1958 Alabama Senate election

Last updated

1958 Alabama Senate election
Flag of Alabama.svg
←  1954 November 4, 1958 1962  →
All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate
18 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Broughton Lamberth.jpg 3x4.svg
LeaderBroughton Lamberth
(did not stand)		—
Party Democratic Republican
Leader sinceJanuary 11, 1955—
Leader's seat10th–Tallapoosa Co. —
Last election35 seats, 99.9%New
Seats won350
Popular vote229,5425,941
Percentage97.48%2.52%
1958 Alabama Senate election by vote share.svg
Winners by vote share
Democratic:     80–90%     Unopposed
President pro tempore before election

Broughton Lamberth
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

Vaughan Hill Robison
Democratic

The 1958 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 4, 1958, 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. Across the 35 districts, only one, District 13 in Jefferson County, was actually at stake in the November general election. As the Democratic Party was dominant in the state, state legislative seats were generally decided at the Democratic primary election. This was the last time an Alabama Senate general election used the original 1901 district map, as district boundaries would be adjusted in July 1962.

Contents

This election saw numerous senators aligned with incumbent governor Jim Folsom lose their primaries, whether they were running for re-election or to some other office. [1] Among this group was president pro tempore Broughton Lamberth of Tallapoosa County, who unsuccessfully ran for the state house. [2]

The Democratic primary election was held on May 6 with runoff elections on June 3. The sole Republican candidate, John F. Dyer, was nominated by party convention on May 30. [3]

At the beginning of the 1959 session, Vaughan Hill Robison of Montgomery County was unanimously elected president pro tempore. [4]

Summary

PartyCandidatesSeats
Num.Vote%BeforeWon+/–
Democratic 35229,54297.48% 3535Steady2.svg
Republican 15,9412.52%00Steady2.svg
Total36235,483100%3535Steady2.svg

Incumbents

Every incumbent senator in a multi-county district chose not to seek re-election, as a gentlemen's agreement compelled state senators to give up their seats to allow a candidate from another county to serve. [5]

Won re-election

  • District 7: A. C. Shelton (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 8: G. Kyser Leonard (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 20: E. O. Eddins (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 22: Roland Cooper (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 28: Vaughan Hill Robison (Democratic) won re-election.
  • District 30: Walter C. Givhan (Democratic) won re-election.

Eliminated in primary

  • District 4: T. Herman Vann (Democratic) lost renomination to Dave Archer.
  • District 16: Joe Davis (Democratic) lost renomination to Carl C. Golson.
  • District 33: Garet Van Antwerp (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Will G. Caffey.

Did not seek re-election

  • District 1: Milton C. Grisham (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 2: Joe Calvin (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 3: Harlan G. Allen (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Cullman County. [6]
  • District 5: Smith C. Dyar (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Marshall County. [7]
  • District 6: Escar Roberts (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 9: George W. Yarbrough (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Randolph County. [8]
  • District 10: President pro tempore Broughton Lamberth (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Tallapoosa County. [9]
  • District 11: E. W. Skidmore (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor. [10]
  • District 12: Reuben L. Newton (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the first state house seat in Walker County. [1]
  • District 13: Albert Boutwell (Democratic) successfully ran for lieutenant governor.
  • District 14: Albert Davis (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Pickens County. [11]
  • District 15: Dave L. Yarbrough (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 17: Tulley Goodwin (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Covington County. [12]
  • District 18: H. P. James (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 19: Gerald Bradford (Democratic) did not seek re-election.
  • District 21: Ralph L. Jones (Democratic) successfully ran for the state house seat in Monroe County. [12]
  • District 23: Neil Metcalf (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Geneva County. [13]
  • District 24: George E. Little (Democratic) successfully ran for probate judge of Clayton County. [14]
  • District 25: Ben Reeves (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for probate judge of Pike County. [15]
  • District 26: Sam M. Engelhardt (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor. [16]
  • District 27: Joseph W. Smith (Democratic) successfully ran for the second state house seat in Russell County. [12]
  • District 29: M. H. Moses (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in DeKalb County. [17]
  • District 31: Berry Lynchmore Cantrell (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Colbert County. [1]
  • District 32: David M. Hall (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the State Executive Democratic Committee from the 6th congressional district. [18]
  • District 34: Staten Tate (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for the state house seat in Coosa County. [19]
  • District 35: Richmond Flowers Sr. (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for attorney general. [20]

General election results

District 13 (Jefferson County)

District 13 election [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Larry Dumas 37,202 86.23%
Republican John F. Dyer5,94113.77%
Total votes43,143 100.00%

Elected without opposition

Every candidate elected with no opponents was a Democrat.

