1942 Alabama Senate election

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1942 Alabama Senate election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  1938 November 3, 1942 1946  

All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate
18 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Joe Poole.jpg 3x4.svg
Leader Joseph N. Poole
(did not stand)
Party Democratic Republican
Leader sinceJanuary 10, 1939
Leader's seat17th–Butler Co.
Last election35 seats, 93.50%0 seats, 6.47%
Seats won350
Popular vote67,792380
Percentage99.41%0.56%

1942 Alabama Senate election by vote share.svg
Winners by vote share
Democratic:     90–100%     Unopposed

President pro tempore before election

Joseph N. Poole
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

James A. Simpson
Democratic

The 1942 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 3, 1942, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. The result an electoral wipeout, as all 35 candidates elected were members of the Democratic Party. The election used the same districts first drawn by the Alabama Constitution of 1901.

Contents

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 7 with runoff elections on June 4. Only one Democratic nominee, incumbent senator James A. Simpson in Jefferson County's District 13, faced opposition in the general election, receiving 95.59% of the vote against a Republican and a Communist. Simpson was unanimously elected President pro tempore at the November 1942 opening session. [1]

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

PartyCandidatesSeats
Num.Vote%BeforeWon+/–
Democratic 3567,79299.41%3535Steady2.svg
Republican 13800.56%00Steady2.svg
Communist 1200.028%00Steady2.svg
Write-in 110.001%0Steady2.svg
Total3868,192100%3535Steady2.svg

Incumbents

Won re-election

Eliminated in primary

Did not seek re-election

  • District 1: William W. Malone did not seek re-election.
  • District 2: Norman W. Harris was elected to Morgan County's first state house seat. [2]
  • District 5: Herbert H. Conway unsuccessfully ran for circuit solicitor from the 9th Judicial Circuit. [3]
  • District 6: John A. Lusk did not seek re-election.
  • District 8: W. L. Howard did not seek re-election.
  • District 9: Dan Boyd unsuccessfully ran for circuit solicitor from the 5th Judicial Circuit. [3]
  • District 10: T. H. Street sought election to Tallapoosa County's first state house seat, but withdrew before the Democratic primary. [4]
  • District 11: Hayse Tucker unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district. [5]
  • District 12: Oliver E. Young did not seek re-election.
  • District 14: R. B. Doughty did not seek re-election. Doughty succeeded Sen. Verdo Elmore after a March 1940 special election.
  • District 15: Karl C. Harrison unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district. [5]
  • District 16: Renzo Guy unsuccessfully ran for agriculture commissioner. [5]
  • District 17: Joseph N. Poole was elected agriculture commissioner. [5]
  • District 18: Howard Cooper did not seek re-election.
  • District 19: P. F. DeVane was elected member of the State Democratic Executive Committee from Alabama's 1st congressional district. [6]
  • District 21: W. C. Holmes did not seek re-election.
  • District 23: Clyde M. Segrest was elected to Geneva County's first county commission district. [7] Segrest succeeded Sen. Tim Faulk after a September 1939 special election.
  • District 25: J. M. Rowe unsuccessfully ran for Coffee County's sole state house seat. [8]
  • District 26: Watkins C. Johnston resigned to serve in the Navy. [9]
  • District 27: W. A. Dozier did not seek re-election.
  • District 29: E. M. Baker did not seek re-election.
  • District 30: C. C. Thomas did not seek re-election.
  • District 31: Z. L. Weatherford did not seek re-election.
  • District 32: E. F. Hildreth did not seek re-election.
  • District 34: A. L. Crumpton did not seek re-election.
  • District 35: W. Perry Calhoun was elected to Houston County's third county commission district. [10]

General election results

District 13 (Jefferson)

District 13 election [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James A. Simpson (inc.) 8,639 95.59%
Republican Frank Snedeker3804.20%
Communist Mary B. Southard190.21%
Total votes9,038 100.00%

Elected without opposition

Every candidate elected with no opponents was a Democrat.

