Alabama state legislative special elections, 2013

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2013 State Legislative Special Elections
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Four special elections were scheduled for the Alabama State Legislature in 2013. These elections were called to fill vacancies in Alabama State Senate District 35 and Alabama House of Representatives Districts 11, 74, and 97.

How vacancies are filled

If there is a vacancy in the Alabama State Legislature, a special election must generally be conducted in order to fill the vacant seat. In the event that a vacancy occurs on or after October 1 in the year of a regular election, the seat will remain vacant until filled at the regular election. Otherwise, the governor must call for a special election if the vacancy happens before the next scheduled general election and the Legislature is in session. The governor has all discretion in setting the date of the election along with the nominating deadlines.

See sources: Alabama Code § 17-15-1

Special elections

January 29, 2013

Alabama State Senate District 35

Ben Brooks (R) was elected as a circuit judge in Mobile County on November 6, 2012. Once he was sworn into the new position a special election had to be held to fill the vacancy. A special primary was scheduled for January 29, 2013. Candidates had until December 13, 2012 to file. Since no Democrats filed, the primary became the general election. A runoff between the top two vote-getters, Jim Barton and Bill Hightower, took place on March 12. Candidate Matranga criticized the influence of special interests in the race. As of January 14, the candidates had the following funds in their campaign accounts: Barton: $218,000 Hightower: $30,000 Matranga: $2,800 General Election Candidates: Jim Barton a Bill Hightower a Nick Matranga

February 26, 2013

Alabama House of Representatives District 97

Yvonne Kennedy (D) died on December 8, 2012. Gov. Robert Bentley (R) scheduled a special election to fill the vacancy, with a primary on February 26, 2013. However, since no Republican candidates filed, the primary becomes the general election. As no candidate took over 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters - Karlos Finley and Adline C. Clarke - met in a runoff on April 9. Republican candidates: None filed Democratic candidates: William Carroll Karlos Finley a Jeffery Ray Jones Levi Wright, Jr. Kimberly Williams Pettway Ronnie L. Williams Adline C. Clarke a

March 12, 2013

☑ Alabama State Senate District 35

Ben Brooks (R) was elected as a circuit judge in Mobile County on November 6, 2012. Once he was sworn into the new position a special election had to be held to fill the vacancy. A special primary was scheduled for January 29, 2013. Candidates had until December 13, 2012 to file. Since no Democrats filed, the primary became the general election. A runoff between the top two vote-getters, Jim Barton and Bill Hightower, took place March 12, which Hightower won. Candidate Matranga criticized the influence of special interests in the race. As of January 14, the candidates had the following funds in their campaign accounts: Barton: $218,000 Hightower: $30,000 Matranga: $2,800 March 12 Runoff Candidates: Jim Barton Bill Hightower

April 9, 2013

Alabama House of Representatives District 97

Yvonne Kennedy (D) died on December 8, 2012. Gov. Robert Bentley (R) scheduled a special election for May 21 to fill the vacancy, with a primary on February 26, 2013. As no candidate took over 50 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, the top two vote-getters - Karlos Finley and Adline C. Clarke - met in a runoff on April 9, which Clarke won. Republican candidates: None filed Democratic candidates: William Carroll Karlos Finley a Jeffery Ray Jones Levi Wright, Jr. Kimberly Williams Pettway Ronnie L. Williams Adline C. Clarke a April 9 Runoff Election Candidates Karlos Finley Adline C. Clarke a May 21 General Election Candidates Adline C. Clarke David Blunt Burton LeFlore

May 7, 2013

☑ Alabama House of Representatives District 11

Jeremy Oden (R) was appointed to the Alabama Public Service Commission by Gov. Robert Bentley on November 30, 2012. A special election was held on May 7 to fill the vacancy, which Randall Shedd won. As no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary on February 12, 2013, the top two vote-getters - Randall Shedd and Danny Alldredge - met in a primary runoff election on March 26, which Shedd won. Because the Democratic Party failed to certify a candidate by April 10, Shedd was declared the winner. Republican candidates: Randall Shedd a Lydia Haynes Danny Alldredge a Mike Graves March 26 Republican Primary runoff candidates: Randall Shedd a Danny Alldredge May 7 General Election candidates: Randall Shedd

Note: The special election was not held because Democratic nominee Kelly Evans withdrew from the race on April 10 and the Democrats did not certify another nominee by April 10. Republican nominee Randall Shedd, who won the March 26 Republican primary runoff and was the only candidate remaining after Evans withdrew, was sworn in on April 11.

May 21, 2013

☑Alabama House of Representatives District 97

Yvonne Kennedy (D) died on December 8, 2012. Gov. Robert Bentley (R) scheduled a special election for May 21, 2013 to fill the vacancy, with a primary on February 26, 2013. As no candidate took over 50 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, the top two vote-getters - Karlos Finley and Adline C. Clarke - met in a runoff on April 9, which Clarke won. Clarke went on to win the general election on May 21, 2013. Republican candidates: None filed Democratic candidates: William Carroll Karlos Finley a Jeffery Ray Jones Levi Wright, Jr. Kimberly Williams Pettway Ronnie L. Williams Adline C. Clarke a April 9 Runoff Election Candidates Karlos Finley Adline C. Clarke a May 21 General Election Candidates Adline C. Clarke David Blunt Burton LeFlore

December 3, 2013

☑Alabama House of Representatives District 74

Rep. Jay Love (R) resigned on August 1, 2013, to work for the Business Council of Alabama. A special election was called for December 3, with a primary on October 8. A runoff election took place on November 19. As no Democrat filed to run, the Republican nominee was declared the winner following the primary runoff. October 8 Democratic primary: No candidates filed to run October 8 GOP primary: Charlotte Meadows a Heather Sellers Dimitri Polizos a November 19 GOP runoff: Charlotte Meadows Dimitri Polizos

See also

• State legislative special elections, 2013
• Alabama State Senate elections, 2010
• Alabama House of Representatives elections, 2010
• Alabama State Legislature

Footnotes

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