1938 Alabama Senate election

none June 2026 1938 Alabama Senate election Alabama legislative no 1934 Alabama Senate election 1934 1942 Alabama Senate election 1942 All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 November 8, 1938 File:D._Hardy_Riddle.jpg D. Hardy Riddle(did not stand) Democratic Party (United States) 8th–Talladega Co. January 8, 1935 35 seats, 96.54% 35 114,029 93.50% 3x4.svg — Republican Party (United States) — — 0 seats, 3.46% 0 7,887 6.47% File:1938 Alabama Senate election by vote share.svg 250px Winners by vote shareDemocratic: #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% #0D0596 90–100% #08034a Unopposed President pro tempore D. Hardy Riddle Democratic Party (United States) Joseph N. Poole Democratic Party (United States) 1938 United States Senate election in Alabama The 1938 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 8, 1938, 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 3 with runoff elections on June 14. Four Democratic nominees faced opposition in the general election, with all four facing a Republican and James A. Simpson additionally facing a Communist in Jefferson County's District 13. Joseph N. Poole was unanimously elected President pro tempore at the chamber's opening session on January 10, 1939.Hatton Hartwell Carpetbag Label Placed On New Wilcox Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-carpetbag-labe/179701168/ 25 August 2025 The Montgomery Advertiser 11 January 1939 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 35 114,029 93.50% 35 35 Republican 4 7,887 6.47% 0 0 Communist 1 36 0.03% 0 0 Total 40 121,952 100% 35 35 Incumbents Every incumbent senator in a multi-county district did not 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.Senate Rotation Object of Bill https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-advertiser-senate-rotation-object-of/175289970/ 25 June 2025 The Haleyville Advertiser 16 August 1957 Four senators sought re-election, and four senators sought seats in the Alabama House of Representatives.Hutto James C. Four Senators Are Candidates For The House https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-four-senators-are-ca/179664274/ 25 August 2025 The Birmingham Post 8 April 1938 Won re-election District 11: Hayse Tucker won re-election. District 13: James A. Simpson won re-election. District 20: O. D. Carlton won re-election. District 22: J. M. Bonner won re-election. Did not seek re-election 20em District 1: L. A. Weaver did not seek re-election. District 2: Vernon L. St. John did not seek re-election. District 3: F. G. Stephens did not seek re-election. District 4: Schuyler H. Richardson was appointed judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit on December 10, 1937.Graves Names Senator Judge https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-graves-names-senator-ju/179661562/ 25 August 2025 The Dothan Eagle Associated Press 10 December 1937 Richardson succeeded Shelby S. Fletcher, who died on July 1, 1936.Obituary for Shelby Fletcher https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-obituary-for-shelby-f/179661305/ 25 August 2025 Jackson County Sentinel 2 July 1936 District 5: I. J. Browder did not seek re-election. District 6: W. T. Starnes did not seek re-election. District 7: Max Wellborn did not seek re-election. District 8: D. Hardy Riddle unsuccessfully ran for governor. District 9: Will O. Walton was appointed judge of the 5th Judicial Circuit on February 16, 1938.Will Walton Is New Judge For Fifth Circuit https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-opelika-auburn-news-will-walton-is-n/179661981/ 25 August 2025 The Opelika-Auburn News 17 February 1938 District 10: W. Carvel Woodall did not seek re-election. District 12: John A. Kuykendall did not seek re-election. District 14: A. M. McConnell did not seek re-election. McConnell succeeded John A. Rogers, who died on September 22, 1936.Senator Rogers, State Political Notable Is Dead https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-obituary-for-john-a-ro/179662501/ 25 August 2025 Associated Press 22 September 1938 District 15: Earle Thomas District 16: