2020 Alabama elections

2020 Alabama elections

←  2018 2022  →

Alabama state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Its primary elections were held on March 3, 2020, with runoffs taking place on July 31. ^[1]

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Alabama voters will elect the class II U.S. senator from Alabama, 4 of 9 members of the Alabama State Board of Education, all of its seats to the House of Representatives, 2 of 9 seats on the Supreme Court of Alabama, 4 of 10 seats on the Alabama Appellate Court and one seat of the Alabama House of Representatives. It will also vote on five ballot measures.

To vote by mail, registered Alabama voters must request a ballot by October 29, 2020. ^[2] As of early October some 130,576 voters have requested mail ballots. ^[3]

Federal offices

President of the United States

Main article: 2020 United States presidential election in Alabama

See also: 2020 Alabama Democratic primary and 2020 Alabama Republican primary

Alabama has 9 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won all of them with 62% of the popular vote.

United States class II Senate seat

Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama

Republican Tommy Tuberville defeated incumbent Democrat Doug Jones, winning 60% of the vote.

United States House of Representatives

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

There were five U.S. Representatives in Alabama that were up for election in addition to two open seats. ^[4] 6 seats were won by the Republicans while 1 seat was won by the Democrats. No congressional districts changed hands.

Public Service Commission

President

2020 Alabama Public Service Commission election

←  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  →

Nominee Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Laura Casey Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,403,790 858,054 Percentage 61.99% 37.89%

County results Cavanaugh:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Casey:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Commissioner before election Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Republican Elected Commissioner Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Republican

Incumbent Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh won re-election to a third term as Alabama Public Service Commission President and fourth term overall. ^[5]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, incumbent. ^[6]
• Robin Litaker, retired educator. ^[7]

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent)	462,979	73.82
	Republican	Robin Litaker	164,227	26.18
Total votes			627,206	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Laura Casey, retired attorney. ^[9]
• Robert Mardis III, corporate imaging specialist. ^[9]

Democratic primary results ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Laura Casey	252,851	78.48
	Democratic	Robert Mardis III	69,352	21.52
Total votes			322,203	100

General election

2020 Alabama Public Service Commission President election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent)	1,403,790	61.99
	Democratic	Laura Casey	858,054	37.89
	Write-in		2,726	0.12
Total votes			2,264,570	100

State Board of Education

4 of 9 seats of the Alabama State Board of Education are up for election (one is a non-elected position held by the governor). ^[12] Before the election the composition of that board was:

Party # of seats Republican 7 Democratic 1 Independent 1 Total 9

Member, District 1

Candidates

Both Democratic & Republican are cancelled respectively.

• Tom Holmes (Democratic)
• Jackie Zeigler, incumbent (Republican)

General election

General election results ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jackie Zeigler (incumbent)	212,461	72.73%
	Democratic	Tom Holmes	79,380	27.17%
	Write-in		294	0.1%
Total votes			292,135	100%

Member, District 3

Candidates

Both Democratic & Republican are cancelled respectively.

• Jarralynne Agee (Democratic)
• Stephanie Bell, incumbent (Republican)

General election

General election results ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Stephanie Bell (incumbent)	209,909	68.92%
	Democratic	Jarralynne Agee	94,375	30.99%
	Write-in		278	0.09%
Total votes			304,562	100%

Member, District 5

Republican primary

• Lesa Keith

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fred F. Bell	24,589	30.35
	Democratic	Tonya Smith Chestnut	16,044	19.8
	Democratic	Billie Jean Young	11,271	13.91
	Democratic	Ron Davis	8,957	11.05
	Democratic	Pamela Laffitte	6,712	8.28
	Democratic	Patrice McClammy	5,932	7.32
	Democratic	Woodie Pugh Jr.	5,696	7.03
	Democratic	Joanne Shum	1,830	2.26
Total votes			81,031	100

Democratic primary runoff results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tonya Smith Chestnut	21,230	61.35
	Democratic	Fred F. Bell	13,372	38.65
Total votes			34,602	100

General election

General election results ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tonya Smith Chestnut (incumbent)	161,192	62.71%
	Republican	Lesa Keith	95,593	37.19%
	Write-in		245	0.10%
Total votes			257,030	100%

Member, District 7

General election

General election results ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Belinda Palmer McRae	230,122	98.73%
	Write-in		2,957	1.27%
Total votes			233,079	100%

State judiciary

Two seats on the Alabama Supreme Court and two seats each on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals were up for election, all of which were held by Republicans. Of these four had contested primaries. ^{[14] [15]}

