Alabama state legislative special elections, 2016

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2016 State Legislative
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Three seats had vacancies in the Alabama State Legislature in 2016. All three seats were filled through special elections.

Vacancies filled

Breakdown of 2016 special elections

Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:

  • 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
  • 11 were due to a retirement
  • 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
  • 12 were due to a death
  • 4 were due to a conviction
  • 3 were due to filling a remaining term
  • 1 was due to an expulsion

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

Partisan Change from Special Elections
Party As of Vacancy After Special Election
     Democratic Party 37 39
     Republican Party 28 24
     Independent 0 2
Total 65 65

Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.

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.[1][2][3] The governor has all discretion in setting the date of the election along with the nominating deadlines.[3][4]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Alabama Code § 17-15-1


Special elections

February 16, 2016



April 12, 2016



November 29, 2016



See also

Footnotes

  1. Ballotpedia, "Alabama Amendment 4, Legislative Vacancies Amendment (2018)," accessed March 28, 2025
  2. Justia US Law, "2023 Code of Alabama Title 17 - Elections. Chapter 15 - Special Elections. Section 17-15-1 - When and for What Offices Held." accessed February 26, 2025
  3. 3.0 3.1 Justia US Law, "2023 Code of Alabama Title 17 - Elections. Chapter 15 - Special Elections. Section 17-15-3 - Special Elections Ordered by Governor." accessed February 26, 2025
  4. Alabama Legislature, "Constitution of Alabama 2022," accessed February 26, 2025
  5. Office of Alabama Governor, "Governor Bentley Announces Special Election Timeline for House District 5," accessed July 21, 2015
  6. DecaturDaily.com, "Rep. Dan Williams, an elected official for nearly four decades, dies of leukemia," accessed July 2, 2015
  7. AL.com, "5 Republicans, 1 Democrat seek vacant Alabama House seat," July 28, 2015
  8. AL.com, "Familiar foes in GOP runoff for state House seat," accessed September 30, 2015
  9. whnt.com, "Danny Crawford wins special election to fill vacant Limestone County District 5 seat," accessed February 17, 2016
  10. AL.com, "Danny Crawford wins House GOP runoff in north Alabama," accessed December 8, 2015
  11. WTVM.com, "AL Sec of State declares Blackshear as House Seat 80 rep," accessed January 29, 2016
  12. Office of the Governor of Alabama, "Governor Bentley Calls Special Election for House District 80," accessed December 23, 2015
  13. Associated Press, "Alabama State Rep. Lesley Vance dead at 76," November 3, 2015
  14. wrbl.com, "Candidates set for Lesley Vance’s House seat," accessed December 23, 2015
  15. Ledger-Enquirer, "Blackshear to represent GOP in House race," accessed January 20, 2016
  16. WTVM.com, "Chris Blackshear wins special election for AL House Seat 80," accessed January 20, 2016
  17. Alabama Votes, "Alabama Republican Party," accessed February 22, 2016
  18. wtvm.com, "AL Sec of State declares Blackshear as House Seat 80 rep," accessed January 29, 2016
  19. whnt.com, "Governor Bentley calls for special election to replace Rep. Mike Hubbard," accessed June 28, 2016
  20. The New York Times, "Michael Hubbard, Alabama House Speaker, Is Convicted on 12 Felony Ethics Charges," June 10, 2016
  21. oanow.com, "Four Republican candidates qualify for special District 79 election," accessed July 22, 2016
  22. Alabama Public Radio, "Lovvorn Wins Primary for Hubbard's House Seat," accessed September 14, 2016
  23. oanow.com, "UPDATED: Joe Lovvorn certified as House District 79 representative," accessed September 23, 2016