Alabama's 21st Senate district explained

State:	Alabama
District:	21
Chamber:	Senate
Representative:	Gerald Allen
Party:	Republican
Residence:	Cottondale
Percent White:	67.1
Percent Black:	24.0
Percent Hispanic:	5.0
Percent Asian:	1.7
Population:	145,432
Population Year:	2022
Notes:	^[1]

Alabama's 21st Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Alabama Senate. The district has been represented by Gerald Allen since 2010.

Geography

The district covers the entirety of Pickens County and a portion of Tuscaloosa County.^[2]

Election history

Earlier elections

Following Reynolds v. Sims in 1964, which ruled that electoral districts of state legislatures must be roughly equal in population, the Alabama Senate was reapportioned to elect 35 Senators from 26 districts.^[3] District 21 became a multi-member district, comprising Montgomery County and electing 2 Senators using plurality block voting.^[4] Following a further court case in 1972, the district, along with all others in the Alabama Senate, was reapportioned to a single-member district for the 1974 election.^[5]

District officeholders

Senators take office at midnight on the day of their election.^[6]

• Gerald Allen (2010–present)
• Phil Poole (1994–2010)
• Ryan deGraffenried (1983–1994)
• T. D. Little (1974–1983)^[7]

As a multi-member district:| width="50%" align="" valign="" style="border:0"|

• 1966:^[8]
  • J. J. Pierce
  • O. J. Goodwyn

| width="50%" align="" valign="" style="border:0"|

• 1970:^[9]
  • J. J. Pierce
  • Tom Jones

• L. W. Brannan Jr. (1962–1966)^[10]
• Douglas Webb (1958–1962)^[11]
• Ralph L. Jones (1954–1958)^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Census profile: State Senate District 21, AL . Census Reporter . 7 August 2024 . en.
2. Web site: McClendon Senate Plan 1 . Alabama Secretary of State . 7 August 2024.
3. Web site: Stewart . William . Redistricting in the South . . 7 August 2024 . 6.
4. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1965 (second and third special sessions) . 1975. Alabama Legislature . 312.
5. News: U.S. COURT REVISES LINES IN ALABAMA . 7 August 2024 . The New York Times . 4 January 1972.
6. Web site: Alabama Senate . Encyclopedia of Alabama . 7 August 2024.
7. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1975 (organizational and first, second, and third special sessions). 1975. Alabama Legislature . 4.
8. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1967 (organizational and special sessions). 1967. Alabama Legislature . 4.
9. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1971 (third special session). 1971. Alabama Legislature . 770.
10. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1963, volume 3 (regular session) . 1963. Alabama Legislature . 2110.
11. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1959, volume 1 (organizational, special, and regular sessions) . 1959. Alabama Legislature . 6.
12. Book: Alabama Legislature . Journal of the Alabama Senate, 1956 (special session) . 1956. Alabama Legislature . 352.