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1942 Alabama Senate election

1942 Alabama Senate election
← 1938 November 3, 1942 1946 →
All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate
18 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Joseph N. Poole
(did not stand) 		—
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 10, 1939 —
Leader's seat 17th–Butler Co. —
Last election 35 seats, 93.50% 0 seats, 6.47%
Seats won 35 0
Popular vote 67,792 380
Percentage 99.41% 0.56%
Winners by vote share
Democratic:      90–100%      Unopposed
President pro tempore before election

Joseph N. Poole
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

James A. Simpson
Democratic

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Government

The 1942 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 3, 1942, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. The result an electoral wipeout, as all 35 candidates elected were members of the Democratic Party. The election used the same districts first drawn by the Alabama Constitution of 1901.

As the Democratic Party was dominant in the state, state legislative seats were generally decided at the Democratic primary election. The first round of the Democratic primary was held on May 7 with runoff elections on June 4. Only one Democratic nominee, incumbent senator James A. Simpson in Jefferson County's District 13, faced opposition in the general election, receiving 95.59% of the vote against a Republican and a Communist. Simpson was unanimously elected President pro tempore at the November 1942 opening session.[1]

The election took place concurrently with elections for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state house, and numerous other state and local offices.

Summary

[edit]
Party Candidates Seats
Num. Vote % Before Won +/–
Democratic 35 67,792 99.41% 35 35 Steady
Republican 1 380 0.56% 0 0 Steady
Communist 1 20 0.028% 0 0 Steady
Write-in 1 1 0.001% — 0 Steady
Total 38 68,192 100% 35 35 Steady

Incumbents

[edit]

Won re-election

[edit]
  • District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. won re-election.
  • District 4: Charles E. Shaver won re-election.
  • District 13: James A. Simpson won re-election.
  • District 20: O. D. Carlton won re-election.
  • District 22: J. Bruce Henderson won re-election.
  • District 24: Preston C. Clayton won re-election.
  • District 28: Charles A. Stakely won re-election.

Eliminated in primary

[edit]
  • District 7: Henry H. Booth lost renomination to Elvin McCary.
  • District 33: Daniel T. McCall lost renomination to Vincent F. Kilborne.

Did not seek re-election

[edit]
  • District 1: William W. Malone did not seek re-election.
  • District 2: Norman W. Harris was elected to Morgan County's first state house seat.[2]
  • District 5: Herbert H. Conway unsuccessfully ran for circuit solicitor from the 9th Judicial Circuit.[3]
  • District 6: John A. Lusk did not seek re-election.
  • District 8: W. L. Howard did not seek re-election.
  • District 9: Dan Boyd unsuccessfully ran for circuit solicitor from the 5th Judicial Circuit.[3]
  • District 10: T. H. Street sought election to Tallapoosa County's first state house seat, but withdrew before the Democratic primary.[4]
  • District 11: Hayse Tucker unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district.[5]
  • District 12: Oliver E. Young did not seek re-election.
  • District 14: R. B. Doughty did not seek re-election. Doughty succeeded Sen. Verdo Elmore after a March 1940 special election.
  • District 15: Karl C. Harrison unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district.[5]
  • District 16: Renzo Guy unsuccessfully ran for agriculture commissioner.[5]
  • District 17: Joseph N. Poole was elected agriculture commissioner.[5]
  • District 18: Howard Cooper did not seek re-election.
  • District 19: P. F. DeVane was elected member of the State Democratic Executive Committee from Alabama's 1st congressional district.[6]
  • District 21: W. C. Holmes did not seek re-election.
  • District 23: Clyde M. Segrest was elected to Geneva County's first county commission district.[7] Segrest succeeded Sen. Tim Faulk after a September 1939 special election.
  • District 25: J. M. Rowe unsuccessfully ran for Coffee County's sole state house seat.[8]
  • District 26: Watkins C. Johnston resigned to serve in the Navy.[9]
  • District 27: W. A. Dozier did not seek re-election.
  • District 29: E. M. Baker did not seek re-election.
  • District 30: C. C. Thomas did not seek re-election.
  • District 31: Z. L. Weatherford did not seek re-election.
  • District 32: E. F. Hildreth did not seek re-election.
  • District 34: A. L. Crumpton did not seek re-election.
  • District 35: W. Perry Calhoun was elected to Houston County's third county commission district.[10]