  • District 1: Elbert Bertram Haltom Jr. (Democratic) received 5,917 votes.
  • District 2: Robert R. Berryman (Democratic) received 6,597 votes.
  • District 3: Elwood Rutledge (Democratic) received 10,792 votes.
  • District 4: Dave Archer (Democratic) received 4,752 votes.
  • District 5: D. Donald Word (Democratic) received 6,804 votes.
  • District 6: Ray Wyatt (Democratic) received 12,088 votes.
  • District 7: A. C. Shelton (inc., Democratic) received 5,874 votes.
  • District 8: G. Kyser Leonard (inc., Democratic) received 4,919 votes.
  • District 9: Bill Hines (Democratic) received 5,027 votes.
  • District 10: Bud Woodall (Democratic) received 7,810 votes.
  • District 11: Ryan deGraffenried Sr. (Democratic) received 5,664 votes.
  • District 12: Woodrow Roberts (Democratic) received 10,287 votes.
  • District 14: Aubrey Green (Democratic) received 2,788 votes.
  • District 15: Joe Graham (Democratic) received 8,052 votes.
  • District 16: Carl Golson (Democratic) received 822 votes.
  • District 17: R. G. Kendall (Democratic) received 7,903 votes.
  • District 18: Norman R. Crawford (Democratic) received 2,819 votes.
  • District 19: Dennis Porter (Democratic) received 4,475 votes.
  • District 20: E. O. Eddins (inc., Democratic) received 1,694 votes.
  • District 21: Douglas Webb (Democratic) received 8,238 votes.
  • District 22: Roland Cooper (inc., Democratic) received 1,031 votes.
  • District 23: Rufus Barnett (Democratic) received 3,500 votes.
  • District 24: Jimmy Clark (Democratic) received 1,510 votes.
  • District 25: Alton Turner (Democratic) received 6,504 votes.
  • District 26: Snag Andrews (Democratic) received 2,229 votes.
  • District 27: Yetta Samford (Democratic) received 4,270 votes.
  • District 28: Vaughan Hill Robison (inc., Democratic) received 9,333 votes.
  • District 29: George Godfrey (Democratic) received 8,252 votes.
  • District 30: Walter C. Givhan (inc., Democratic) received 2,353 votes.
  • District 31: Hugh Moses (Democratic) received 9,753 votes.
  • District 32: W. F. Wilson (Democratic) received 2,296 votes.
  • District 33: Will G. Caffey (Democratic) received 10,185 votes.
  • District 34: John E. Gaither (Democratic) received 4,401 votes.
  • District 35: Carl S. Farmer (Democratic) received 3,401 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.
12thWoodrow Roberts13,97355.37%Thomas Veasey11,26344.63%25,236+2,710+10.74%
19thDennis Porter7,25052.98%Jack Miller6,43547.02%13,685+815+5.96%
20thE. O. Eddins (inc.)2,14252.44%Edward W. Drinkhard1,94347.56%4,085+199+4.87%
21stDouglas S. Webb10,35653.52%Claude D. Kelley8,99246.48%19,348+1,364+7.05%
29thGeorge E. Godfrey7,57651.84%J. B. Burkhalter7,03848.16%14,614+538+3.68%
31stHugh Moses11,63451.29%Solon Gregg11,05048.71%22,684+584+2.57%
33rdWill G. Caffey17,62550.45%John M. Tyson17,31449.55%34,939+311+0.89%
Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1959 (p. 594) [22]

Additionally, runoffs in District 3, District 10, and District 24 were planned, but were canceled after candidates withdrew from their races. All three withdrawals were from candidates who placed second in the first round.

