1978 Alabama gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1978 United States gubernatorial elections.

1978 Alabama gubernatorial election

←  1974 November 7, 1978 1982  →

Nominee Fob James H. Guy Hunt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 551,786 196,963 Percentage 72.6% 25.9%

County results James:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Hunt:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election George Wallace Democratic Elected Governor Fob James Democratic

The 1978 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the governor of Alabama. Fob James, a businessman who had switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party and campaigned as a "born-again Democrat", won the Democratic primary in an upset over Attorney General Bill Baxley. He went on to defeat Guy Hunt in a landslide in the general election. Incumbent Democrat George Wallace was term limited and could not seek a third consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 1982.

Hunt was the first Republican to win Cullman County since Reconstruction.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bill Baxley, Attorney General of Alabama
• Jere Beasley, Lieutenant Governor
• Albert Brewer, former Governor
• Jim Folsom, former Governor
• K. C. Foster
• Horace Howell
• Fob James, businessman ^[1]
• Sid McDonald, State Senator
• Bob Muncaster
• Shorty Price, perennial candidate
• Fred Sandefer
• Cornelia Wallace, former First Lady of Alabama
• Charles Woods, businessman and perennial candidate

Results

Despite entering the race as a former Republican with low name identification and little political experience, by the time of the primary, James led Baxley, Beasley, and Brewer, who were considered the main contenders, in the polls. James placed first in the primary, followed by Baxley. Fob James then won the primary runoff against Bill Baxley.

Primary results by county
James:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
Baxley:     50-60%     60-70%

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fob James	256,196	28.47
	Democratic	Bill Baxley	210,089	23.35
	Democratic	Albert Brewer	193,479	21.50
	Democratic	Sid McDonald	143,930	15.99
	Democratic	Jere Beasley	77,202	8.58
	Democratic	K. C. Foster	4,948	0.55
	Democratic	Horace Howell	4,730	0.53
	Democratic	Jim Folsom	4,632	0.52
	Democratic	Bob Muncaster	1,776	0.20
	Democratic	Shorty Price	1,396	0.16
	Democratic	Charles Woods	700	0.08
	Democratic	Fred Sandefer	622	0.07
	Democratic	Cornelia Wallace	217	0.02
Total votes			899,917	100

Democratic runoff results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fob James	515,520	55.17
	Democratic	Bill Baxley	418,932	44.83
Total votes			934,452	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Guy Hunt, former Cullman County Probate Judge

Results

Republican primary results ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Guy Hunt	21,499	83.17
	Republican	Bert Hayes	2,817	10.90
	Republican	Julian Elgin	1,534	5.93
Total votes			25,850	100

General election

Results

1978 Alabama gubernatorial election ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fob James	551,786	72.59
	Republican	Guy Hunt	196,693	25.88
	Prohibition	Jim Partain	8,103	1.07
	Determination	Richard Dare	3,522	0.46
Total votes			760,104	100
	Democratic hold

Fob James won all but two counties: Cullman, where Hunt had been Probate Judge; and Winston, a traditionally Republican stronghold. ^[6]

References

1. "Alabama Governors: Forrest Hood (Fob) James, Jr". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
2. "AL Governor, 1978 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
3. "AL Governor, 1978 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
4. "AL Governor, 1978 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
5. Howard Jr., Milo B. (1979). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1979. pp. 293–295. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
6. "Source for Popular Vote data: Alabama Secretary of State. Governor - 1978 Election, Alabama Secretary of State". Alabama Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2014.