1978 Alabama gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1978 Alabama gubernatorial election
Country:Alabama
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1974 Alabama gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1974
Next Election:1982 Alabama gubernatorial election
Next Year:1982
Election Date:November 7, 1978
Image1:Reagan Contact Sheet C1331 (cropped2) (cropped).jpg
Image Upright:0.6
Nominee1:Fob James
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:551,786
Percentage1:72.6%
Nominee2:H. Guy Hunt
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:196,963
Percentage2:25.9%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:George Wallace
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Fob James
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

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.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Results

Fob James won all but two counties: Cullman, where Hunt had been Probate Judge; and Winston, a traditionally Republican stronghold.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alabama Governors: Forrest Hood (Fob) James, Jr.. Alabama Department of Archives and History. July 23, 2014. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183638/http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/g_james.html. dead.
  2. Web site: Source for Popular Vote data: Alabama Secretary of State. Governor - 1978 Election, Alabama Secretary of State . July 23, 2014 . Alabama Secretary of State . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070610170901/http://www.sos.state.al.us/cf/election/her/her-sw.cfm . June 10, 2007 .