  • District 1: Orlan B. Hill received 1,568 votes.
  • District 2: Vernon L. St. John received 1,805 votes.
  • District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. (inc.) received 3,796 votes. Homer Mitchell received 1 write-in vote.
  • District 4: Charles E. Shaver (inc.) received 999 votes.
  • District 5: J. B. Benson received 2,185 votes.
  • District 6: Sam High received 3,895 votes.
  • District 7: Elvin McCary received 971 votes.
  • District 8: Kenneth A. Roberts received 928 votes.
  • District 9: Will O. Watson received 1,426 votes.
  • District 10: Lee Hornsby received 3,367 votes.
  • District 11: Gordon Madison received 1,355 votes.
  • District 12: Reuben L. Newton received 3,234 votes.
  • District 14: John H. Pinson received 550 votes.
  • District 15: George M. Taylor received 4,375 votes.
  • District 16: J. Monroe Black received 403 votes.
  • District 17: Tully A. Goodwin received 1,870 votes.
  • District 18: T. J. Jones received 881 votes.
  • District 19: Gerald Bradford received 1,968 votes.
  • District 20: O. D. Carlton (inc.) received 590 votes.
  • District 21: W. W. Garrett received 2,315 votes.
  • District 22: J. Bruce Henderson (inc.) received 508 votes.
  • District 23: Douglas Brown received 1,178 votes.
  • District 24: Preston C. Clayton (inc.) received 684 votes.
  • District 25: M. N. Dodson received 2,145 votes.
  • District 26: Lawrence K. Andrews received 646 votes.
  • District 27: S. L. Toomer received 880 votes.
  • District 28: Charles A. Stakely (inc.) received 1,448 votes.
  • District 29: Lem J. Cobb received 4,216 votes.
  • District 30: E. P. Russell received 776 votes.
  • District 31: Jim Smith Jr. received 2,905 votes.
  • District 32: L. J. Lawson received 798 votes.
  • District 33: Vincent F. Kilborn received 1,721 votes.
  • District 34: Charles S. Bentley received 1,821 votes.
  • District 35: M. W. Espy received 946 votes.

Democratic primary results

Runoff results by district

Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. An asterisk (*) denotes a runoff winner who trailed in the first round.

DistrictWinnerLoserTotal
CandidateVotes%CandidateVotes%VotesMaj.Mrg.
7th Elvin McCary 2,61055.12%H. E. Killiam2,12544.88%4,735+485+10.24%
8thKenneth A. Roberts2,25951.22%Jeff Clay III2,15148.78%4,410+108+2.45%
10thLee Hornsby3,17254.32%W. Carvell Woodall2,66845.68%5,840+504+8.63%
13thJames A. Simpson15,83152.54%Noble B. Hendrix14,29847.46%30,129+1,533+5.09%
14thJohn H. Pinson*1,80354.37%John A. Rogers1,51345.63%3,316+290+8.75%
23rdDouglas Brown2,39764.89%Walter J. Brackin1,29735.11%3,694+1,100+29.78%
Sources: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1951 (p. 590), [12] The Piedmont Journal [13]

First round results by district

Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff, first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff.

DistrictFirst placeRunners-upOthersTotal
CandidateVotes%CandidateVotes%CandidateVotes%VotesMaj.Mrg.
2ndVernon L. St. John*5,11657.12%Charles E. Bragg3,84042.88%8,956+1,276+14.25%
3rdFinis E. St. John Jr. (inc.)*5,07056.10%Ray Mayhall1,83220.27%2 others [a] 2,13523.63%9,037+3,238+35.83%
6thSam High*5,57051.55%E. L. Roberts5,23448.45%10,804+336+3.11%
7th Elvin McCary 1,98833.48%H. E. Killiam1,48725.05%2 others [b] 2,46241.47%5,937+501+8.44%
8thKenneth A. Roberts2,24246.89%Jeff Clay III1,48931.14%Richard B. Kelly Jr.1,05021.96%4,781+753+15.75%
10thLee Hornsby3,96942.44%W. Carvel Woodall3,40536.41%G. Adolph Hornsby1,97721.14%9,351+564+6.03%
11thGordan Madison*5,72776.30%Testus F. Windham1,10614.73%Lon Smith Jr.6738.97%7,506+4,621+61.56%
12thReuben L. Newton5,86344.92%P. P. Evans2,85421.87%2 others [c] 4,33433.21%13,051+3,009+23.06%
13thJames A. Simpson (inc.)15,99246.90%Noble B. Hendrix11,28633.10%George Fry6,82220.01%34,100+4,706+13.80%
14thJohn A. Rogers1,64243.36%John H. Pinson1,38436.55%S. M. Blan76120.10%3,787+258+6.81%
16thJ. Monroe Black*72256.63%Cruser M. Graves55343.37%1,275+169+13.25%
19thGerald Bradford*4,59554.86%J. R. Wallace3,78145.14%8,376+814+9.72%
20thO. D. Carlton (inc.)1,56054.97%W. B. Phillips1,27845.03%2,838+282+9.94%
22ndJ. Bruce Henderson (inc.)*1,07058.41%S. P. Dale76241.59%1,832+308+16.81%
23rdDouglas Brown2,72548.38%Walter J. Brackin2,51944.73%George S. Barnard3886.89%5,632+206+3.66%
25thM. N. Dodson*4,17451.82%J. Roy Crow3,88148.18%8,055+293+3.64%
29thLem L. Cobb*4,15450.30%E. A. Van Pelt4,10549.70%8,259+49+0.59%
30thE. P. Russell1,97554.47%John L. Sherrer1,65145.53%3,626+324+8.94%
31stJim Smith Jr.*7,30873.70%T. E. Throckmorton1,59316.06%Edward A. Staley1,01510.24%9,916+5,715+57.63%
32ndL. T. Lawson*1,75760.40%Cullen Morgan1,15239.60%2,909+605+20.80%
33rdVincent F. Kilborne*5,51458.10%Daniel T. McCall (inc.)3,97741.90%9,491+1,537+16.19%
34thCharles S. Bentley3,22753.23%John C. Darden2,83546.77%6,062+392+6.47%
  1. Bart J. Cowart: 1,213 votes, 13.42%; Whitfield Lamberth: 922 votes, 10.20%
  2. Henry H. Booth (inc.): 1,365 votes, 22.99%, Rutherford Lapsley: 1,097 votes, 18.48%
  3. W. T. Kelley: 2,416 votes, 18.51%, Edward Morton: 1,918 votes, 14.70%