R. L. Goldsmith District 17: J. L. Kelly District 18: Judson C. Locke was elected to Perry County's first state house seat.Sparrow Hugh W. 70 Members of Body Selected https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-70-members-of-bod/179662836/ 25 August 2025 Birmingham Post-Herald 12 May 1938 District 19: H. L. Glover died November 29, 1936.Pro-Graves Solon Is Dead At Leroy https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-obituary-for-h-l-g/179663051/ 25 August 2025 The Birmingham Post 30 November 1936 District 21: G. R. Swift did not seek re-election. District 23: W. A. Parrish did not seek re-election. District 24: A. M. McDowell did not seek re-election. District 25: W. H. Stoddard did not seek re-election. Stoddard succeeded Thomas J. Thrower, who died July 12, 1935.State Senator Dies Suddenly https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-state-senator-dies-s/179663603/ 25 August 2025 The Birmingham News Associated Press 13 July 1935 District 26: Thomas S. Frazer did not seek re-election. District 27: Isham J. Dorsey did not seek re-election. District 28: Floyd Mooneyham did not seek re-election. District 29: Webb Chestnut did not seek re-election. District 30: Edgar P. Russell did not seek re-election. District 31: W. B. Mixon did not seek re-election. District 32: H. A. Taylor unsuccessfully ran for Hale County's first state house seat. District 33: C. M. A. Rogers did not seek re-election. District 34: Grady W. Cook was elected to Cleburne County's sole state house seat. District 35: D. A. Walden was elected to Henry County's first state house seat. General election results By district District Democratic Republican Communist Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 13th James A. Simpson 12,668 94.48% Frank L. Snedeker 704 5.25% Robert F. Hall 36 0.27% 13,408 +11,964 +89.23% 15th Karl C. Harrison 5,232 64.68% Fred Allen 2,857 35.32% — — — 8,089 +2,375 +29.36% 29th E. M. Baker 6,227 69.20% J. A. Downer 2,772 30.80% — — — 8,999 +3,455 +38.39% 31st Zadoc L. Weatherford 4,924 76.01% Walter Denson 1,554 23.99% — — — 6,478 +3,370 +52.02% Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 (p. 714–716)Owen Marie Bankhead Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 1939 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 714–716 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1939 17 August 2025 Elected without opposition Every candidate elected without an opponent was a Democrat. 20em District 1: William M. Malone received 3,108 votes. District 2: Norman W. Harris received 2,715 votes. District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. received 6,338 votes. District 4: Charles E. Shaver received 1,818 votes. District 5: Herbert H. Conway received 3,170 votes. District 6: John A. Lusk Jr. received 5,742 votes. District 7: Henry H. Booth received 1,670 votes. District 8: W. L. Howard received 1,468 votes. District 9: Daniel R. Boyd received 2,265 votes. District 10: T. H. Street received 2,975 votes. District 11: Hayse Tucker received 2,130 votes. District 12: Oliver E. Young received 6,862 votes. District 14: Verdo Elmore received 1,545 votes. District 16: Renzo Guy received 565 votes. District 17: Joseph N. Poole received 4,603 votes. District 18: Howard Cooper received 1,517 votes. District 19: P. F. DeVane received 4,255 votes. District 20: O. D. Carlton received 1,096 votes. District 21: W. C. Holmes received 3,801 votes. District 22: J. Bruce Henderson received 668 votes. District 23: T. S. Faulk received 2,272 votes. District 24: Preston C. Clayton received 1,096 votes. District 25: J. M. Rowe received 3,932 votes. District 26: Watkins C. Johnston received 1,076 votes. District 27: W. A. Dozier received 1,748 votes. District 28: Charles A. Stakely Jr. received 4,950 votes. District 30: C. C. Thomas received 1,156 votes. District 32: E. F. Hildreth received 1,253 votes. District 33: Daniel T. McCall received 2,762 votes. District 34: A. L. Crumpton received 3,749 votes. District 35: W. Perry Calhoun received 2,673 votes. Democratic primary results Runoff results by district Democratic runoffs were held on June 14. 