1978 Alabama gubernatorial election

1978 Alabama gubernatorial election

← 1974 November 7, 1978 1982 →

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

Elections in Alabama
Federal government U.S. Presidential elections 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2004 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2016 2020 U.S. Senate elections 1819 1822 1822 sp 1826 sp 1828 1831 1834 1837 1837 sp 1840 1841 sp 1842 1847 1848 sp 1849 sp 1853 1855 1858 1868 1870 1872 1872 sp 1876 1878 1878 sp 1880 sp 1882 1884 1888 1890 1894 1896 1897 1900 1903 1907 1907 sp 1908 1911 1914 1914 sp 1918 1920 1920 sp 1924 1926 1930 1932 1936 1938 1938 sp 1942 1944 1946 sp 1948 1950 1954 1956 1960 1962 1966 1968 1972 1974 1978 1978 sp 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2017 sp 2020 2022 2026 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1819 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 3rd sp 1841 1843 1845 3rd sp 1846 7th sp 1847 3rd sp 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1868 1869 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 6th sp 1882 1883 1st sp 8th sp 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 3rd sp 1896 1898 1900 8th sp 1902 1904 5th sp 1906 1908 2nd sp 1910 1912 1914 3rd sp 8th sp 1916 1918 1919 7th sp 1920 5th sp 1921 4th sp 1922 1923 2nd sp 1924 1926 1928 3rd sp 5th sp 1930 1932 1933 8th sp 1934 1935 1st sp 1936 1938 2nd sp 1940 7th sp 1941 7th sp 1942 1943 3rd sp 1944 3rd sp 1946 1947 8th sp 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 3rd sp 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1989 3rd sp 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 1st sp 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
State government State elections 2004 2010 2014 2018 2020 2022 Gubernatorial elections 1819 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1841 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1865 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 2022 State Treasurer elections 2022 Senate elections 2010 2014 2018 2022 House of Representatives elections 2010 2018 2022
Ballot measures 2000 Amendment 2 2006 Amendment 774 2020 Amendment 1
Birmingham Mayoral elections 2017 2021
Mobile Mayoral elections 2021
Montgomery Mayoral elections 2007 2009 sp 2011 2015 2019
Government
v t

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.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Bill Baxley, Attorney General of Alabama
• Jere Beasley, Lieutenant Governor
• Albert Brewer, former Governor
• Jim Folsom, former Governor
• K. C. Foster
• Horace Howell
• Fob James, businessman^[1]
• Sid McDonald, State Senator
• Bob Muncaster
• Shorty Price, perennial candidate
• Fred Sandefer
• Cornelia Wallace, former First Lady of Alabama
• Charles Woods, businessman and perennial candidate

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[]

• Guy Hunt, former Cullman County Probate Judge

Results[]

General election[]

Results[]

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

References[]

External links[]

This Alabama-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

• v
• t