2018 Alabama gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2018 Alabama gubernatorial election
Country:	Alabama
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2014 Alabama gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2022 Alabama gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2022
Election Date:	November 6, 2018
Image1:	Governor Kay Ivey 2017 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Kay Ivey
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	1,022,457
Percentage1:	59.46%
Nominee2:	Walt Maddox
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	694,495
Percentage2:	40.39%
Governor
Before Election:	Kay Ivey
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Kay Ivey
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 2018 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Governor Kay Ivey (R), who took office on April 10, 2017, upon the resignation of Robert Bentley (R) ran for election to a full term and won over Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox.^[1] Ivey was sworn in for her first full term on January 14, 2019. This was the first time since 1966 that a woman was elected Governor of Alabama.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville^{[2] [3]}
• Scott Dawson, evangelist^[4]
• Bill Hightower, State Senator^{[5] [6]}
• Kay Ivey, incumbent governor^[7]
• Michael McAllister, former prison officer^{[8] [9]} (died April 2018)

Withdrew

• Slade Blackwell, state senator^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}
• David Carrington, Jefferson County Commissioner^[15]
• Twinkle Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission (running for Lieutenant Governor)^[16]
• Stacy Lee George, former Morgan County Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2014^{[17] [18]}
• Josh Jones, businessman^{[19] [20] [21]}
• John McMillan, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries^{[22] [23]} (running for state treasurer)

Declined

• Rick Burgess, radio host^[24]
• Bill "Bubba" Bussey, radio host^[24]
• Bradley Byrne, U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 2010^{[25] [26]} (running for reelection)
• Mary Scott Hunter, member of the Alabama State Board of Education (running for the state senate after initially running for Lieutenant Governor)^{[11] [27]}
• Del Marsh, President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate^[28] (running for reelection)
• Arthur Orr, state senator^{[29] [12]} (running for reelection)
• Trip Pittman, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2017^{[11] [12]}
• Greg Reed, Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate^{[10] [12]} (running for reelection)
• Luther Strange, former U.S. Senator and former attorney general of Alabama^{[29] [10] [30] [31] [32]}
• Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn University football coach^{[33] [34]}
• Cam Ward, state senator^{[11] [12]} (running for reelection)
• Jim Zeigler, State Auditor of Alabama^{[35] [36]} (running for reelection)

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tommy Battle	Scott Dawson	Bill Hightower	Kay Ivey	Undecided
The Tarrance Group (R-Ivey)	May 20–22, 2018	602	± 4.1%	18%	7%	5%	align=center	58%	12%
Leverage Public Strategies	April 23–30, 2018	600	± 3.9%	align=center	11%	9%	4%	align=center	47%	align=center	30%
The Tarrance Group (R-Ivey)	August 28–30, 2017	601	± 4.1%	11%	–	3%	align=center	66%	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tommy Battle	Young Boozer	Bill Hightower	Mike Hubbard	Kay Ivey	Tim James	Del Marsh	John McMillan	John Merrill	Roy Moore	Martha Roby	Luther Strange	Undecided/ Other
Public Insight Research	July 2016	607	–	9%	2%	–	–	–	3%	2%	3%	3%	align=center	28%	6%	align=center	19%	align=center	24%
Public Insight Research	July 2015	601	–	–	–	–	4%	–	4%	5%	2%	3%	align=center	32%	–	align=center	19%	align=center	30%

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Sue Bell Cobb, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court^[37]
• Christopher A. Countryman, equality activist, former juvenile corrections officer and former pastor^{[38] [39] [40]}
• James C. Fields, former state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014^{[41] [42] [43]}
• Walt Maddox, Mayor of Tuscaloosa^[44]
• Doug "New Blue" Smith, nominee for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2014^[45]
• Anthony White, ordained minister^[46]

Withdrew

• Jason Childs, truck driver and former pastor^{[47] [48] [49]}

Declined

• Doug Jones, U.S. Senator^[31]
• Terri Sewell, U.S. Representative for Alabama's 7th Congressional District

Results

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Tony Hewitt Jr., police officer^[50]
• Eric Lathan, security guard, Iraq War veteran and candidate for the Jefferson County Commission in 2010^[51]

