1983 Alabama Senate special election

none June 2026 1983 Alabama Senate special election Alabama legislative no 1982 Alabama Senate election 1982 1986 Alabama Senate special election 1986 All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 November 8, 1983 File:John Teague.jpg John Teague Alabama Democratic Party 11th–Childersburg January 11, 1983 32 seats, 85.37% 31 28 29 220,149 63.52% 16.10% 21.38 pp percentage points 3x4.svg — — — Alabama Republican Party 3 seats, 14.40% 4 4 4 76,885 22.18% Independent (US) New 0 2 2 41,538 11.98% Write-in 0 seats, 0.01% — 1Write-in candidate Lowell Barron served as a Democrat — 8,026 2.31% File:1983 Alabama Senate election by vote share.svg District resultsDemocratic: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% #3933E5 80–90% #0D0596 90–100% #08034a UnopposedRepublican: #FFB2B2 40–50% #C21B18 80–90% #750000 UnopposedIndependent: #D9D9D9 40–50% #BDBDBD 50–60%Write-in: #51C2C2 50–60% President pro tempore John Teague Democratic Party (United States) John Teague Democratic Party (United States) A special election in the U.S. State of Alabama took place on Tuesday, November 8, 1983, to elect 35 representatives to serve 3-year terms in the Alabama Senate. Special elections for every seat in the Alabama Legislature were mandated by federal courts after the reapportionment plans passed by the state legislature were found to have stifled Black American representation, violating the 1965 Voting Rights Act. A court-modified interim map was used for the 1982 general election, after which legislators were ordered to come up with a new map that would comply with the VRA. The Republican primary election was held on September 6, with runoff elections on September 27. The State Democratic Executive Committee decided against holding a primary, instead choosing to hand-pick Democratic legislative nominees at a committee meeting on October 1.MacDonald Michele 198 Demos sign up, await committee OK https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-198-demos-sign-up-a/179035328/ 10 October 2025 The Birmingham News 30 September 1983 The decision of the SDEC was highly controversial, and it turned down the renomination of several incumbent state legislators. Several ousted state legislators sought and won re-election as independent candidates, and some political analysts attributed the Democratic backlash and the success of conservative independents and Republicans in both houses of the legislature to the SDEC's decision. Marty Connors, the executive director of the Alabama Republican Party, called the 1983 election "the birth of the two-party system in Alabama."GOP, Independents Make Gains In Ala. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle/176400038/ 10 October 2025 The Dothan Eagle Associated Press 9 November 1983 The Mobile Register's opinion page called the Democratic decision "unwise."A small turnout; Demos rejected https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-register-a-small-turnout-dem/179036090/ 10 October 2025 The Mobile Register 10 November 1983 Twenty-eight Democrats and four Republicans were elected. Three independent candidates, former Rep. Gerald Dial, Sen. Foy Covington, and Sen. Lowell Barron won election to the state senate. Covington and Barron were Democratic incumbents previously ousted at the SDEC meeting, with Barron winning as a write-in candidate. Barron's victory was historic, as it was the first time in living memory that a candidate won a state office by way of write-in votes.MacDonald Michele Barron pulls off big write-in victory to keep Senate seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-barron-pulls-off-big/182750439/ 11 October 2025 The Birmingham News 9 November 1983 Five members elected were Black and two were women.Cannon Vivian State election results keeping everyone guessing https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-register-state-election-resul/182749571/ 11 October 2025 The Mobile Register 13 November 1983 Special elections to the state house were held in parallel to state senate elections. Two statewide constitutional amendments were also set to be placed on the November ballot: a proposed rewrite of the state constitution, and a proposed transfer of three state-owned docks to local agencies. The former amendment was struck from the ballot by the Alabama Supreme Court, leaving only the latter to be decided.Transfer of three state docks approved https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-transfer-of-three-st/182738596/ 11 October 2025 The Birmingham News 9 November 1983 With no statewide race or major constitutional