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.
2nd Robert R. Berryman*11,14063.52%J. B. Richardson6,39936.48%———17,539+4,741+27.03%
3rdElwood Rutledge7,39439.59%Raymond Lowery6,74436.11%Claude B. McCurry4,54024.31%18,678+650+3.48%
4thDave Archer*5,99153.82%Herman Vann (inc.)5,14146.18%———11,132+850+7.64%
5thD. Donald Word*13,20369.81%Robert Sebring5,71030.19%———18,913+7,493+39.62%
6thRay Wyatt*21,39486.74%L. R. Johnston3,27113.26%———24,665+18,123+73.48%
7thA. C. Shelton (inc.)*7,51352.66%R. J. Holley5,10435.77%Elvin McCary1,65011.57%14,267+2,409+16.89%
8thG. Kyser Leonard (inc.)*6,40151.92%Graham Wright5,92848.08%———12,329+473+3.84%
9thW. C. Hines*8,74467.79%E. O. Noel2,27217.62%H. O. Humphrey1,88214.59%12,898+6,472+50.18%
10thW. Carvel Woodall7,06043.37%Upshaw G. Jones4,61528.35%Mac W. Freeman4,60528.29%16,280+2,445+15.02%
12thJ. Thomas Veazey9,43737.89%Woodrow Roberts8,75235.14%2 others [a] 6,71926.98%24,908+685+2.75%
13th Larry Dumas*47,12856.58%John A. Jenkins36,17243.42%———83,300+10,956+13.15%
14thAubrey Green*3,67061.40%Marcus McConnell2,30738.60%———5,977+1,363+22.80%
15thJoe W. Graham*9,15758.40%Alex Hayes6,52441.60%———15,681+2,633+16.79%
16thCarl C. Golson*1,13859.58%Joe Davis (inc.)77240.42%———1,910+366+19.16%
18thNorman R. Crawford*4,37768.25%Judson C. Locke2,03631.75%———6,413+2,341+36.50%
19thDennis Porter6,14142.12%Jack Miller4,55831.26%Grady W. Hurst3,88226.62%14,581+1,583+10.86%
20thE. O. Eddins (inc.)1,70940.50%Edward W. Drinkard1,38332.77%W. Clyde Waldrop1,12826.73%4,220+326+7.73%
21stDouglas S. Webb8,56238.89%Claude D. Kelley7,70835.01%Malcolm Edwards5,74726.10%22,017+854+3.88%
22ndRoland Cooper (inc.)*1,59564.47%Josiah R. Bonner87935.53%———2,474+716+28.94%
23rdRugus Barnett*6,14055.62%Mike Sollie III4,89944.38%———11,039+1,241+11.24%
24thJimmy Clark2,14040.74%Charles L. Weston1,54629.43%2 others [b] 1,56729.83%5,253+594+11.31%
25thAlton L. Turner*8,77651.65%Vernon Summerlin8,21648.35%———16,992+560+3.30%
27thYetta Samford*6,46254.36%Ealon M. Lambert5,42645.64%———11,888+1,036+8.71%
28thVaughan H. Robison (inc.)*17,38881.78%Ed Brown3,87518.22%———21,263+13,513+63.55%
29thJ. B. Burkhalter5,23234.90%George E. Godfrey3,74524.98%2 others [c] 6,01340.11%14,990+1,487+9.92%
31stSolon Gregg10,15645.78%Hugh Moses9,84444.37%J. Marvin Davis2,1849.84%22,184+312+1.41%
33rdJohn M. Tyson14,50241.34%Will G. Caffey12,79836.48%Garet Van Antwerp (inc.)7,78022.18%35,080+1,704+4.86%
34thJohn E. Gaither*6,37556.23%Ed H. McBryde4,96343.77%———11,338+1,412+12.45%
35thCarl S. Farmer*7,84162.92%M. W. Espy Jr.4,62137.08%———12,462+3,220+25.84%
Source: The Montgomery Advertiser [26]

Nominated without opposition

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

Republican convention

Only one Republican, John F. Dyer, sought election to the state senate. Dyer was nominated at the Jefferson County Republican party convention on May 9, [27] and was subsequently confirmed at the state convention on May 30. About a dozen Republican state house candidates were also nominated. [3] He opposed Democratic nominee Larry Dumas at the general election and lost by 72.46 percentage points.

