1902 Alabama gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1902 United States gubernatorial elections.

1902 Alabama gubernatorial election

←  1900 November 2, 1902 1906  →

Nominee William D. Jelks John A. W. Smith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 67,649 24,190 Percentage 73.64% 26.33%

County results Jelks:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Smith:     50–60%

Governor before election William D. Jelks Democratic Elected Governor William D. Jelks Democratic

The 1902 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1902, in order to elect the governor of Alabama. It was the first Alabama gubernatorial election in which the governor was elected for a four-year term; prior to 1902 the governor was elected to a two-year term. ^{[1] [2]} Incumbent Democrat William D. Jelks was running for election to his first full term; he had succeeded William J. Samford upon Samford's death a year prior. His Republican opponent, John A. W. Smith, was the son of former Alabama governor William Hugh Smith.

Results

1902 Alabama gubernatorial election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William D. Jelks (incumbent)	67,649	73.64%
	Republican	John A. W. Smith	24,190	26.33%
	Prohibition (write-in)	William D. Gay	23	0.03%
	Write-in	Ad Wimbs	1	0.00%
Total votes			91,863	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. 1901 Alabama Constitution article V, § 114.
2. 1868 Alabama Constitution, article V, § 2.
3. Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1903. Montgomery, Alabama: Brown Printing Company. 1903. p. 234. Retrieved August 17, 2025.