General election results

[edit]

District 13 (Jefferson)

[edit]
District 13 election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James A. Simpson (inc.) 8,639 95.59%
Republican Frank Snedeker 380 4.20%
Communist Mary B. Southard 19 0.21%
Total votes 9,038 100.00%

Elected without opposition

[edit]

Every candidate elected with no opponents was a Democrat.

  • District 1: Orlan B. Hill received 1,568 votes.
  • District 2: Vernon L. St. John received 1,805 votes.
  • District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. (inc.) received 3,796 votes. Homer Mitchell received 1 write-in vote.
  • District 4: Charles E. Shaver (inc.) received 999 votes.
  • District 5: J. B. Benson received 2,185 votes.
  • District 6: Sam High received 3,895 votes.
  • District 7: Elvin McCary received 971 votes.
  • District 8: Kenneth A. Roberts received 928 votes.
  • District 9: Will O. Watson received 1,426 votes.
  • District 10: Lee Hornsby received 3,367 votes.
  • District 11: Gordon Madison received 1,355 votes.
  • District 12: Reuben L. Newton received 3,234 votes.
  • District 14: John H. Pinson received 550 votes.
  • District 15: George M. Taylor received 4,375 votes.
  • District 16: J. Monroe Black received 403 votes.
  • District 17: Tully A. Goodwin received 1,870 votes.
  • District 18: T. J. Jones received 881 votes.
  • District 19: Gerald Bradford received 1,968 votes.
  • District 20: O. D. Carlton (inc.) received 590 votes.
  • District 21: W. W. Garrett received 2,315 votes.
  • District 22: J. Bruce Henderson (inc.) received 508 votes.
  • District 23: Douglas Brown received 1,178 votes.
  • District 24: Preston C. Clayton (inc.) received 684 votes.
  • District 25: M. N. Dodson received 2,145 votes.
  • District 26: Lawrence K. Andrews received 646 votes.
  • District 27: S. L. Toomer received 880 votes.
  • District 28: Charles A. Stakely (inc.) received 1,448 votes.
  • District 29: Lem J. Cobb received 4,216 votes.
  • District 30: E. P. Russell received 776 votes.
  • District 31: Jim Smith Jr. received 2,905 votes.
  • District 32: L. J. Lawson received 798 votes.
  • District 33: Vincent F. Kilborn received 1,721 votes.
  • District 34: Charles S. Bentley received 1,821 votes.
  • District 35: M. W. Espy received 946 votes.

Democratic primary results

[edit]

Runoff results by district

[edit]

Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. An asterisk (*) denotes a runoff winner who trailed in the first round.

District Winner Loser Total
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
7th Elvin McCary 2,610 55.12% H. E. Killiam 2,125 44.88% 4,735 +485 +10.24%
8th Kenneth A. Roberts 2,259 51.22% Jeff Clay III 2,151 48.78% 4,410 +108 +2.45%
10th Lee Hornsby 3,172 54.32% W. Carvell Woodall 2,668 45.68% 5,840 +504 +8.63%
13th James A. Simpson 15,831 52.54% Noble B. Hendrix 14,298 47.46% 30,129 +1,533 +5.09%
14th John H. Pinson* 1,803 54.37% John A. Rogers 1,513 45.63% 3,316 +290 +8.75%
23rd Douglas Brown 2,397 64.89% Walter J. Brackin 1,297 35.11% 3,694 +1,100 +29.78%
Sources: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1951 (p. 590),[12] The Piedmont Journal[13]

First round results by district

[edit]

Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff, first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff.

