown received 1,178 votes.
District 24: Preston C. Clayton (inc.) received 684 votes.
District 25: M. N. Dodson received 2,145 votes.
District 26: Lawrence K. Andrews received 646 votes.
District 27: S. L. Toomer received 880 votes.
District 28: Charles A. Stakely (inc.) received 1,448 votes.
District 29: Lem J. Cobb received 4,216 votes.
District 30: E. P. Russell received 776 votes.
District 31: Jim Smith Jr. received 2,905 votes.
District 32: L. J. Lawson received 798 votes.
District 33: Vincent F. Kilborn received 1,721 votes.
District 34: Charles S. Bentley received 1,821 votes.
District 35: M. W. Espy received 946 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.
District Winner Loser Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 7th Elvin McCary 2,610 55.12% H. E. Killiam 2,125 44.88% 4,735 +485 +10.24% 8th Kenneth A. Roberts 2,259 51.22% Jeff Clay III 2,151 48.78% 4,410 +108 +2.45% 10th Lee Hornsby 3,172 54.32% W. Carvell Woodall 2,668 45.68% 5,840 +504 +8.63% 13th James A. Simpson 15,831 52.54% Noble B. Hendrix 14,298 47.46% 30,129 +1,533 +5.09% 14th John H. Pinson* 1,803 54.37% John A. Rogers 1,513 45.63% 3,316 +290 +8.75% 23rd Douglas Brown 2,397 64.89% Walter J. Brackin 1,297 35.11% 3,694 +1,100 +29.78% Sources: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1951 (p. 590),Owen Marie B. Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943 1943 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 790 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1943 5 August 2025 The Piedmont JournalK. A. Roberts Elected To State Senate https://www.newspapers.com/article/piedmont-journal-k-a-roberts-elected-t/178928665/ 15 August 2025 The Piedmont Journal 12 June 1942
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.
District First place Runners-up Others Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 2nd Vernon L. St. John* 5,116 57.12% Charles E. Bragg 3,840 42.88% — — — 8,956 +1,276 +14.25% 3rd Finis E. St. John Jr. (inc.)* 5,070 56.10% Ray Mayhall 1,832 20.27% 2 othersBart J. Cowart: 1,213 votes, 13.42%; Whitfield Lamberth: 922 votes, 10.20% 2,135 23.63% 9,037 +3,238 +35.83% 6th Sam High* 5,570 51.55% E. L. Roberts 5,234 48.45% — — — 10,804 +336 +3.11% 7th Elvin McCary 1,988 33.48% H. E. Killiam 1,487 25.05% 2 othersHenry H. Booth (inc.): 1,365 votes, 22.99%, Rutherford Lapsley: 1,097 votes, 18.48% 2,462 41.47% 5,937 +501 +8.44% 8th Kenneth A. Roberts 2,242 46.89% Jeff Clay III 1,489 31.14% Richard B. Kelly Jr. 1,050 21.96% 4,781 +753 +15.75% 10th Lee Hornsby 3,969 42.44% W. Carvel Woodall 3,405 36.41% G. Adolph Hornsby 1,977 21.14% 9,351 +564 +6.03% 11th Gordan Madison* 5,727 76.30% Testus F. Windham 1,106 14.73% Lon Smith Jr. 673 8.97% 7,506 +4,621 +61.56% 12th Reuben L. Newton 5,863 44.92% P. P. Evans 2,854 21.87% 2 othersW. T. Kelley: 2,416 votes, 18.51%, Edward Morton: 1,918 votes, 14.70% 4,334 33.21% 13,051 +3,009 +23.06% 13th James A. Simpson (inc.) 15,992 46.90% Noble B. Hendrix 11,286 33.10% George Fry 6,822 20.01% 34,100 +4,706 +13.80% 14th John A. Rogers 1,642 43.36% John H. Pinson 1,384 36.55% S. M. Blan 761 20.10% 3,787 +258 +6.81% 16th J. Monroe Black* 722 56.63% Cruser M. Graves 553 43.37% — — — 1,275 +169 +13.25% 19th Gerald Bradford* 4,595 54.86% J. R. Wallace 3,781 45.14% — — — 8,376 +814 +9.72% 20th O. D. Carlton (inc.) 1,560 54.97% W. B. Phillips 1,278 45.03% — — — 2,838 +282 +9.94% 22nd J. Bruce Henderson (inc.)* 1,070 58.41% S. P. Dale 762 41.59% — — — 1,832 +308 +16.81% 23rd Douglas Brown 2,725 48.38% Walter J. Brackin 2,519 44.73% George S. Barnard 388 6.89% 5,632 +206 +3.66% 25th M. N. Dodson* 4,174 51.82% J. Roy Crow 3,881 48.18% — — — 8,055 +293 +3.64% 29th Lem L. Cobb* 4,154 50.30% E. A. Van Pelt 4,105 49.70% — — — 8,259 +49 +0.59% 30th E. P. Russell 1,975 54.47% John L. Sherrer 1,651 45.53% — — — 3,626 +324 +8.94% 31st Jim Smith Jr.* 7,308 73.70% T. E. Throckmorton 1,593 16.06% Edward A. Staley 1,015 10.24% 9,916 +5,715 +57.63% 32nd L. T. Lawson* 1,757 60.40% Cullen Morgan 1,152 39.60% — — — 2,909 +605 +20.80% 33rd Vincent F. Kilborne* 5,514 58.10% Daniel T. McCall (inc.) 3,977 41.90% — — — 9,491 +1,537 +16.19% 34th Charles S. Bentley 3,227 53.23% John C. Darden 2,835 46.77% — — — 6,062 +392 +6.47%
Nominated without opposition
The following candidates automatically won the Democratic nomination, as no opponent filed to run against them:
District 1: Orlan B. Hill received 5,586 votes.
