1978 Alabama Senate election

The 1978 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 8, 1978, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. While 35 districts were up for election, only nine saw Republican opposition. Both of the state's Black senators, U. W. Clemon and J. Richmond Pearson, won re-election, with the newly elected Michael Figures joining their ranks.

Primary elections were held on September 5, with runoffs on September 26. This election used the same legislative map as was used in 1974, utilizing single-member districts.

Incumbent president pro tempore Joe Fine did not run for another term, instead opting for an attorney general campaign, which was unsuccessful. Finis St. John was unanimously elected president on January 9, 1979.

Summary

Party Candidates SeatsNum.Vote%1974BeforeWon +/– Democratic 35 126,341 68.91% 35 34 35 1 Republican 9 55,814 30.44% 0 0 0 Independents 1 1,183 0.65% 0 1 0 1 Total 45 183,338 100% 35

By district †: Incumbent did not run for reelection. ‡: Lost re-election. DistrictIncumbent PartyElected senator Party 1st Oscar Peden‡ Ind Bobby Denton Dem 2nd Joe Fine† Dem Charlie Britnell Dem 3rd Bingham Edwards† Dem Charles Martin Dem 4th Finis St. John Dem Finis St. John Dem 5th Robert Wilson† Dem Bob Hall Dem 6th Albert McDonald Dem Albert McDonald Dem 7th Bill King† Dem Bill Smith Dem 8th John Baker† Dem James Lemaster Dem 9th Sid McDonald† Dem Hinton Mitchem Dem 10th Gerald Waldrop‡ Dem Larry Keener Dem 11th George McMillan† Dem Dewey White Dem 12th Pat Vacca Dem Pat Vacca Dem 13th J. Richmond Pearson Dem J. Richmond Pearson Dem 14th Bob Ellis‡ Dem Mac Parsons Dem 15th U. W. Clemon Dem U. W. Clemon Dem 16th Richard Shelby† Dem Ryan deGraffenried Dem 17th Eddie Hubert Gilmore† Dem Doug Cook Dem 18th Lester Hill Proctor Dem Lester Hill Proctor Dem 19th John Teague Dem John Teague Dem 20th Donald Stewart† Dem Donald Holmes Dem 21st Ted Little Dem Ted Little Dem 22nd G. J. Higginbotham Dem G. J. Higginbotham Dem 23th T. Dudley Perry† Dem Mike Weeks Dem 24th Sam Adams† Dem Chip Bailey Dem 25th Crum Foshee† Dem Wallace Miller Dem 26th Jerry Powell‡ Dem Don Harrison Dem 27th Fred Jones† Dem Bishop N. Barron Dem 28th Wendell Mitchell† Dem Cordy Taylor Dem 29th Earl Goodwin Dem Earl Goodwin Dem 30th Bert Bank† Dem Edward Robertson Dem 31st Maston Mims† Dem Reo Kirkland Jr. Dem 32nd Dick Owen‡ Dem Bob Gulledge Dem 33rd Mike Perloff‡ Dem Michael Figures Dem 34th L. W. Noonan† Dem Sonny Callahan Dem 35th Bill Roberts† Dem Bob Glass Dem

Incumbents Successfully sought re-election

District 4: Finis St. John (Democratic) District 6: Albert McDonald (Democratic) District 12: Pat Vacca (Democratic) District 13: J. Richmond Pearson (Democratic) District 15: U. W. Clemon (Democratic) District 18: Lester Hill Proctor (Democratic) District 19: John Teague (Democratic) District 21: Ted Little (Democratic) District 22: G. J. Higginbotham (Democratic) District 29: Earl Goodwin (Democratic)

Lost re-election

District 1: Oscar Peden (Independent) ran for re-election as a Democrat and lost the nomination to Bobby Denton. District 10: Gerald Waldrop (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Larry Keener. District 14: Bob Ellis (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Mac Parsons. District 26: Jerry Powell (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Don Harrison. District 32: Dick Owen (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Bob Gulledge. District 33: Mike Perloff (Democratic) lost re-nomination to Michael Figures.

Did not seek re-election The following candidates retired or sought other offices:

District 2: Joe Fine (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for attorney general. District 3: Bingham Edwards (Democratic) retired. District 5: Bob Wilson (Democratic) retired. District 7: Bill King (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor. District 8: John Baker (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran in the U.S. Senate general election. District 9: Sid McDonald (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for governor. District 11: George McMillan (Democratic) successfully ran for lieutenant governor. District 16: Richard Shelby (Democratic) successfully ran in Alabama's 7th congressional district. District 17: Eddie Hubert Gilmore (Democratic) retired. District 20: Donald Stewart (Democratic) successfully ran in the U.S. Senate special election. District 23: Dudley Perry (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for attorney general. District 24: Sam Adams (Democratic) retired. District 25: Crum Foshee (Democratic) retired. District 27: Fred Jones (Democratic) retired. District 28: Wendell Mitchell (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran in Alabama's 2nd congressional district. District 30: Bert Bank (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor. District 31: Mastom Mims (Democratic) retired. District 34: Red Noonan (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran in Alabama's 1st congressional district. District 35: Bill Roberts (Democratic) unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.

