1930 United States Senate election in Alabama

1930 United States Senate election in Alabama

←  1924 November 4, 1930 1936  →

Candidate John H. Bankhead II J. Thomas Heflin Party Democratic Jeffersonian "Independent Body" Popular vote 150,985 100,952 Percentage 59.93% 40.07%

County results Bankhead:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100% Heflin:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election James Thomas Heflin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John H. Bankhead II Democratic

The 1930 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 4, 1930. Incumbent U.S. Senator James Thomas Heflin was denied the Democratic nomination for supporting Republican Herbert Hoover in 1928. Heflin decided to seek re-election as an independent candidate. Supporters of Heflin called themselves "Jeffersonians", and held a primary election independent of the state Democratic primaries on August 5, which by Heflin's own estimations, between 40,000 and 60,000 voters participated in. ^[1] Heflin was listed on the ballot under the "Independent Body" column. The election symbol of the Body was a Liberty Bell featuring the slogans "White Control" and "Down With The Rule of the '27'," referencing the twenty-seven members of the state Democratic executive committee who barred Heflin from running in the Democratic primary. ^{[2] [3]} Heflin lost re-election to John H. Bankhead II.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John H. Bankhead II, businessman and candidate for Senate in 1926
• Fred I. Thompson

Results

Democratic primary results by county

  Bankhead

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

  Thompson

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

1930 U.S. Senate election in Alabama ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John H. Bankhead II	102,462	63.93%
	Democratic	Fred I. Thompson	57,809	36.07%
Total votes			160,271	100.00%

General election

Results

1930 U.S. Senate election in Alabama ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John H. Bankhead II	150,985	59.93%
	Independent Body	James Thomas Heflin (inc.)	100,952	40.07%
Total votes			251,947	100.00%

See also

• 1930 United States Senate elections

References

1. "State To Have Double Ticket For November". The Anniston Star . Associated Press. September 2, 1930. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
2. "This is s Sample Ballot for the General Election of November Fourth". The LaFayette Sun . October 29, 1930. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
3. "Record Vote Seen In State Election". The Selma Times-Journal . Associated Press. November 3, 1930. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
4. "AL US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
5. "Our Campaigns - AL US Senate Race". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 17, 2020.