District First place Runners-up Others Total
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Mrg.
2nd Vernon L. St. John* 5,116 57.12% Charles E. Bragg 3,840 42.88% — — — 8,956 +1,276 +14.25%
3rd Finis E. St. John Jr. (inc.)* 5,070 56.10% Ray Mayhall 1,832 20.27% 2 others[a] 2,135 23.63% 9,037 +3,238 +35.83%
6th Sam High* 5,570 51.55% E. L. Roberts 5,234 48.45% — — — 10,804 +336 +3.11%
7th Elvin McCary 1,988 33.48% H. E. Killiam 1,487 25.05% 2 others[b] 2,462 41.47% 5,937 +501 +8.44%
8th Kenneth A. Roberts 2,242 46.89% Jeff Clay III 1,489 31.14% Richard B. Kelly Jr. 1,050 21.96% 4,781 +753 +15.75%
10th Lee Hornsby 3,969 42.44% W. Carvel Woodall 3,405 36.41% G. Adolph Hornsby 1,977 21.14% 9,351 +564 +6.03%
11th Gordan Madison* 5,727 76.30% Testus F. Windham 1,106 14.73% Lon Smith Jr. 673 8.97% 7,506 +4,621 +61.56%
12th Reuben L. Newton 5,863 44.92% P. P. Evans 2,854 21.87% 2 others[c] 4,334 33.21% 13,051 +3,009 +23.06%
13th James A. Simpson (inc.) 15,992 46.90% Noble B. Hendrix 11,286 33.10% George Fry 6,822 20.01% 34,100 +4,706 +13.80%
14th John A. Rogers 1,642 43.36% John H. Pinson 1,384 36.55% S. M. Blan 761 20.10% 3,787 +258 +6.81%
16th J. Monroe Black* 722 56.63% Cruser M. Graves 553 43.37% — — — 1,275 +169 +13.25%
19th Gerald Bradford* 4,595 54.86% J. R. Wallace 3,781 45.14% — — — 8,376 +814 +9.72%
20th O. D. Carlton (inc.) 1,560 54.97% W. B. Phillips 1,278 45.03% — — — 2,838 +282 +9.94%
22nd J. Bruce Henderson (inc.)* 1,070 58.41% S. P. Dale 762 41.59% — — — 1,832 +308 +16.81%
23rd Douglas Brown 2,725 48.38% Walter J. Brackin 2,519 44.73% George S. Barnard 388 6.89% 5,632 +206 +3.66%
25th M. N. Dodson* 4,174 51.82% J. Roy Crow 3,881 48.18% — — — 8,055 +293 +3.64%
29th Lem L. Cobb* 4,154 50.30% E. A. Van Pelt 4,105 49.70% — — — 8,259 +49 +0.59%
30th E. P. Russell 1,975 54.47% John L. Sherrer 1,651 45.53% — — — 3,626 +324 +8.94%
31st Jim Smith Jr.* 7,308 73.70% T. E. Throckmorton 1,593 16.06% Edward A. Staley 1,015 10.24% 9,916 +5,715 +57.63%
32nd L. T. Lawson* 1,757 60.40% Cullen Morgan 1,152 39.60% — — — 2,909 +605 +20.80%
33rd Vincent F. Kilborne* 5,514 58.10% Daniel T. McCall (inc.) 3,977 41.90% — — — 9,491 +1,537 +16.19%
34th Charles S. Bentley 3,227 53.23% John C. Darden 2,835 46.77% — — — 6,062 +392 +6.47%
  1. ^ Bart J. Cowart: 1,213 votes, 13.42%; Whitfield Lamberth: 922 votes, 10.20%
  2. ^ Henry H. Booth (inc.): 1,365 votes, 22.99%, Rutherford Lapsley: 1,097 votes, 18.48%
  3. ^ W. T. Kelley: 2,416 votes, 18.51%, Edward Morton: 1,918 votes, 14.70%

Nominated without opposition

[edit]

The following candidates automatically won the Democratic nomination, as no opponent filed to run against them:

  • District 1: Orlan B. Hill received 5,586 votes.
  • District 4: Charles E. Shaver (inc.) received 3,285 votes.
  • District 5: J. B. Benson received 5,460 votes.
  • District 9: Will O. Walton received 5,365 votes.
  • District 15: George M. Taylor Jr. received 5,507 votes.
  • District 17: Tully A. Goodwin received 5,339 votes.
  • District 18: T. J. Jones received 3,291 votes.
  • District 21: W. W. Garrett received 6,090 votes.
  • District 24: Preston C. Clayton (inc.) received 3,138 votes.
  • District 26: Lawrence K. Andres received 2,375 votes.
  • District 27: S. L. Toomer received 3,340 votes.
  • District 28: Charles A. Stakeley (inc.) received 7,453 votes.
  • District 35: M. W. Espy received 3,588 votes.

Republican candidate

[edit]

Only one Republican ran for a state senate seat, Frank Snedeker in District 13 (Jefferson County). He was nominated along with other statewide candidates at the state Republican convention held at the Redmont Hotel in Birmingham on September 18, 1942.[14] He won 380 votes, or 4.20 percent.

Communist candidate

[edit]

One candidate ran as a Communist Party USA candidate, Mary B. Southard in District 13 (Jefferson County). She was nominated at a party caucus in Birmingham that she chaired.[15] She won 19 votes, or 0.21 percent.

1939–1942 special elections

[edit]

District 23 (Dale–Geneva)

[edit]

A special election in Senate District 23 (Dale–Geneva) was made necessary by the death of four-term incumbent senator Tim Faulk in July 1939. Banker and farmer Clyde M. Segrest of Slocomb unanimously received the Democratic nomination, and subsequently won the general election unopposed.[16][17]

1939 Alabama Senate District 23 special general election
September 5, 1939[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clyde M. Segrest 983 100.00%
Total votes 983 100.00%

District 14 (Pickens–Sumter)

[edit]

A special election in Senate District 14 (Pickens–Sumter) was made necessary by the resignation of incumbent senator Verdo Elmore after he was appointed the judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit. R. B. Doughty of Reform won the Democratic nomination and the general election unopposed.[19][20]

1940 Alabama Senate District 14 special general election
March 26, 1940[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic R. B. Doughty 900 100.00%
Total votes 900 100.00%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hope, Sherlock (16 November 1942). "Honor Is Given To Local Man". The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  2. ^ Taylor, Fred (11 May 1942). "Only 17 Runoff Races Necessary For Posts In Alabama's House". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Circuit Solicitors". The Birmingham News. 17 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Mack Jackson Enters Legislature Race; Dr. Street Withdraws". The Alexander City Outlook. 19 February 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "Sparks Will Be Next Governor". Shelby County Reporter. 14 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Here Is How Your Favorite Candidate Ran In Primary". The Birmingham News. 17 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Winners Announced in County Election of Tuesday, May 5th". Geneva County Reaper. 7 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  8. ^ "In Coffee county..." The Troy Messenger. 8 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Watkins Johnston Serving In Navy". The Tuskegee News. 28 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Incumbent, Former Sheriff 20 votes apart; Three Board Incumbents Lose". The Dothan Eagle. 6 May 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  11. ^ Owen, Marie B. (1943). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 798–801. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  12. ^ Owen, Marie B. (1943). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. p. 790. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  13. ^ "K. A. Roberts Elected To State Senate". The Piedmont Journal. 12 June 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  14. ^ "M'Einry To Run Against Sparks". The Birmingham Post. 19 September 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Communists File For Three Offices". Birmingham Post-Herald. Associated Press. 18 August 1942. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Committee Selects Clyde M. Segrest For State Senator". The Houston Herald. 27 July 1939. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  17. ^ "State Canvassing Board Certified Segrest Election". The Southern Star (Alabama). 14 September 1939. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  18. ^ a b Owen, Marie B. (1943). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 846–847. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  19. ^ "State Briefs". The Huntsville Times. Associated Press. 15 February 1940. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  20. ^ "State Legislature Vacancies Filled". The Birmingham Post. United Press. 27 March 1940. Retrieved 15 August 2025.