General election results

District Democratic Republican Independents Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes 5th Robert Hall 15,806 93.04% — — — Bill Kitchens 1,183 6.96% 16,989 +14,623 +86.07% 10th Larry Keener 14,324 67.18% Jimmy Dill 6,999 32.82% — — — 21,323 +7,325 +34.35% 11th Dewey White 16,300 70.56% James K. Watley 6,801 29.44% — — — 23,101 +9,499 +41.12% 12th Pat Vacca (inc.) 12,299 53.81% Evan Veal 10,557 46.19% — — — 22,856 +1,742 +7.62% 18th Lister Proctor (inc.) 13,565 66.76% Tom Longshore 6,755 33.24% — — — 20,320 +6,810 +33.51% 24th Chip Bailey 10,183 62.05% Richard A. Britt 6,228 37.95% — — — 16,411 +3,955 +24.10% 26th Don Harrison 15,526 77.30% Bob E. Allen 4,560 22.70% — — — 20,086 +10,966 +54.60% 27th Bishop Barron 15,751 75.82% Herbert Morton 5,023 24.18% — — — 20,774 +10,728 +51.64% 33rd Michael Figures 8,139 56.79% James B. Norsworthy 6,193 43.21% — — — 14,332 +1,946 +13.58% 35th Bob Glass 4,448 62.24% Danny Perry 2,698 37.76% — — — 7,146 +1,750 +24.49% Source: The Birmingham News

Elected unopposed The following candidates did not see any competition in the general election:

District 1: Bobby Denton (Democratic, inc.) District 2: Charlie Britnell (Democratic) District 3: Charles Martin (Democratic) District 4: Finis St. John (Democratic, inc.) District 6: Albert McDonald (Democratic, inc.) District 7: Bill Smith (Democratic) District 8: James Lemaster (Democratic) District 9: Hinton Mitchem (Democratic) District 13: J. Richmond Pearson (Democratic, inc.) District 14: Mac Parsons (Democratic) District 15: U. W. Clemon (Democratic, inc.) District 16: Ryan deGraffenried (Democratic) District 17: Doug Cook (Democratic) District 19: John Teague (Democratic, inc.) District 20: Donald Holmes (Democratic) District 21: Ted Little (Democratic, inc.) District 22: G. J. Higginbotham (Democratic, inc.) District 23: Mike Weeks (Democratic) District 25: Wallace Miller (Democratic) District 28: Cordy Taylor (Democratic) District 29: Earl Goodwin (Democratic, inc.) District 30: Edward Robertson (Democratic) District 31: Reo Kirkland Jr. (Democratic) District 32: Bob Gulledge (Democratic) District 34: Sonny Callahan (Democratic)

Democratic primary results Democrats contested every seat in the state senate. Of the 35 incumbent Democratic senators, only 16 sought election (46 percent). Of the 16 who sought re-election: 5 were re-nominated unopposed; 5 won their primaries; 6 lost their primaries.

Runoff results by district Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. An asterisk (*) denotes a runoff winner who was the runner-up in the first round.

District Winner Loser Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes 1st Bobby Denton 15,490 56.02% Oscar Peden (inc.) 12,162 43.98% 27,652 +3,328 +12.04% 2nd Charlie Britnell 17,092 55.29% Bo Renfroe 13,819 44.71% 30,911 +3,273 +10.59% 5th Bob Hall 11,940 53.27% Earl Lynn Barnett 10,474 46.73% 22,414 +1,466 +6.54% 8th James Lemaster 22,727 68.50% Roger Killian 10,451 31.50% 33,178 +12,276 +37.00% 14th Mac Parsons* 12,912 60.65% Bob Ellis (inc.) 8,377 39.35% 21,289 +4,535 +21.30% 17th Doug Cook 17,025 60.37% Buddy Armstrong 11,178 39.63% 28,203 +5,847 +20.73% 19th John Teague (inc.) 12,774 55.87% Bill Atkinson 10,091 44.13% 22,865 +2,683 +11.73% 23rd Mike Weeks 14,833 55.46% Dale Segrest 11,914 44.54% 26,747 +2,919 +10.91% 24th Chip Bailey 12,356 54.78% Phillip Hamm 10,200 45.22% 22,556 +2,156 +9.56% 26th Don Harrison 13,615 54.13% Jerry Powell (inc.) 11,536 45.87% 25,151 +2,079 +8.27% 28th Cordy Taylor 14,676 53.34% Edward L. Turner 12,837 46.66% 27,513 +1,839 +6.68% 31st Reo Kirkland Jr. 14,898 55.02% Gene Garrett 12,181 44.98% 27,079 +2,717 +10.03% 32nd Bob Gulledge 16,074 61.01% Dick Owen (inc.) 10,273 38.99% 26,347 +5,801 +22.02% Source: The Birmingham Post-Herald

First round results by district Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff; first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff.