State Supreme Court, Place 1

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat. ^[16]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Greg Shaw, incumbent. ^[16]
• Cam Ward, state senator. ^[17]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Greg Shaw	Cam Ward	Undecided
Mason-Dixon [18]	February 4–6, 2020	400 (LV)	± 5.0%	24%	19%	57%

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Greg Shaw (incumbent)	344,049	58.39%
	Republican	Cam Ward	245,184	41.61%
Total votes			589,233	100%

General election

2020 Alabama Supreme Court Place 1 election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Greg Shaw (incumbent)	1,554,369	97.58%
	Write-in		38,502	2.42%
Total votes			1,592,871	100%

Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2

Incumbent judge Scott Donaldson decided not to seek re-election. ^[19]

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Matt Fridy, state representative. ^[20]
• Philip Bahakel, judge. ^[17]

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Matt Fridy	353,024	66.02%
	Republican	Philip Bahakel	181,717	33.98%
Total votes			534,741	100%

General election

2020 Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Place 2 election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Matt Fridy	1,539,415	97.72%
	Write-in		35,890	2.28%
Total votes			1,575,305	100%
	Republican hold

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mary Windom, incumbent. ^[21]
• Melvin Hasting, attorney. ^[22]

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Windom (incumbent)	387,876	69.45%
	Republican	Melvin Hasting	170,599	30.55%
Total votes			558,475	100%

General election

2020 Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 1 election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Windom (incumbent)	1,541,862	97.72%
	Write-in		34,708	2.28%
Total votes			1,576,570	100%

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

• J. Elizabeth Kellum,incumbent. ^[23]
• Jill Ganus, judge. ^[17]
• William Smith, county commissioner⁣. ^[17]

Primary results

Republican primary results (first round) ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent)	232,303	43.37%
	Republican	Willian Smith	198,663	37.09%
	Republican	Jill Ganus	104,680	19.54%
Total votes			535,646	100%

Republican primary runoff results ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent)	270,306	55.73%
	Republican	William Smith	214,764	44.27%
Total votes			485,070	100%

General election

2020 Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2 election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent)	1,537,451	97.83%
	Write-in		34,128	2.17%
Total votes			1,571,579	100%

State House of Representatives

A special election had been called on November 17 for the 49th District as a result of Republican incumbent April Weaver resigning from the legislature. ^[25] Primaries were held on August 4 that year, with a Republican runoff set for September 1. ^[26] Alabaster City Councilmember Russell Bedsole won the general election against Democratic challenger Cheryl Patton. ^[27]

Republican primary

Republican primary results (first round) ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Russell Bedsole	923	34.84
	Republican	Mimi Penhale	829	31.30
	Republican	Chuck Martin	646	24.39
	Republican	Donna Strong	177	6.68
	Republican	Jackson McNeely	57	2.15
	Republican	James Dean	17	0.64
Total votes			2,649	100

Republican primary runoff results ^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Russell Bedsole	1,250	51.33
	Republican	Mimi Penhale	1,185	48.67
Total votes			2,435	100

Democratic nominee

• Cheryl Patton, real estate operative. ^[30]

General election

2020 Alabama's 49th House of Representatives district special election ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Russell Bedsole	1,599	63.18
	Democratic	Cheryl Patton	930	36.74
	Write-in		2	0.08
Total votes			2,531	100.0
	Republican hold

Ballot measures

A total of seven statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot, one in March and six in November. ^[32]

Polling

For March 2020 Amendment

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	For March Amendment	Against March Amendment	Undecided
Mason-Dixon/Alabama Daily News/WBRC/WAFF [33]	February 4–6, 2020	625 (RV)	± 4%	38%	41%	21%

Summary

2020 Alabama ballot measures

Name	Description	Votes				Type
		Yes	%	No	%
Amendment 1 (March)	Reforms the state education board, including requiring members to be appointed by the governor. [34]	277,320	24.88	837,234	75.12	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Amendment 1 (November)	Allows only a U.S. citizen who is 18 years old or older to vote in Alabama. [35]	1,535,862	77.01	458,487	22.09
Amendment 2	Makes certain changes to judicial law and court systems and procedures. [36]	881,145	48.94	919,380	51.06
Amendment 3	Provides that a judge, other than a probate judge, appointed to fill a vacancy would serve an initial term until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after the judge has completed two years in office. [37]	1,193,532	64.84	647,305	35.16
Amendment 4	Authorizes the state legislature during the 2022 regular session to recompile the Constitution of Alabama and provide for its ratification. [38]	1,222,682	66.82	607,090	33.18
Amendment 5	Provides for a "Stand Your Ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Franklin County. [39]	1,213,544	71.61	481,088	28.39
Amendment 6	Provides for a "Stand Your Ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Lauderdale County. [40]	1,216,008	71.61	482,189	28.39
Source: Alabama Secretary of State [41] [11]