Declined

• Mark Johnston, pastor, businessman and summer camp executive director^{[52] [53] [54] [55]}

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[56]		October 26, 2018
The Washington Post^[57]		November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight^[58]		November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report^[59]		November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[60]		November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics^[61]		November 4, 2018
Daily Kos^[62]		November 5, 2018
Fox News^[63]		November 5, 2018
Politico^[64]		November 5, 2018
Governing^[65]		November 5, 2018

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kay Ivey (R)	Walt Maddox (D)	Undecided
SurveyMonkey	September 9–24, 2018	1,254	± 3.8%	align=center	51%	26%	22%
Research Consultants (R-FarmPAC)	September 22, 2018	316	± 5.5%	align=center	58%	38%	4%
Cygnal (R)	July 24–25, 2018	1,027	± 3.1%	align=center	56%	42%	3%
Neighborhood Research Corporation (R)	June 12–14 and 18–21, 2018	440	± 4.4%	align=center	53%	28%	–
ALG Research^[66]	April 27 – May 2, 2018	601	± 4.0%	align=center	59%	36%	–

Results

Maddox narrowly carried Tuscaloosa County, where he currently serves as mayor of Tuscaloosa, by a mere 1 vote. This is the first gubernatorial election since 2002 in which a Democrat won the county and the first since 1990 in which neighboring Pickens County voted for a different candidate than Tuscaloosa.This is the first time the Republican gubernatorial candidate carried Barbour county since 1872 during Reconstruction.^{[67] [68]}

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Tuscaloosa County (largest city: Tuscaloosa)
• Jefferson County (largest city: Birmingham)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Barbour County (largest city: Eufaula)

By congressional district

Ivey won 6 of 7 congressional districts.^[69]

District	Ivey	Maddox	Representative
		61%	39%		Bradley Byrne
		64%	36%		Martha Roby
		63%	37%		Mike Rogers
		75%	25%		Robert Aderholt
		61%	39%		Mo Brooks
		64%	35%		Gary Palmer
		27%	73%		Terri Sewell