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 5th Herbert H. Conway* 6,233 59.38% J. J. Benford 4,263 40.62% 10,496 +1,970 +18.77% 7th Frank Glenn Propst* 2,863 50.34% Henry H. Booth 2,824 49.66% 5,687 +39 +0.69% 9th Daniel R. Boyd 4,928 60.10% J. F. Jackson 3,272 39.90% 8,200 +1,656 +20.20% 14th Verdo Elmore 1,953 52.83% L. W. Wooten 1,744 47.17% 3,697 +209 +5.65% 15th Karl C. Harrison 3,132 55.01% J. A. Hines 2,561 44.99% 5,693 +571 +10.03% 21st W. C. Holmes 5,304 53.90% W. C. Mason 4,537 46.10% 9,841 +767 +7.79% Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 (p. 683–685)Owen Marie Bankhead Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 1939 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 683–685 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1939 24 August 2025 Additionally, runoffs in District 3, District 6, and District 29 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: Finis E. St. John Jr. won the Democratic nomination after W. E. James withdrew by May 22.Baby Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-baby-senator/179656496/ 25 August 2025 The Birmingham News 22 May 1938 District 6: John A. Lusk Jr. won the Democratic nomination after Bob Leath withdrew by May 13.Political Hopefuls Face Run-Off Tests https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-political-hopefuls-f/179656705/ 25 August 2025 The Birmingham News Associated Press 13 May 1938 District 29: E. M. Baker won the Democratic nomination after Lewis W. Fowler withdrew on May 20.Fowler Lewis W. To The Voters of Dekalb And Cherokee Counties https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-coosa-river-news-to-the-voters-of-de/179656847/ 25 August 2025 The Coosa River News 20 May 1938 First round results by district The first round of the Democratic primary was held on May 3. 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 1st William W. Malone* 4,418 57.58% R. H. Walker 3,255 42.42% — — — 7,673 +1,163 +15.16% 3rd Finis E. St. John Jr.* 4,116 48.36% W. E. JamesWithdrew before the runoff 3,189 37.47% Bart J. Cowart 1,206 14.17% 8,511 +927 +10.89% 4th Charles E. Shaver* 4,217 64.14% H. M. Robertson 2,358 35.86% — — — 6,575 +1,859 +28.27% 5th J. J. Benford 3,607 37.39% Herbert H. Conway 3,039 31.51% Joe Johnson 3,000 31.10% 9,646 +568 +5.89% 6th John A. Lusk Jr.* 5,613 48.16% Bob LeathWithdrew before the runoff 2,386 20.47% 2 othersEvan J. Owen: 2,109 votes, 18.10%; Dozier Thornton: 1,546 votes, 13.27% 3,655 31.37% 11,654 +3,227 +27.69% 7th Henry H. Booth 2,160 35.92% Frank Glenn Propst 1,711 28.46% 2 othersRutherford Lapsley: 1,534 votes, 25.51%: Farmer M. Nixon: 608 votes, 10.11% 2,142 35.61% 6,013 +449 +7.47% 8th W. L. Howard* 3,009 58.03% W. M. Rozelle 2,176 41.97% — — — 5,185 +833 +16.07% 9th Daniel R. Boyd 3,467 41.88% J. F. Jackson 2,746 33.17% D. T. Ware 2,065 24.95% 8,278 +721 +8.71% 10th T. H. Street* 5,634 54.65% R. W. Stuckey 2,685 26.04% Mike J. Bulger 1,991 19.31% 10,310 +2,949 +28.60% 11th Hayse Tucker* 4,450 56.88% Luther Hearn 2,096 26.79% Ed Long 1,277 16.32% 7,823 +2,354 +30.09% 12th Oliver E. Young* 9,039 62.92% A. U. Hollis 5,327 37.08% — — — 14,366 +3,712 +25.84% 13th James A. Simpson* 24,460 61.90% Ben F. Ray 15,058 38.10% — — — 39,518 +9,402 +23.79% 14th Verdo Elmore 1,657 41.08% L. W. Wooten 1,443 35.77% E. P. Windham 934 23.15% 4,034 +214 +5.30% 15th Karl C. Harrison 3,059 39.83% J. F. McGraw 2,171 28.26% J. A. Hines 2,451 31.91% 7,681 +888 +11.56% 17th Joe N. Poole* 6,342 70.22% J. W. Joyner 2,690 29.78% — — — 9,032 +3,652 +40.43% 18th Howard Cooper* 2,690 55.65% John S. Ward 2,144 44.35% — — — 4,834 +546 +11.29% 19th P. F. DeVane* 5,104 54.23% O. B. Christopher 4,307 45.77% — — — 9,411 +797 +8.47% 20th O. D. Carlton* 1,820 56.89% S. W. Compton 1,379 43.11% — — — 3,199 +441 +13.79% 21st W. C. Holmes 4,455 45.18% W. C. Mason 3,301 33.48% A. B. McPhaul 2,105 21.35% 9,861 +1,154 +11.70% 23rd T. S. Faulk* 3,872 51.05% Joel E. Johnson 3,713 48.95% — — — 7,585 +159 +2.10% 24th Preston C. Clayton* 1,962 59.91% Millard I. Jackson 1,313 40.09% — — — 3,275 +649 +19.82% 26th Watkins C. Johnston* 1,643 51.85% R. H. Powell 1,526 48.15% — — — 3,169 +117 +3.69% 27th