1978 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 1978 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Democratic Governor George Wallace did not run for re-election. 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.

For related races, see 1978 United States gubernatorial elections.

1978 Alabama gubernatorial election
November 7, 1978
 
Nominee Fob James H. Guy Hunt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 551,786 196,963
Percentage 72.6% 25.9%
County results
James:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Hunt:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

George Wallace
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Fob James
Democratic

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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.

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fob James 256,196 28.47
Democratic Bill Baxley 210,089 23.35
Democratic Albert Brewer 193,479 21.50
Democratic Sid McDonald 143,930 15.99
Democratic Jere Beasley 77,202 8.58
Democratic K. C. Foster 4,948 0.55
Democratic Horace Howell 4,730 0.53
Democratic Jim Folsom 4,632 0.52
Democratic Bob Muncaster 1,776 0.20
Democratic Shorty Price 1,396 0.16
Democratic Charles Woods 700 0.08
Democratic Fred Sandefer 622 0.07
Democratic Cornelia Wallace 217 0.02
Total votes 899,917 100
Democratic runoff results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fob James 515,520 55.17
Democratic Bill Baxley 418,932 44.83
Total votes 934,452 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Guy Hunt 21,499 83.17
Republican Bert Hayes 2,817 10.90
Republican Julian Elgin 1,534 5.93
Total votes 25,850 100

General election

Results
1978 Alabama gubernatorial election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fob James 551,786 72.59
Republican Guy Hunt 196,693 25.88
Prohibition Jim Partain 8,103 1.07
Independent Richard Dare 3,522 0.46
Total votes 760,104 100
Democratic hold

Fob James won all but two counties: Cullman, where Hunt had been Probate Judge; and Winston, a traditionally Republican stronghold.[6]

References
  1. "Alabama Governors: Forrest Hood (Fob) James, Jr". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  2. "AL Governor, 1978 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. "AL Governor, 1978 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  4. "AL Governor, 1978 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. "AL Governor, 1978". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  6. "Source for Popular Vote data: Alabama Secretary of State. Governor - 1978 Election, Alabama Secretary of State". Alabama Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2014.


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