2020 Alabama elections
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Elections in Alabama |
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Alabama state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Its primary elections were held on March 3, 2020, with runoffs taking place on July 31.[1]
In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Alabama voters will elect the class II U.S. senator from Alabama, 4 of 9 members of the Alabama State Board of Education, all of its seats to the House of Representatives, 2 of 9 seats on the Supreme Court of Alabama, 4 of 10 seats on the Alabama Appellate Court and one seat of the Alabama House of Representatives. It will also vote on five ballot measures.
To vote by mail, registered Alabama voters must request a ballot by October 29, 2020.[2] As of early October some 130,576 voters have requested mail ballots.[3]
Federal offices
President of the United States
Alabama has 9 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won all of them with 62% of the popular vote.
United States class II Senate seat
Republican Tommy Tuberville defeated incumbent Democrat Doug Jones, winning 60% of the vote.
United States House of Representatives
There were five U.S. Representatives in Alabama that were up for election in addition to two open seats.[4] 6 seats were won by the Republicans while 1 seat was won by the Democrats. No congressional districts changed hands.
Public Service Commission
President
Democratic primary
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Laura Casey | 252,851 | 78.48 | |
Democratic | Robert Mardis III | 69,352 | 21.52 | |
Total votes | 322,203 | 100 |
Republican primary
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent) | 462,979 | 73.82 | |
Republican | Robin Litaker | 164,227 | 26.18 | |
Total votes | 627,206 | 100 |
General election

- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent) | 1,403,790 | 61.99 | |
Democratic | Laura Casey | 858,054 | 37.89 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 2,726 | 0.12 | |
Total votes | 2,264,570 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
State Board of Education
4 of 9 seats of the Alabama State Board of Education are up for election (one is a non-elected position held by the governor).[5] Before the election the composition of that board was:
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Member, District 1
Candidates
Both Democratic & Republican are cancelled respectively.
- Tom Holmes (Democratic)
- Jackie Zeigler, incumbent (Republican)
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jackie Zeigler (incumbent) | 212,461 | 72.73% | |
Democratic | Tom Holmes | 79,380 | 27.17% | |
Write-in | 294 | 0.1% | ||
Total votes | 292,135 | 100% |
Member, District 3
Candidates
Both Democratic & Republican are cancelled respectively.
- Jarralynne Agee (Democratic)
- Stephanie Bell, incumbent (Republican)
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Stephanie Bell (incumbent) | 209,909 | 68.92% | |
Democratic | Jarralynne Agee | 94,375 | 30.99% | |
Write-in | 278 | 0.09% | ||
Total votes | 304,562 | 100% |
Member, District 5
Republican primary
- Lesa Keith
Democratic primary
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Fred F. Bell | 24,589 | 30.35 | |
Democratic | Tonya Smith Chestnut | 16,044 | 19.8 | |
Democratic | Billie Jean Young | 11,271 | 13.91 | |
Democratic | Ron Davis | 8,957 | 11.05 | |
Democratic | Pamela Laffitte | 6,712 | 8.28 | |
Democratic | Patrice McClammy | 5,932 | 7.32 | |
Democratic | Woodie Pugh Jr. | 5,696 | 7.03 | |
Democratic | Joanne Shum | 1,830 | 2.26 | |
Total votes | 81,031 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tonya Smith Chestnut | 21,230 | 61.35 | |
Democratic | Fred F. Bell | 13,372 | 38.65 | |
Total votes | 34,602 | 100 |
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tonya Smith Chestnut (incumbent) | 161,192 | 62.71% | |
Republican | Lesa Keith | 95,593 | 37.19% | |
Write-in | 245 | 0.10% | ||
Total votes | 257,030 | 100% |
Member, District 7
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Belinda Palmer McRae | 230,122 | 98.73% | |
Write-in | 2,957 | 1.27% | ||
Total votes | 233,079 | 100% |
State judiciary
Two seats on the Alabama Supreme Court and two seats each on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals were up for election, all of which were held by Republicans. Of these four had contested primaries.[7][8]
State Supreme Court, Place 1
Democratic primary
No candidates filed for election to this seat.[9]
Republican primary
Candidates
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Greg Shaw |
Cam Ward |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mason-Dixon[11] | February 4–6, 2020 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 24% | 19% | 57% |
Primary results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Greg Shaw (incumbent) | 344,049 | 58.39% | |
Republican | Cam Ward | 245,184 | 41.61% | |
Total votes | 589,233 | 100% |
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Greg Shaw (incumbent) | 1,554,369 | 97.58% | |
Write-in | 38,502 | 2.42% | ||
Total votes | 1,592,871 | 100% |
Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2
Incumbent judge Scott Donaldson decided not to seek re-election.[13]
Democratic primary
No candidates filed for election to this seat.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Matt Fridy, state representative.[14]
- Philip Bahakel, judge.[10]
Primary results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Matt Fridy | 353,024 | 66.02% | |
Republican | Philip Bahakel | 181,717 | 33.98% | |
Total votes | 534,741 | 100% |
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Matt Fridy | 1,539,415 | 97.72% | |
Write-in | 35,890 | 2.28% | ||
Total votes | 1,575,305 | 100% | ||
Republican hold |
Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1
Democratic primary
No candidates filed for election to this seat.
Republican primary
Candidates
Primary results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mary Windom (incumbent) | 387,876 | 69.45% | |
Republican | Melvin Hasting | 170,599 | 30.55% | |
Total votes | 558,475 | 100% |
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mary Windom (incumbent) | 1,541,862 | 97.72% | |
Write-in | 34,708 | 2.28% | ||
Total votes | 1,576,570 | 100% |
Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2
Democratic primary
No candidates filed for election to this seat.
Republican primary
Candidates
Primary results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent) | 232,303 | 43.37% | |
Republican | Willian Smith | 198,663 | 37.09% | |
Republican | Jill Ganus | 104,680 | 19.54% | |
Total votes | 535,646 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent) | 270,306 | 55.73% | |
Republican | William Smith | 214,764 | 44.27% | |
Total votes | 485,070 | 100% |
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent) | 1,537,451 | 97.83% | |
Write-in | 34,128 | 2.17% | ||
Total votes | 1,571,579 | 100% |
State House of Representatives
A special election had been called for November 17, 2020, for District 49 as a result of Republican incumbent April Weaver resigning from the legislature. Primaries were held on August 4 that year, with a Republican runoff set for September 1.[17]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Russell Bedsole | 1,599 | 63.18 | |
Democratic | Cheryl Patton | 930 | 36.74 | |
Write-in | 2 | 0.08 | ||
Total votes | 2,531 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Ballot measures
Amendment 1 (March)
In addition to the five amendments that are being voted on in November, Amendment 1 – called the Appointed Education Board Amendment – was defeated in the state's primary. It would have replaced the elected State Board of Education with a Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education whose members would have been appointed by the governor with the approval of the state senate.[19]
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
For Amendment 1 | Against Amendment 1 | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mason-Dixon/Alabama Daily News/WBRC/WAFF[20] |
February 4–6, 2020 | 625 (RV) | ± 4% | 38% | 41% | 21% |
Results

- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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837,234 | 75.12 |
Yes | 277,320 | 24.88 |
Total votes | 1,114,554 | 100.00 |
Amendment 1 (November)
The Citizenship requirement for Voting Measure would allow only a U.S. citizen who is 18 years old or older to vote in Alabama.[22]

- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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1,535,862 | 77.01 |
No | 458,487 | 22.99 |
Total votes | 1,994,349 | 100.00 |
Amendment 2
The Judicial System Restructuring Measure would make certain changes to judicial law and court systems and procedures.[23]

- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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919,380 | 51.06 |
Yes | 881,145 | 48.94 |
Total votes | 1,800,525 | 100.00 |
Amendment 3
The Judicial Vacancies Measure would provide that a judge, other than a probate judge, appointed to fill a vacancy would serve an initial term until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after the judge has completed two years in office.[24]

- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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1,193,532 | 64.84 |
No | 647,305 | 35.16 |
Total votes | 1,840,837 | 100.00 |
Amendment 4
The Authorize Legislature to Recompile the State Constitution Measure would authorize the state legislature during the 2022 regular session to recompile the Alabama Constitution and provide for its ratification.[25]

- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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1,222,682 | 66.82 |
No | 607,090 | 33.18 |
Total votes | 1,829,772 | 100.00 |
Amendment 5
The "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches Measure would provide for a "Stand Your Ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Franklin County.[26]

- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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1,213,544 | 71.61 |
No | 481,088 | 28.39 |
Total votes | 1,694,632 | 100.00 |
Amendment 6
The "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches Measure would provide for a "Stand Your Ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Lauderdale County.[27]

- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
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1,216,008 | 71.61 |
No | 482,189 | 28.39 |
Total votes | 1,698,197 | 100.00 |
Notes
Partisan clients
References
- ^ "Alabama elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com, archived from the original on October 6, 2020
- ^ Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020,
Detailed state statistics
- ^ "Live: Alabama State Primary Election Results 2020". New York Times. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "State Board of Education". Alabama State Department of Education. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Texas 2020 election results". November 3, 2020.
- ^ "Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Fiscus, Kirsten (March 3, 2020). "Alabama Supreme Court judge bests state senator for seat on state's highest court". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Ross, Sean (March 2, 2020). "What to look for in Alabama's 2020 primary on Tuesday". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Mason-Dixon
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Canvass of Results for the General Election held on November 3, 2020" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. November 23, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Sean (June 12, 2019). "State Rep. Matt Fridy running for Court of Civil Appeals". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Sparacino, Emily (March 3, 2020). "Fridy wins Court of Civil Appeals seat in Republican primary". Shelby County Reporter. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Ross, Sean (October 4, 2019). "Mary Windom seeking reelection to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Ross, Sean (August 23, 2019). "Kellum seeking reelection to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Love, Joyanna (August 4, 2020). "House District 49 Republican primary ends without majority winner". The Clanton Advertiser. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "CertificationResults-HD49 Special General Election" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 1, Appointed Education Board Amendment (March 2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Mason-Dixon/Alabama
Daily News/WBRC/WAFF - ^ "Canvass of Results for the Primary Election held on March 3, 2020" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. March 19, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 1, Citizenship Requirement for Voting Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 2, Judicial System Restructuring Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 3, Judicial Vacancies Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 4, Authorize Legislature to Recompile the State Constitution Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 5, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama Amendment 6, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
External links
- Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Alabama", Voting & Elections Toolkits
- "Alabama: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
- "League of Women Voters of Alabama". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
- Alabama at Ballotpedia
- "Voting in Alabama", Voting Information by State, Rock the Vote. ("Deadlines, dates, requirements, registration options and information on how to vote in your state")
- "State Elections Legislation Database", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures,
State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020