issue on the ballot, voter turnout was incredibly light, ranging from 25 percent to just 8 percent depending on the district.The Election https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-the-election/179036230/ 16 August 2025 The Birmingham News 10 November 1983 Incumbent Senate president pro tempore John Teague was re-elected to his position on November 16, 1983.Lyons Eddie Area Legislators Named to Varied Committee Posts https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-area-legislators-na/178974393/ 15 August 2025 The Huntsville Times 16 November 1983 Reapportionment Despite the 1901 Alabama Constitution mandating the Alabama Legislature to conduct redistricting after every U.S. census, the legislature simply never did so successfully despite massive changes in the population balance. The legislature never even attempted reapportionment until after the 1970 U.S. census. Legislative elections in 1982, 1978, 1974, 1970, and 1966 were held under plans drawn or modified by federal courts. After the 1980 U.S. census, the legislature attempted to pass a legislative plan satisfactory to the federal courts, but it was rejected by the U.S. Justice Department. A second attempt at a plan was also rejected.Legislature Hopes 3rd Time Charm In Reapportionment https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-legislative-panel-vo/176400101/ 11 October 2025 The Opelika-Auburn News Associated Press 20 February 1983 In the spring of 1982, the federal courts imposed a modified version of the legislature's plan for the 1982 general election, requiring the legislature to come up with a new map on its own during the 1983 session.Seitz Karl Alabama's year for election snafus https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-alabamas-year-fo/182739758/ 11 October 2025 Birmingham Post-Herald 29 October 1982 On February 17, 1983, a third plan was passed by the legislature with the approval of Black legislative leaders. On February 28, the plan was approved by the Justice Department. William Bradford Reynolds, the 10th United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, said the plan was "fair to black and white citizens alike." A Department official called the reapportionment "the most significant achievement ever accomplished under the 1965 Voting Rights Act," and state senator Lister Hill Proctor claimed that "for the first time in history, we have endeavored to do what was required of us by the Constitution."Justice Department OKs Reapportionment Plan https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-justice-department-oks/182740441/ 11 October 2025 The Dothan Eagle Associated Press 1 March 1983 The plan was expected to increase Black representation in the Senate from three members to five. On April 11, 1983, a three-judge federal tribunal approved the new maps. Legislative leaders had hoped that special elections would only be needed in Alabama's Black Belt, where the greatest boundary changes occurred, but a three-judge panel required a special election for every seat in the legislature to be held, with every incumbent state legislator's term ending by December 31, 1983.New election ordered https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-new-election-ordered/182741187/ 11 October 2025 The Daily Sentinel Associated Press 12 April 1983 The legislature's reapportionment committee decided against contesting the order for a statewide special election.Legislative Panel votes not to contest election https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-legislative-panel-vo/176400101/ 11 October 2025 The Birmingham News Associated Press 20 April 1983 Call of the special election Governor of Alabama George Wallace was ordered to call a statewide special election by July 8. United States federal judge Truman Hobbs threatened to take "appropriate action" if the court's call was not heeded, and that the reapportionment order "will not be frustrated."Wallace given 10 days to call special election https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-press-wallace-given-10-days-t/178996881/ 11 October 2025 The Mobile Press Associated Press 30 June 1983 Wallace set the date of the election to September 27, 1983, a date which would have not given parties sufficient time to conduct primary elections. Montgomery attorney Julian McPhillips requested the court to order primary elections, believing that a lack of party primaries would violate previous orders, as it would allow the State Democratic Executive Committee to hand-pick incumbents that were elected under illegal maps.Rawls Phillips Judge Raps Wallace Over Election Date