Nominated without opposition

The following candidates automatically won the Democratic nomination, as no opponent filed to run against them:

Republican candidate

Only one Republican ran for a state senate seat, Frank Snedeker in District 13 (Jefferson County). He was nominated along with other statewide candidates at the state Republican convention held at the Redmont Hotel in Birmingham on September 18, 1942. [14] He won 380 votes, or 4.20 percent.

Communist candidate

One candidate ran as a Communist Party USA candidate, Mary B. Southard in District 13 (Jefferson County). She was nominated at a party caucus in Birmingham that she chaired. [15] She won 19 votes, or 0.21 percent.

1939–1942 special elections

District 23 (Dale–Geneva)

A special election in Senate District 23 (Dale–Geneva) was made necessary by the death of four-term incumbent senator Tim Faulk in July 1939. Banker and farmer Clyde M. Segrest of Slocomb unanimously received the Democratic nomination, and subsequently won the general election unopposed. [16] [17]

1939 Alabama Senate District 23 special general election
September 5, 1939 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clyde M. Segrest 983 100.00%
Total votes983 100.00%

District 14 (Pickens–Sumter)

A special election in Senate District 14 (Pickens–Sumter) was made necessary by the resignation of incumbent senator Verdo Elmore after he was appointed the judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit. R. B. Doughty of Reform won the Democratic nomination and the general election unopposed. [19] [20]

1940 Alabama Senate District 14 special general election
March 26, 1940 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic R. B. Doughty 900 100.00%
Total votes900 100.00%

See also

References

  1. Hope, Sherlock (16 November 1942). "Honor Is Given To Local Man". The Birmingham Post . Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  2. Taylor, Fred (11 May 1942). "Only 17 Runoff Races Necessary For Posts In Alabama's House". The Birmingham News . Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Circuit Solicitors". The Birmingham News . 17 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  4. "Mack Jackson Enters Legislature Race; Dr. Street Withdraws". The Alexander City Outlook . 19 February 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Sparks Will Be Next Governor". Shelby County Reporter . 14 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  6. "Here Is How Your Favorite Candidate Ran In Primary". The Birmingham News . 17 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  7. "Winners Announced in County Election of Tuesday, May 5th". Geneva County Reaper . 7 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  8. "In Coffee county..." The Troy Messenger . 8 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. "Watkins Johnston Serving In Navy". The Tuskegee News. 28 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  10. "Incumbent, Former Sheriff 20 votes apart; Three Board Incumbents Lose". The Dothan Eagle . 6 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  11. Owen, Marie B. (1943). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 798–801. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  12. Owen, Marie B. (1943). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. p. 790. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  13. "K. A. Roberts Elected To State Senate". The Piedmont Journal . 12 June 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  14. "M'Einry To Run Against Sparks". The Birmingham Post. 19 September 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  15. "Communists File For Three Offices". Birmingham Post-Herald . Associated Press. 18 August 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  16. "Committee Selects Clyde M. Segrest For State Senator". The Houston Herald . 27 July 1939. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  17. "State Canvassing Board Certified Segrest Election". The Southern Star (Alabama) . 14 September 1939. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  18. 1 2 Owen, Marie B. (1943). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 846–847. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  19. "State Briefs". The Huntsville Times . Associated Press. 15 February 1940. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  20. "State Legislature Vacancies Filled". The Birmingham Post . United Press. 27 March 1940. Retrieved 15 August 2025.