See also

• 2018 Alabama elections

External links

• Candidates at Vote Smart
• Candidates at Ballotpedia

Official gubernatorial campaign websites

• Tony Hewitt, Jr. (I) for Governor
• Kay Ivey (R) for Governor
• Walt Maddox (D) for Governor
• Chad "Chig" Martin (I) for Governor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey makes it official, she's running for full term. AL.com. Cason. Mike. September 7, 2017. September 7, 2017.
2. Web site: Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle will run for governor, report says. AL.com. April 27, 2017. April 28, 2017. Paul. Gattis.
3. Web site: 'Somebody's got to step up,' Tommy Battle says of his run for governor. AL.com. Roop. Lee. April 29, 2017. April 30, 2017.
4. Web site: Rick and Bubba regular Evangelist Scott Dawson announces run for governor. AL.com. Garrison. Greg. June 5, 2017. June 5, 2017.
5. Web site: State Sen. Bill Hightower jumps into race for governor. July 5, 2017. July 5, 2017. AL.com. Paul. Gattis.
6. Web site: Sen. Bill Hightower formally announces run for governor. AL.com. Cason. Mike. September 6, 2017. September 7, 2017.
7. Web site: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey makes it official, she's running for full term. AL.com. Cason. Mike. September 7, 2017. September 7, 2017.
8. Web site: 2018 ALGOP Qualified Candidates-Governor. Alabama Republican Party. January 12, 2018.
9. Web site: Alabama GOP gubernatorial candidate Michael McAllister dies. AL.com. Howard. Koplowitz. April 11, 2018. April 11, 2018.
10. Web site: These are the politicians eyeing a run for Alabama's highest offices in 2018. Yellowhammer News. Sims. Cliff. October 29, 2015. July 18, 2016.
11. Web site: Round 2: Who will be Alabama's governor in 2018? 12 more names to watch. The Huntsville Times. Gore. Leada. April 8, 2016. July 18, 2016.
12. Web site: Who's running, who's not running for Alabama Senate next year?. AL.com. Mike. Cason. July 12, 2017. July 13, 2017.
13. Web site: Sen. Slade Blackwell qualifies last minute to run for governor. Alabama Political Reporter. February 9, 2018. February 9, 2018. Chip. Brownlee.
14. Web site: Surprise late entrant Slade Blackwell drops out of Alabama governor's race. AL.com. February 12, 2018. February 12, 2018. Mike. Cason.
15. Web site: David Carrington dropping out of Governor's race. September 13, 2017. September 13, 2017. Kelly. Poe.
16. Web site: Twinkle Cavanaugh switches to lieutenant governor's race. August 17, 2017 . May 22, 2018.
17. Web site: Stacy George announces another run for Alabama governor. April 13, 2017. April 13, 2017. Mike. Cason. AL.com.
18. Web site: Stacy Lee George drops out of governor's race, endorses Ivey. AL.com. November 13, 2017. November 13, 2017. Mike. Cason.
19. Web site: Birmingham's Josh Jones loans $235,000 to campaign for governor. AL.com. June 5, 2017. June 5, 2017. Paul. Gattis.
20. Web site: Josh Jones Kicks-Off Gubernatorial Run in Vestavia Hills. Yellowhammer News. Huff. Larry. June 12, 2017. June 14, 2017.
21. Web site: Josh Jones reemphasizes statesmanship as he steps away from governor's race. Yellowhammer News. January 5, 2018. January 5, 2018.
22. Web site: John McMillan, Alabama AG commissioner, running for governor. AL.com. Gore. Leada. May 16, 2017. September 7, 2017.
23. Web site: AG Commissioner John McMillian to run for State Treasurer. Yellowhammer News. December 14, 2017. December 14, 2017. J.. Holland. https://web.archive.org/web/20171215005722/http://yellowhammernews.com/featured/ag-commissioner-john-mcmillian-run-state-treasurer/. December 15, 2017. dead.
24. Web site: 'Rick & Bubba's' Rick Burgess on why he's not running for governor and who he is endorsing. June 5, 2017. June 5, 2017. AL.com. Leada. Gore.
25. Web site: Bradley Byrne has 'no intention' to run for Senate, but what about governor?. al.com. January 19, 2017. January 19, 2017. John. Sharp.
26. News: Bradley Byrne seeking a third term to Congress, not running for governor. AL.com. Sharp. John. August 30, 2017. August 30, 2017.
27. Web site: Mary Scott Hunter to run for lieutenant governor of Alabama. AL.com. Cason. Mike. May 31, 2017. June 2, 2017.
28. Web site: Del Marsh says he plans to seek another term in Alabama Senate. May 22, 2018. August 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012254/http://s.al.com/00vjvCP. dead.
29. Web site: Who will be Alabama's governor in 2018? 11 names to watch. The Huntsville Times. Gore. Leada. April 7, 2016. July 18, 2016.
30. Web site: Luther Strange For Governor?. WKRG-TV. Peterson. Pat. May 10, 2016. July 18, 2016.
31. Web site: One in for Alabama governor. Who else is running?. The Huntsville Times. Archibald. John. December 4, 2016. December 4, 2016.
32. Web site: Alabama AG Luther Strange to Run for Sessions Senate Seat. November 22, 2016. January 22, 2017. The Weekly Standard. Fred. Barnes.