https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-judge-raps-wallace/178996919/ 11 October 2025 The Huntsville Times 10 July 1983 Wallace eventually changed his position and ordered the special election to be held on November 8. After the date change, state Republicans voted to hold a primary; Democrats did not. There was no state or federal law that mandated a party to call a primary election.O'Shea Brian Wallace Sets Nov. 8 As New Election Date https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-wallace-sets-nov-8/178996942/ 11 October 2025 The Huntsville Times 29 July 1983 The SDEC voted 88-24 against holding a primary.Bruer Frank Democrats file no-primary notice https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-democrats-file-no/182743136/ 11 October 2025 Birmingham Post-Herald 12 August 1983 The decision was harshly criticized, with opponents claiming that the Committee was allowing special interest groups to dictate party nominees.Hartwell Hoyt Democratic Executive Committee courted by candidates https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser/182743310/ 11 October 2025 The Montgomery Advertiser Associated Press 1 October 1983 Summary 1983 Alabama Senate special election resultsParty Races Seats Aggregate votes 1982 general Change Seatsafter No. Percent No. Percent Seats Vote % Seats Vote %Democratic 33 28 80.00% 80 Democratic Party (United States) #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 220,149 63.52% 63.52 Democratic Party (United States) #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 32 85.37% −4 −21.85% 29Republican 15 4 11.43% 11.43 Republican Party (United States) #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 76,885 22.18% 22.18 Republican Party (United States) #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 3 14.40% +1 +7.78% 4Independents925.71% 5.71 Independent Party (United States) #c0c0c0 #f0f0f041,53811.98% 11.98 Independent Party (United States) #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 DNC Did not contest +2 +11.98% 2 Write-in12.86% 2.86 #000000 #c0c0c0 #f0f0f08,0262.31% 2.31 #000000 #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 0 0.01% +1 +2.30% — Totals 57 35 1,230,093 100%35—35—— Turnout 346,598 16.10% 16.10 #cccccc #c0c0c0 #f0f0f0 — 37.48% — −21.38% — Registered votersElections Data Downloads: Voter Registration Statistics - Various Years https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/election-data Alabama Secretary of State 10 October 2025 2,151,990 Incumbents Most senators elected in the 1982 general election sought re-election. Won re-election 20em District 1: Bobby E. Denton (Democratic) won re-election. District 2: Roger Bedford Jr. (Democratic) won re-election in District 6. District 3: Gary Aldridge won re-election. District 4: Steve Cooley (Democratic) won re-election. District 5: Charles Bishop (Democratic) won re-election. District 6: Jim Smith (Democratic) won re-election in District 2. District 7: Bill Smith (Democratic) won re-election. District 8: Lowell Barron (Democratic) lost the Democratic nomination to David Stout and won re-election as a write-in candidate. District 9: Hinton Mitchem (Democratic) won re-election. District 11: William J. Cabaniss (Republican) won re-election in District 16. District 12: John Amari (Democratic) won re-election in District 15. District 13: J. Richmond Pearson (Democratic) won re-election in District 18. District 14: Mac Parsons (Democratic) won re-election in District 17. District 15: Earl Hilliard Sr. (Democratic) won re-election in District 20. District 16: Ryan deGraffenried (Democratic) won re-election in District 21. District 19: John Teague (Democratic) won re-election in District 11. District 20: Donald G. Holmes (Democratic) won re-election in District 12. District 21: T. D. Little (Democratic) won re-election in District 27. District 22: Danny Corbett (Democratic) won re-election in District 28. District 23: Foy Covington (Democratic) lost the District 30 nomination to Wendell Mitchell and won re-election as an independent candidate. District 24: Chip Bailey (Democratic) won re-election in District 29. District 25: Crum Foshee (Democratic) won re-election in District 31. District 27: Larry Dixon (Democratic) won re-election in District 25 as a Republican. District 28: Wendell Mitchell (Democratic) lost re-election in District 30. District 29: Earl Goodwin (Democratic) won re-election in District 24. District 33: Michael Figures (Democratic) won re-election. District 34: Ann Bedsole (Republican) won re-election. District 35: Bill Menton (Democratic) won re-election. Lost