Alabama state legislative special elections, 2016
Three seats had vacancies in the Alabama State Legislature in 2016. All three seats were filled through special elections.
Vacancies filled
- State House District 5: The seat was vacant following Dan Williams' (R) death on July 1.
- State House District 80: The seat was vacant following Lesley Vance's (R) death on November 3, 2015.
- State House District 79: The seat was vacant following Mike Hubbard's (R) conviction on June 10, 2016.
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:
- 37 Democratic seats
- 28 Republican seats
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]
See sources: Alabama Code § 17-15-1
Special elections
February 16, 2016
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A special election for the position of Alabama House of Representatives District 5 was called for February 16. A primary election took place on September 29, and a primary runoff election took place on December 8. The filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was July 27. The filing deadline for third-party candidates was September 29.[5] The seat was vacant following Dan Williams' (R) death on July 1.[6] Henry White was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Ronnie Coffman, Danny Crawford, Mike Criscillis, Jerry Hill and Chris Seibert faced off in the Republican primary.[7] Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Seibert and Crawford, met in a Republican runoff election, which Crawford won.[8] White was defeated by Crawford in the special election.[9][10]
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April 12, 2016
☑ Alabama House of Representatives District 80 | |||||||||||||||||||
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A special election for the position of Alabama House of Representatives District 80 was scheduled for April 12. Since no Democrats filed for the special election, John Merrill (R), the Alabama Secretary of State, declared Blackshear the winner on January 29, 2016.[11] A primary election took place on January 19. The filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was November 17, 2015. The filing deadline for third-party candidates was January 19.[12] The seat was vacant following Lesley Vance's (R) death on November 3, 2015.[13] Chris Blackshear defeated James McGill and Tommy Pugh in the Republican primary.[14] Kenicia Battle (D) was removed from the ballot before the primary.[15] Blackshear was declared the winner of the special election by the state's secretary of state.[16][17]
Note: Kenicia Battle (D) was removed from the ballot.
Note: Blackshear was declared the winner of the election by the state's secretary of state since no Democrats filed.[18] |
November 29, 2016
☑ Alabama House of Representatives District 79 | |
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A special election for the position of Alabama House of Representatives District 79 was scheduled for November 29. The special election was canceled by the secretary of state after only one candidate was on the ballot following the primary election. A primary election took place on September 13. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 14. All third-party candidates had until September 13 to file.[19] The seat was vacant following Mike Hubbard's (R) conviction on June 10, 2016, of 12 felony ethics violations.[20] Joe Lovvorn defeated Jay Conner, Brett Smith, and Sandy Toomer in the Republican primary.[21][22] Lovvorn was declared the winner of the special election after Libertarian candidate Gage Fenwick failed to submit the required number of signatures needed to appear on the ballot. Secretary of State John Merrill canceled the special general election since Lovvorn was the only one still left on the ballot.[23]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Alabama House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Alabama House of Representatives elections, 2010
- Alabama State Legislature
- Alabama state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia, "Alabama Amendment 4, Legislative Vacancies Amendment (2018)," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 3.0 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
- ↑ Alabama Legislature, "Constitution of Alabama 2022," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑ Office of Alabama Governor, "Governor Bentley Announces Special Election Timeline for House District 5," accessed July 21, 2015
- ↑ DecaturDaily.com, "Rep. Dan Williams, an elected official for nearly four decades, dies of leukemia," accessed July 2, 2015
- ↑ AL.com, "5 Republicans, 1 Democrat seek vacant Alabama House seat," July 28, 2015
- ↑ AL.com, "Familiar foes in GOP runoff for state House seat," accessed September 30, 2015
- ↑ whnt.com, "Danny Crawford wins special election to fill vacant Limestone County District 5 seat," accessed February 17, 2016
- ↑ AL.com, "Danny Crawford wins House GOP runoff in north Alabama," accessed December 8, 2015
- ↑ WTVM.com, "AL Sec of State declares Blackshear as House Seat 80 rep," accessed January 29, 2016
- ↑ Office of the Governor of Alabama, "Governor Bentley Calls Special Election for House District 80," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Alabama State Rep. Lesley Vance dead at 76," November 3, 2015
- ↑ wrbl.com, "Candidates set for Lesley Vance’s House seat," accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, "Blackshear to represent GOP in House race," accessed January 20, 2016
- ↑ WTVM.com, "Chris Blackshear wins special election for AL House Seat 80," accessed January 20, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Votes, "Alabama Republican Party," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ wtvm.com, "AL Sec of State declares Blackshear as House Seat 80 rep," accessed January 29, 2016
- ↑ whnt.com, "Governor Bentley calls for special election to replace Rep. Mike Hubbard," accessed June 28, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Michael Hubbard, Alabama House Speaker, Is Convicted on 12 Felony Ethics Charges," June 10, 2016
- ↑ oanow.com, "Four Republican candidates qualify for special District 79 election," accessed July 22, 2016
- ↑ Alabama Public Radio, "Lovvorn Wins Primary for Hubbard's House Seat," accessed September 14, 2016
- ↑ oanow.com, "UPDATED: Joe Lovvorn certified as House District 79 representative," accessed September 23, 2016
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