1918 Alabama gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1918 United States gubernatorial elections.

1918 Alabama gubernatorial election

←  1914 November 2, 1918 1922  →

Nominee Thomas Kilby Dallas B. Smith Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 54,716 13,497 Percentage 80.21% 19.79%

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

Governor before election Charles Henderson Democratic Elected Governor Thomas Kilby Democratic

The 1918 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1918, to elect the governor of Alabama. Democratic incumbent Charles Henderson was term-limited, and could not seek a second consecutive term.

Democratic primary

Until 1931, the Alabama Democratic Party used the supplementary vote (called the "second choice" system) to decide primary elections. ^[1]

Candidates

• William W. Brandon, probate judge of Tuscaloosa County (1911–1923) and former State Auditor of Alabama
• Thomas Kilby, 8th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama (1915–1919) and former state senator from the 7th district
• John Purifoy, 29th Secretary of State of Alabama (1915–1919), 20th Alabama State Treasurer (1911–1915), and former State Auditor of Alabama (1892–1896)
• Charles B. Teasley, judge
• John H. Wallace Jr.

Results

1918 Alabama Democratic gubernatorial primary [2]
Party		Candidate	1st round		2nd round			1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
			Total	Of round	Transfers	Total	Of round
	Democratic	Thomas Kilby	48,896	42.85%	1,801	50,697	51.74%	​​
	Democratic	William W. Brandon	38,414	33.66%	8,879	47,293	48.26%	​​
	Democratic	Charles B. Teasley	18,064	15.83%				​​
	Democratic	John H. Wallace Jr.	7,581	6.64%				​​
	Democratic	John Purifoy	1,168	1.02%				​​

Results

1918 Alabama gubernatorial election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas Kilby	54,716	80.21
	Independent	Dallas B. Smith	13,497	19.79
Total votes			68,213	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. "New Primary Bill Signed". The Enterprise-Chronicle . March 5, 1931. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
2. Owen, Marie B. (1927). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1927. Montgomery, Alabama: The Wilson Printing Company. pp. 362–363. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
3. "AL Governor 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 24, 2016.