33. Web site: Tommy Tuberville considers Alabama gubernatorial run: Why it's not that crazy. CBS Sports. February 21, 2017. February 21, 2017. Dennis. Dodd.
34. Web site: Tommy Tuberville not running for Alabama governor in 2018. AL.com. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. Creg. Stephenson.
35. Web site: He is 'crazy like a fox': Jim Zeigler sheds 'Mr. 49 percent' label and eyes 2018 run for governor. AL.com. Sharp. John. April 30, 2017. September 5, 2017.
36. Web site: State Auditor Jim Zeigler considers possible run for Governor. WTVY. June 20, 2017. September 5, 2017.
37. Web site: Ex-Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb runs for governor. AL.com. Garrison. Greg. June 14, 2017. June 14, 2017.
38. Web site: Dothan man in spotlight during same sex marriage debate wants to be governor. Dothan Eagle. Griffin. Lance. September 21, 2015. July 14, 2016.
39. Web site: Countryman launches gubernatorial bid. Dothan Eagle. Cook. Jim. September 26, 2015. July 14, 2016.
40. Web site: Christopher Countryman Running for Governor. Alabama Political Reporter. Moseley. Brandon. May 26, 2016. July 14, 2016.
41. Web site: James Fields: Will He or Won't He?. The Cullman Tribune. Mann. W.C.. July 8, 2017. July 14, 2017. July 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711092836/http://cullmansense.com/articles/2017/07/08/james-fields-will-he-or-won-t-he. dead.
42. Web site: INTERVIEW: James C. Fields Returns To Tackle The Trump Era. Cullman Today. July 6, 2017. July 14, 2017. September 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095734/http://cullmantoday.com/2017/07/06/interview-james-c-fields-returns-to-tackle-the-trump-era/. dead.
43. Web site: James C. Fields announces run for governor. The Cullman Times. Bullard. Benjamin. September 19, 2017. September 20, 2017.
44. Web site: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox to run for governor. Montgomery Advertiser. Lyman. Brian. October 5, 2017. October 5, 2017.
45. Web site: Alabama Democratic Party . February 9, 2018 . February 10, 2018 . Blog – Alabama Democrats . January 17, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180117025048/http://aldemocrats.org/blog/list_of_qualified_candidates_for_2018 . dead .
46. Web site: Dothan minister announces run for governor. WTVY. August 14, 2017. August 25, 2017.
47. Web site: Former Pastor joins Governor's race. Alabama Political Reporter. Mattison. Sam. June 6, 2017. July 14, 2017.
48. Web site: Meet the Pro-Marijuana, Pro-LGBT Rights Truck Driver Running for Governor of Alabama. Heavy Duty Trucking. Roberts. Jack. June 14, 2017. July 14, 2017.
49. Web site: Democrat Jason Childs drops out of governor's race. Alabama Political Reporter. January 12, 2018. January 13, 2018. Brandon. Moseley.
50. Web site: Weaver man announces governor run. The Anniston Star. Lockette. Tim. July 26, 2017. August 25, 2017.
51. Web site: This is it, Alabama. One of these people will be governor. AL.com. April 2, 2017. July 14, 2017.
52. Web site: Executive Director of Camp McDowell to 'explore' running for governor. Hrynkiw, Ivana. The Birmingham News. March 2, 2017. March 6, 2017.
53. Web site: Camp McDowell executive director considering run for Alabama governor. Daily Mountain Eagle. March 5, 2017. March 30, 2017. Ed. Howell.
54. Web site: Ivey tops $1 million in contributions for unannounced campaign for Alabama governor. AL.com. September 6, 2017. September 22, 2017. Mike. Cason.
55. Web site: Independent candidates face big hurdles in statewide races. Opelika-Auburn News. Carla. Nelson. February 13, 2018. February 14, 2018.
56. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings for October 26, 2018. The Cook Political Report. en. 2021-04-10.
57. News: The Washington Post's gubernatorial race ratings. The Washington Post. October 16, 2018.
58. Web site: 2018 Governor Forecast FiveThirtyEight. FiveThirtyEight. October 17, 2018 . en. October 17, 2018.
59. Web site: 2018 Gubernatorial Ratings Inside Elections. insideelections.com. en. 2017-11-15.
60. Web site: Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2018 Governor. www.centerforpolitics.org. en-US. 2017-11-15.
61. Web site: 2018 Governor Races. RealClearPolitics. October 9, 2018.
62. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings. Daily Kos. June 5, 2018.
63. Web site: 2018 Midterm Power Ranking. Fox News. July 23, 2022 .
64. Web site: Politico Race Ratings. Politico.
65. Web site: 2018 Governor Elections: As November Nears, More Governors' Races Become Tossups . www.governing.com . en . 2018-07-18 . October 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021005343/http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-governors-races-july-ratings.html . dead .
66. Poll released retroactively in May 2019
67. 1856 . The Tribune almanac and political register for.. . v.
68. Web site: Our Campaigns – Container Detail Page . 2022-03-01 . www.ourcampaigns.com.
69. Web site: DRA 2020. Daves Redistricting. August 21, 2024.