District First place Runners-up Others Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes 1st Bobby Denton 9,837 39.81% Oscar Peden (inc.) 8,048 32.57% Bob Hill 6,825 27.62% 24,710 +1,789 +7.24% 2nd Charlie Britnell 8,064 24.91% Bob Rentroe 7,259 22.42% 3 others 17,051 52.67% 32,374 +805 +2.49% 3rd Charles Martin* 11,347 53.86% Wesley Lavender 9,719 46.14% — — — 21,066 +1,628 +7.73% 5th Bob Hall 8,918 47.49% Earl Barnett 7,519 40.04% Buddy Todd 2,343 12.48% 18,780 +1,399 +7.45% 6th Albert McDonald (inc.)* 11,936 64.38% Wayne Tidwell 6,603 35.62% — — — 18,539 +5,333 +28.77% 7th Bill Smith* 11,213 63.72% Loretta Spencer 6,383 36.28% — — — 17,596 +4,830 +27.45% 8th James Lemaster 4,712 21.67% Roger Killian 4,613 21.22% 4 others 12,418 57.11% 21,743 +99 +0.46% 10th Larry Keener* 13,942 53.42% Gerald Waldrop (inc.) 8,538 32.72% Retha Deal Wynot 3,617 13.86% 26,097 +5,404 +20.71% 11th Dewey White* 12,102 81.61% A. A. Kelley 2,727 18.39% — — — 14,829 +9,375 +63.22% 14th Bob Ellis (inc.) 6,088 38.30% Mac Parsons 5,908 37.17% 2 others 3,898 24.52% 15,894 +180 +1.13% 15th U. W. Clemon (inc.)* 8,178 88.69% Phillip Lenud 588 6.38% TaRone Marquette 455 4.93% 9,221 +7,590 +82.31% 16th Ryan deGraffenried* 12,870 68.22% John Goodson 5,995 31.78% — — — 18,865 +6,875 +36.44% 17th Doug Cook 10,492 44.35% Buddy Armstrong 7,300 30.86% Byron Chew 5,865 24.79% 23,657 +3,192 +13.49% 19th John Teague (inc.) 9,050 48.27% Billy Atkinson 4,764 25.41% 2 others 4,934 26.32% 18,748 +4,286 +22.86% 20th Donald Holmes* 12,151 51.57% Jim Main 4,999 21.22% 2 others 6,411 27.21% 23,561 +7,152 +30.36% 21st Ted Little (inc.)* 16,032 55.85% Larry Morris 12,675 44.15% — — — 28,707 +3,357 +11.69% 23rd Mike Weeks 9,368 40.80% Dale Segrest 8,755 38.13% Charles L. Weston 4,837 21.07% 22,960 +613 +2.67% 24th Chip Bailey 4,929 25.86% Phillip J. Hamm 4,032 21.16% 4 others 10,098 52.98% 19,059 +897 +4.71% 25th Wallace Miller* 13,635 54.17% Nathan Mathis 8,600 34.17% Nick Zorn 2,936 11.66% 25,171 +5,035 +20.00% 26th Don Harrison 6,970 35.58% Jerry Powell (inc.) 6,631 33.85% Bobby Bowles 5,987 30.56% 19,588 +339 +1.73% 27th Bishop N. Barron* 10,435 54.20% Don Camp 7,225 37.53% Clair Chisler 1,591 8.26% 19,251 +3,210 +16.67% 28th Cordy Taylor 8,162 36.40% Edward L. Turner 8,096 36.11% Gordon Allen 6,165 27.49% 22,423 +66 +0.29% 29th Earl Goodwin (inc.)* 14,323 60.59% John A. Lockett 9,316 39.41% — — — 23,639 +5,007 +21.18% 30th Edward Robertson* 13,174 62.30% Dawson Chism 7,972 37.70% — — — 21,146 +5,202 +24.60% 31st Reo Kirkland Jr. 10,675 39.59% Gene Garrett 7,192 26.67% 3 others 9,095 33.73% 26,962 +3,483 +12.92% 32nd Bob Culledge 10,963 46.37% Dick Owen (inc.) 8,051 34.06% Percy L. Beech 4,626 19.57% 23,640 +2,912 +12.32% 33rd Michael Figures* 6,480 53.58% Mike Perloff (inc.) 3,510 29.02% James McCullough 2,104 17.40% 12,094 +2,970 +24.56% 35th Bob Glass* 7,229 53.07% John M. Tyson 6,392 46.93% — — — 13,621 +837 +6.14% Source: The Birmingham News

Nominated without opposition