District 4: Charles E. Shaver (inc.) received 3,285 votes.
District 5: J. B. Benson received 5,460 votes.
District 9: Will O. Walton received 5,365 votes.
District 15: George M. Taylor Jr. received 5,507 votes.
District 17: Tully A. Goodwin received 5,339 votes.
District 18: T. J. Jones received 3,291 votes.
District 21: W. W. Garrett received 6,090 votes.
District 24: Preston C. Clayton (inc.) received 3,138 votes.
District 26: Lawrence K. Andres received 2,375 votes.
District 27: S. L. Toomer received 3,340 votes.
District 28: Charles A. Stakeley (inc.) received 7,453 votes.
District 35: M. W. Espy received 3,588 votes.
Republican candidate
Only one Republican ran for a state senate seat, Frank Snedeker in District 13 (Jefferson County). He was nominated along with other statewide candidates at the state Republican convention held at the Redmont Hotel in Birmingham on September 18, 1942.M'Einry To Run Against Sparks https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-meinry-to-run-again/178934002/ 15 August 2025 The Birmingham Post 19 September 1942 He won 380 votes, or 4.20 percent.
Communist candidate
One candidate ran as a Communist Party USA candidate, Mary B. Southard in District 13 (Jefferson County). She was nominated at a party caucus in Birmingham that she chaired.Communists File For Three Offices https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-communists-file-f/178934048/ 15 August 2025 Birmingham Post-Herald Associated Press 18 August 1942 She won 19 votes, or 0.21 percent.
1939–1942 special elections
District 23 (Dale–Geneva)
A special election in Senate District 23 (Dale–Geneva) was made necessary by the death of four-term incumbent senator Tim Faulk in July 1939. Banker and farmer Clyde M. Segrest of Slocomb unanimously received the Democratic nomination, and subsequently won the general election unopposed.Committee Selects Clyde M. Segrest For State Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-herald-committee-selects-cly/178932839/ 15 August 2025 The Houston Herald 27 July 1939State Canvassing Board Certified Segrest Election https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-star-state-canvassing-board-cer/178932763/ 15 August 2025 The Southern Star (Alabama) 14 September 1939
1939 Alabama Senate District 23 special general electionSeptember 5, 1939Owen Marie B. Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943 1943 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 846–847 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1943 5 August 2025
Democratic Party (US)
Clyde M. Segrest 983 100.00%
983 100.00%
District 14 (Pickens–Sumter)
A special election in Senate District 14 (Pickens–Sumter) was made necessary by the resignation of incumbent senator Verdo Elmore after he was appointed the judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit. R. B. Doughty of Reform won the Democratic nomination and the general election unopposed.State Briefs https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-state-briefs/178932930/ 15 August 2025 The Huntsville Times Associated Press 15 February 1940State Legislature Vacancies Filled https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-state-legislature-va/178932878/ 15 August 2025 The Birmingham Post United Press 27 March 1940
1940 Alabama Senate District 14 special general electionMarch 26, 1940
Democratic Party (US)
R. B. Doughty 900 100.00%
900 100.00%
See also
1942 Alabama elections
1942 United States Senate election in Alabama
1942 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
1942 Alabama gubernatorial election
1942 United States elections
References
Senate
Category:Alabama Senate elections
Alabama Senate
Category:November 1942 in the United States