re-election District 32: Jerry Boyington (Democratic) lost the Democratic nomination to Dick Owen and unsuccessfully ran for re-election as an independent candidate. Eliminated at convention District 18: Lister Hill Proctor (Democratic) lost the District 11 nomination to John Teague. District 30: Ed Robertson (Democratic) lost the District 5 nomination to Charles Bishop. Did not seek re-election District 10: Larry Keener (Democratic) did not seek re-election. District 17: Spencer Bachus (Republican) successfully ran for the Alabama House of Representatives' 46th district. District 26: Don Harrison (Democratic) did not seek re-election. District 31: Reo Kirkland Jr. (Democratic) withdrew from seeking re-election. General election results By district District Democratic Republican Others Scattering Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 2nd Jim Smith (inc.) 7,120 75.92% — — — Marvin A. Clem (Ind.) 2,258 24.08% — — 9,378 +4,862 +51.84% 3rd Gary Aldridge (inc.) 7,315 74.82% Ed Humphries 2,460 25.16% — — — 2 0.02% 9,777 +4,855 +49.66% 4th Steve Cooley (inc.) 5,687 46.86% Don Hale 4,827 39.77% Morgan Edwards (Ind.) 1,623 13.37% — — 12,137 +860 +7.09% 5th Charles Bishop (inc.) 6,314 75.81% Loyd E. Lawson 1,984 23.82% — — — 31 0.37% 8,329 +4,330 +51.99% 6th Roger Bedford Jr. (inc.) 8,387 78.43% Jim Watley 2,306 21.57% — — — — — 10,693 +6,081 +56.87% 8th J. David Stout 5,994 44.39% — — — Lowell Barron (WI, inc.) 7,496 55.51% 14 0.10% 13,504 −1,502 −11.12% 10th Bill Drinkard 8,156 73.88% Alan C. Loveman 2,883 26.12% — — — — — 11,039 +5,273 +47.77% 11th John Teague (inc.) 3,094 87.52% — — — Curtis Lambert (WI) 388 10.98% 53 1.50% 3,535 +2,706 +76.55% 13th John Casey 6,587 47.13% — — — Gerald Dial (Ind.) 7,386 52.85% 2 0.01% 13,975 −799 −5.72% 14th Butch Ellis Jr. 8,354 62.87% Don Murphy 4,934 37.13% — — — — — 13,288 +3,420 +25.74% 16th Bob Hood 1,384 13.03% William J. Cabaniss (inc.) 9,238 86.97% — — — — — 10,622 −7,854 −73.94% 17th Mac Parsons (inc.) 8,844 57.69% — — — Tom Gloor (Ind.) 6,487 42.31% — — 15,331 +2,357 +15.37% 20th Earl Hilliard Sr. (inc.) 7,261 86.05% Franklin Tate 1,177 13.95% — — — — — 8,438 +6,084 +72.10% 22nd Frances Strong 8,562 52.64% Don French 7,702 47.35% — — — 1 0.01% 16,265 +860 +5.29% 23rd Hank Sanders 20,031 70.81% John Peel 8,257 29.19% — — — 1 0.00% 28,289 +11,774 +41.62% 24th Earl Goodwin (inc.) 7,211 50.44% Ed Martin 2,601 18.19% Walter Owens (Ind.) 4,484 31.37% — — 14,296 +2,727 +19.08% 28th Danny Corbett (inc.) 9,818 56.10% — — — Calvin Biggers (Ind.) 7,683 43.90% — — 17,501 +2,135 +12.20% 30th Wendell Mitchell (inc.) 6,598 43.99% Perry Green 1,730 11.53% J. Foy Covington Jr. (Ind, inc.) 6,670 44.47% — — 14,998 −72 −0.48% 32nd Dick Owen 4,599 26.92% Perry Hand 7,541 44.13% Jerry Boyington (Ind, inc.) 4,947 28.95% — — 17,087 −2,594 −15.18% Source: Alabama Secretary of StateElections Data Downloads: Election Results Archive - Alabama Legislature, 1983 https://www.sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/election-data/2017-06/eastateleg83.xls Alabama Secretary of State 9 July 2025 Elected unopposed The following candidates did not see any competition in the general election: 20em District 1: Bobby E. Denton (Democratic, inc.) received 6,719 votes. District 7: Bill Smith (Democratic, inc.) received 9,800 votes. District 9: Hinton Mitchem (Democratic, inc.) received 4,588 votes. Additionally, 30 write-in votes were cast. District 12: Donald G. Holmes (Democratic, inc.) received 4,013 votes. District 15: John Amari (Democratic, inc.) received 5,308 votes. District 18: J. Richmond Pearson (Democratic, inc.) received 4,314 votes. District 19: Jim Bennett (Democratic) received 6,977 votes. District 21: Ryan deGraffenried (Democratic, inc.) received 7,164 votes. District 25: Larry Dixon (Republican, inc.) received 10,278 votes. District 26: Charles Langford (Democratic) received 9,840 votes. District 27: T. D. Little (Democratic, inc.) received 3,431 votes. Additionally, 7 write-in votes were cast. District 29: Chip Bailey (Democratic, inc.) received 3,956 votes. Additionally, 1 write-in votes were cast. District 31: Crum Foshee (Democratic, inc.) received 1,876 votes. District 33: Michael Figures (Democratic) received 4,620 votes. District 34: Ann Bedsole (Republican, inc.) received 8,967 votes. District 35: Bill Menton (Democratic, inc.) received 6,227 votes. Democratic convention The State Democratic Executive Committee decided not to hold a primary for the special election, instead opting to hand-pick nominees at a convention held in Birmingham on October 1. A small handful of Democratic incumbents were ousted by other