1998 United States Senate election in Alabama

1998 United States Senate election in Alabama

←  1992 November 3, 1998 2004  →

Nominee Richard Shelby Clayton Suddith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 817,973 474,568 Percentage 63.24% 36.69%

County results Shelby:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Suddith:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election Richard Shelby Republican Elected U.S. Senator Richard Shelby Republican

The 1998 United States Senate election in Alabama was held November 3, 1998, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Senator Richard Shelby won re-election to a third term. He was first elected in 1986 and re-elected in 1992 as a Democrat and switched parties in 1994 after the Republican Revolution, making this the first election he competed in as a Republican.

Candidates

Republican

• Richard Shelby, incumbent U.S. Senator

Democratic

• Clayton Suddith, army veteran and former Franklin County Commissioner ^[1]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Richard Shelby (R)	Clayton Suddith (D)	Undecided
Mason Dixon [2]	October 24–26, 1998	808 (LV)	± 3.5%	62%	29%	9%
Mason Dixon [2]	October 10–12, 1998	807 (LV)	± 3.5%	62%	25%	13%
Mason Dixon [2]	September 14–15, 1998	803 (LV)	± 3.5%	58%	27%	15%
Mason Dixon [2]	June 22–24, 1998	804 (LV)	± 3.5%	57%	26%	17%

Results

1998 United States Senate election in Alabama ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Shelby (incumbent)	817,973	63.24%
	Democratic	Clayton Suddith	474,568	36.69%
	Write-in		864	0.07%
Total votes			1,293,405	100.0%
	Republican hold

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

See also

• 1998 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Gadsden Times - Google News Archive Search".
2. "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Alabama 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 11, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
3. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".