1955–1958 special elections

District 32

A special election in Senate District 32 (Greene–Hale) was triggered by the resignation of incumbent senator James S. Coleman after being elected to the Alabama Supreme Court in January 1957. Attorney and former state house member David Hall was selected by the Democratic executive committee to succeed Coleman. [28] The general election was canceled as no other candidate filed to run against Hall, and he was certified as the winner. [29]

1957 Alabama Senate District 32 special general election
April 30, 1957 (canceled)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic David Hall Unopp.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Fuller Kimbrell: 5,171 votes, 20.76%; D. C. Grey: 1,548 votes, 6.21%
  2. ↑ Marvin E. Edwards: 1,286 votes, 24.48%; Christie Pappas: 281 votes, 5.35%
  3. ↑ Virgil M. Smith: 3,354 votes, 22.37%; Speer Livingston: 2,659 votes, 17.74%

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Folsomite Ranks Again Taste Bitter Defeats". The Montgomery Advertiser . 5 June 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Fite Loses House Race By 3 Votes". The Columbus Ledger . Associated Press. 8 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 Stallworth, Clarke (31 May 1958). "Longshore To Run For Governor". Birmingham Post-Herald . Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Senate Reins Handed Over To Robison". The Montgomery Advertiser. 14 January 1959. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Senate Rotation Object of Bill". The Haleyville Advertiser . 16 August 1957. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "Tie Recorded in Cullman Race". The Decatur Daily . 9 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "Killcrease, Lyon, Carr, Wilkes, Reed Elected". The Albertville Herald . 8 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Happy men these days". The Montgomery Advertiser . 16 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Floor leaders trail in races". The Birmingham News . 7 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Boutwell wants states returned to power". The Birmingham News . 4 June 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Harris, Shields, Patterson Lead County Races". Pickens County Herald . 8 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 "Voters sending many political newcomers to State Legislature". The Birmingham News . Associated Press. 14 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Faulk Wins Over Metcalf Effort". The Dothan Eagle . 4 June 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Jack Faces Runoff, Too". The Montgomery Advertiser . 8 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Gibson Elected Probate Judge, Bassett Wins, Furlow Tops Field". The Troy Messenger . 7 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  16. ↑ Lake, Chancy (28 May 1958). "Patterson is endorsed by Engelhardt". The Birmingham News . Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ferrell Defeated In Try For House". Birmingham Post-Herald . 8 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Official Vote On Sixth District Committee Race". The Centreville Press . 5 June 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "Approximately 3,600 Cast Ballots In Coosa County". The Alexander City Outlook . 9 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "Gallion Far In Lead For Attorney General". The Montgomery Advertiser . 7 May 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  21. ↑ Brannon, Peter A. (1959). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1959. Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives and History. p. 604–607. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  22. ↑ Brannon, Peter A. (1959). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1959. Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives and History. p. 594. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  23. ↑ "Rutledge Winner Of Senate Seat". Alabama Journal . 12 May 1958. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  24. ↑ "Jones withdraws in Senate race". The Birmingham News . Associated Press. 14 May 1958. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  25. ↑ "Weston Decides Against Run-Off In Senate Race". The Clayton Record . 16 May 1958. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "1958 First Primary Canvass". The Montgomery Advertiser . 14 May 1958. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  27. ↑ Stallworth, Clarke (10 May 1958). "Republicans Nominate 9 Candidates". Birmingham Post-Herald . Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  28. ↑ Taylor, Fred (23 February 1957). "David Hall Jr. is nominated to Ala. Senate". The Birmingham News . Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "Eutawan Becomes State Senator". The Montgomery Advertiser . 5 March 1957. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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