W. A. Dozier* 3,305 58.10% T. W. Britton 2,383 41.90% — — — 5,688 +922 +16.21% 28th Charles A. Stakely* 10,154 78.02% Charles B. Teasley 2,860 21.98% — — — 13,014 +7,294 +56.05% 29th E. M. Baker 4,062 49.28% Lewis W. Fowler 2,556 31.01% W. B. Thompson 1,624 19.70% 8,242 +1,506 +18.27% 31st Zadoc L. Weatherford* 5,717 55.22% M. D. Hansbrough 2,563 24.75% Charles G. Richeson 2,074 20.03% 10,354 +3,154 +30.46% 32nd E. F. Hildreth* 1,623 50.37% D. G. Mayes 1,599 49.63% — — — 3,222 +24 +0.74% 33rd Daniel T. McCall* 9,167 65.97% Alfred L. Staples 4,728 34.03% — — — 13,895 +4,439 +31.95% 34th A. L. Crumpton* 3,329 50.45% O. O. Mitchell 3,269 49.55% — — — 6,598 +60 +0.91% 35th W. Perry Calhoun* 4,804 62.69% N. Frank Pridgen 2,859 37.31% — — — 7,663 +1,945 +25.38% Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 (p. 650–655)Owen Marie Bankhead Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 1939 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 650–655 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1939 24 August 2025 Nominated unopposed The following candidates won the Democratic nomination by default as they were the only to run in their respective district: District 2: Norman W. Harris received 6,776 votes. District 16: Renzo Guy received 1,287 votes. District 22: J. M. Bonner received 1,657 votes. District 25: J. M. Rowe received 7,783 votes. District 30: C. C. Thomas received 3,383 votes. 1935–1938 special elections District 25 (Coffee–Crenshaw–Pike) A special election in Senate District 25 (Coffee–Crenshaw–Pike) was made necessary by the death of incumbent senator Thomas J. Thrower on July 12, 1935. W. H. Stoddard of Crenshaw County won the Democratic nomination unopposed, and did not face opposition at the September 11, 1935 general special election.Special Vote Called For Naming Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-special-vote-called/179663790/ 25 August 2025 The Birmingham Post United Press 7 August 1935Changes In Polling Places For City https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-troy-messenger-changes-in-polling-pl/179663673/ 25 August 2025 The Troy Messenger 6 September 1935 District 14 (Pickens–Sumter) A special election in Senate District 4 (Madison County) was made necessary by the death of incumbent senator John A. Rogers on September 22, 1936. Marcus E. McConnell won the Democratic nomination unanimously and did not face opposition at the November 3, 1936 general special election.M. E. McConnell Named Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/sumter-county-journal-m-e-mcconnell-na/179663980/ 25 August 2025 Sumter County Journal 1 October 1936 District 4 (Madison County) A special election in Senate District 4 (Madison County) was made necessary by the death of incumbent senator Shelby S. Fletcher on July 1, 1936. Attorney Schuyler H. Richardson won the Democratic nomination unanimously and did not face opposition at the November 3, 1936 general special election.Richardson Selected To Replace Fletcher In State Legislature https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monroe-journal-richardson-selected-t/179663855/ 25 August 2025 The Monroe Journal 20 August 1936 Richardson was later appointed judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit on December 10, 1937.Graves Names Senator Judge https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-graves-names-senator-ju/179661562/ 25 August 2025 The Dothan Eagle Associated Press 10 December 1937 1936 Alabama Senate District 4 special general electionNovember 3, 1936Official Checks Brings 11-1 Odds ForRoosevelt https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-schuyler-h-richard/179661530/ 25 August 2025 The Huntsville Times 8 November 1936 Democratic Party (US) Schuyler H. Richardson 4,542 99.28% Write-in Charles D. Lane 33 0.72% 4,575 100.00% See also 1938 Alabama elections 1938 United States Senate special election in Alabama 1938 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama 1938 Alabama gubernatorial election 1938 United States elections References Senate Category:Alabama Senate elections Alabama Senate Category:November 1938 in the United States