incumbents as redistricting placed them in the same district:Nine Incumbents to Run as Independents https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-nine-incumbents-to/176302283/ 9 July 2025 The Huntsville Times Associated Press 3 October 1983 District 5: Sen. Ed Robertson lost renomination to Sen. Charles Bishop. District 8: Sen. Lowell Barron lost renomination to Rep. David Stout. District 11: Sen. Lister Hill Proctor lost renomination to Sen. John Teague. District 30: Sen. Foy Covington lost renomination to Sen. Wendell Mitchell. District 32: Sen. Jerry Boyington lost renomination to Dick Owen. Ousted incumbents Foy Covington and Jerry Boyington both filed to run for re-election as independents and won. Lowell Barron, who initially did not run as an independent, started a last-minute write-in campaign and won re-election. Vote by district An asterisk (*) denotes a losing candidate who ran as an independent. District Picked Lost Ref Candidate Votes Candidate Votes 5th Charles Bishop (inc.) 98 Ed Robertson (inc.) 10 MacDonald Michele Eleven incumbents axed from Demo tree https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-democrats/182744181/ 11 October 2025 The Birmingham News 2 October 1983 8th Rep. David Stout 65 Lowell Barron (inc.)* 43 11th John Teague (inc.) 71 Lister Hill Proctor (inc.) 37 13th Rep. John Casey 79 Fmr Rep. Gerald Dial* 26 Perkins David Reapportionment brings Proctor loss to Teague https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-casey/182744268/ 11 October 2025 The Anniston Star 2 October 1983 19th Rep. Jim Bennett Won Doug Cook Lost 22nd Frances Strong 53 J. Henry McCulleyRon BatesBilly SmithTommy Chapman 291053 Taylor Sandra Baxley Dems issue call for unity https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-register-dems-issue-call-for/182744562/ 11 October 2025 The Mobile Register 2 October 1983 23rd Hank Sanders 100 James Coleman 4 Sanders, Goodwin in https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-sanders-goodwin/182744645/ 11 October 2025 The Selma Times-Journal 2 October 1983 24th Earl Goodwin (inc.) 99 Rep. Walter Owens* 6 28th Danny Corbett (inc.) Won Calvin Biggers* Lost MacDonald Michele Eleven incumbents axed from Demo tree https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-democrats/182744181/ 11 October 2025 The Birmingham News 2 October 1983 30th Wendell Mitchell (inc.) 66 Foy Covington (inc.)* 38 32nd Fmr Sen. Dick Owen 85 Jerry Boyington (inc.)* 20 Republican primary results A total of 18 candidates filed to run as Republicans in 16 districts, with only one, District 5, seeing competition between multiple candidates. The first round of the primary was held on September 6, with a runoff on September 27. The Republican runoff election for Senate District 5 was one held in the entire legislature in 1983.Lawson Wins Runoff For Senate Contest https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-lawson-wins-runoff/176304243/ 9 July 2025 The Huntsville Times Associated Press 28 May 1983 1983 Alabama Senate District 5 special Republican primarySeptember 6, 1983Eight incumbents, six others join Demo race (Michele MacDonald) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-eight-incumbents-si/176304381/ 9 July 2025 The Birmingham News Associated Press → Loyd E. Lawson Republican Party (United States) 357 47.22% → Gary M. Burson Republican Party (United States) 284 37.57% Henry Lee Hawkins Republican Party (United States) 115 15.21% 756 100.00% 1983 Alabama Senate District 5 special Republican runoffSeptember 27, 1983 Loyd E. Lawson Republican Party (United States) 399 70.49% Gary M. Burson Republican Party (United States) 167 29.51% 566 100.00% Nominated without opposition The following candidates did not see any competition in the Republican primary election:Hargrove Thomas Republican Party launches slate https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald/176304062/ 9 July 2025 Birmingham Post-Herald 17 August 1983 20em District 3: Ed Humphries District 4: Don Hale District 6: James Whatley District 10: Alan Loveman District 14: Donald Murphy District 15: Johnny Howell District 16: William J. Cabaniss (incumbent) District 20: Franklin Tate District 22: Don French District 23: John Peel District 24: Ed Martin District 25: Larry Dixon (incumbent)First elected as a Democrat, switched to the Republican Party in August 1983 District 30: Perry Green District 32: Perry Hand District 34: Ann Bedsole (incumbent) See also References Senate special Category:Alabama Senate elections Alabama Senate special Category:November 1983 in the United States Category:1983 in Alabama