Results by county

Amendment 1 (March) results by county

No:

•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

Amendment 1 (November) results by county

Yes:

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

No:

•   50–60%

Amendment 2 results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%

No:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

Amendment 3 results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

No:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

Amendment 4 results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

No:

•   50–60%

Amendment 5 results by county

Yes:

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

No:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

Amendment 6 results by county

Yes:

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

No:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

Notes

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

Partisan clients

References

1. "Alabama elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
2. Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com , archived from the original on October 6, 2020
3. Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020, Detailed state statistics
4. "Live: Alabama State Primary Election Results 2020". New York Times. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
5. Harper, Brad (November 3, 2020). "Twinkle Cavanaugh to return to Alabama Public Service Commission, winning over Laura Casey". Montgomery Advertiser . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
6. Ross, Sean (June 3, 2019). "Exclusive: Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh running for re-election at PSC". Yellowhammer News . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
7. Moseley, Brandon (February 28, 2020). "Litaker challenges opponent to pledge to not run for another office in 2022". Alabama Political Reporter . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
8. "Certification of Results - Republican Party". Alabama Secretary of State. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
9. Harper, Brad. "'Transparency' vs. 'fight off liberals': Alabama Public Service Commission candidates clash over priorities". Montgomery Advertiser . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
10. "Certification of Results - Democratic Party". Alabama Secretary of State. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
11. "Final Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
12. "State Board of Education". Alabama State Department of Education. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
13. "Texas 2020 election results". November 3, 2020.
14. "Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
15. "Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
16. Fiscus, Kirsten (March 3, 2020). "Alabama Supreme Court judge bests state senator for seat on state's highest court". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
17. Ross, Sean (March 2, 2020). "What to look for in Alabama's 2020 primary on Tuesday". Yellowhammer News . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
18. Mason-Dixon
19. Ross, Sean (June 12, 2019). "State Rep. Matt Fridy running for Court of Civil Appeals". Yellowhammer News . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
20. Sparacino, Emily (March 3, 2020). "Fridy wins Court of Civil Appeals seat in Republican primary". Shelby County Reporter. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
21. Ross, Sean (October 4, 2019). "Mary Windom seeking reelection to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals". Yellowhammer News . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
22. Moseley, Brandon (March 2, 2020). "Melvin Hasting is running for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 1". Alabama Political Reporter . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
23. Ross, Sean (August 23, 2019). "Kellum seeking reelection to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals". Yellowhammer News . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
24. "Republican Party Runoff Results". Alabama Secretary of State. July 29, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
25. "Rep. April Weaver resigns to join Trump administration". WSFA . May 12, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
26. Love, Joyanna (August 4, 2020). "House District 49 Republican primary ends without majority winner". The Clanton Advertiser. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
27. Moseley, Brandon (November 18, 2020). "Russell Bedsole wins House District 49 special election". Alabama Political Reporter . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
28. "Certification of Results - Republican Party" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. August 12, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
29. "Certification of Republican Runoff Results" (PDF). Alabama Secrtary of State. September 16, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
30. Beck, Caroline (November 13, 2020). "Bedsole, Patton face off in HD49 special election". WBRC . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
31. "Certification of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
32. "Alabama Amendment 1, Appointed Education Board Amendment (March 2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
33. Mason-Dixon/Alabama
    Daily News/WBRC/WAFF
34. "Alabama Amendment 1, Appointed Education Board Amendment (March 2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
35. "Alabama Amendment 1, Citizenship Requirement for Voting Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
36. "Alabama Amendment 2, Judicial System Restructuring Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
37. "Alabama Amendment 3, Judicial Vacancies Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
38. "Alabama Amendment 4, Authorize Legislature to Recompile the State Constitution Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
39. "Alabama Amendment 5, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
40. "Alabama Amendment 6, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
41. "State Certification of Statewide Amendment" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. March 19, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.

External links

• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Alabama", Voting & Elections Toolkits
• "Alabama: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org , Oakland, CA
• "League of Women Voters of Alabama". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• Alabama at Ballotpedia
• "Voting in Alabama", Voting Information by State, Rock the Vote . ("Deadlines, dates, requirements, registration options and information on how to vote in your state")
• "State Elections Legislation Database", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures, State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020