2014 Alabama elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Alabama on November 4, 2014. All of Alabama's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives.

2014 Alabama elections

← 2012 2016 →

Primary elections were held on June 3, 2014, for offices that need to nominate candidates. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate won a majority of the vote, were held on July 15.

Governor

Main article: 2014 Alabama gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Governor Robert J. Bentley, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, ran for re-election to a second term as governor.^[1]

He defeated former Morgan County Commissioner Stacy Lee George and retired software company owner and candidate for Mayor of Scottsboro in 2012 Bob Starkey in the Republican primary.^[1]

In the Democratic primary, former U.S. Representative Parker Griffith defeated businessman and former professional baseball player Kevin Bass.^[1]

Results

2014 Alabama gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert J. Bentley (incumbent)	750,231	63.6
	Democratic	Parker Griffith	427,787	36.2
	n/a	Write-ins	2,395	0.2
Total votes			1,180,413	100.0
	Republican hold

Lieutenant governor

2014 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election

← 2010 2018 →

Nominee Kay Ivey James C. Fields Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 738,090 428,007 Percentage 63.2% 36.7%

County results Ivey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Fields:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Lieutenant Governor before election Kay Ivey Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey Republican

In Alabama, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately. Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, ran for re-election to a second term.^[1]

Pastor and conservative activist Stan Cooke also ran in the Republican primary.^[1]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kay Ivey	Stan Cooke	Undecided
Cygnal[3]	May 29–30, 2014	1,217	± 2.81%	58%	32%	10%
Cygnal[4]	May 19–20, 2014	1,324	± 2.69%	35%	18%	47%

Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kay Ivey (incumbent)	257,588	61.7
	Republican	Stan Cooke	160,023	38.3
Total votes			417,611	100.0

Former state representative James C. Fields was the only Democrat running for the office.^[1] Scott Ninesling, a fire chief and emergency response supervisor for a liquefied natural gas plant in Angola, had declared his candidacy, but he withdrew before the filing deadline.^[6]

2014 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kay Ivey (incumbent)	738,090	63.2
	Democratic	James C. Fields	428,007	36.7
	n/a	Write-ins	1,146	0.1
Total votes			1,167,243	100.0
	Republican hold

Attorney General

2014 Alabama Attorney General election

← 2010 2018 →

Nominee Luther Strange Joe Hubbard Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 681,973 483,771 Percentage 58.39% 41.42%

County results Strange:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hubbard:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election Luther Strange Republican Elected Attorney General Luther Strange Republican

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Luther Strange, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, ran for re-election to a second term.^[1]

He was unopposed in the Republican primary. State Representative Joe Hubbard, the great-grandson of former U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill, was the only Democrat running for the office.

2014 Alabama Attorney General election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Luther Strange (incumbent)	681,973	58.39
	Democratic	Joe Hubbard	483,771	41.42
	n/a	Write-ins	2,157	0.19
Total votes			1,167,901	100
	Republican hold

Secretary of State

2014 Alabama Secretary of State election

← 2010 2018 →

Nominee John Merrill Lula Albert-Kaigler Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 733,298 406,373 Percentage 64.2% 35.6%

County results Merrill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Albert-Kaigler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Secretary of State before election James R. Bennett Republican Elected Secretary of State John Merrill Republican

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State James R. Bennett, who had served in the office since July 31, 2013, did not run for re-election, per the terms of his appointment.^[1] Bennett, who had previously served as secretary of state from 1993 to 2003, was appointed to the office following the resignation of Beth Chapman.

Running in the Republican primary were former Montgomery County Probate Judge Reese McKinney, State Representative John Merrill, and Crenshaw County Probate Judge James Perdue.^[1]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Reese McKinney	John Merrill	James Perdue	Undecided
Cygnal[3]	May 29–30, 2014	1,217	± 2.81%	21%	19%	17.1%	43%
Cygnal[4]	May 19–20, 2014	1,324	± 2.69%	12%	8.5%	9%	71%

Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Merrill	143,960	39.57
	Republican	Reese McKinney	139,763	38.42
	Republican	Jim Perdue	80,050	22.01
Total votes			363,773	100.00

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Reese McKinney	John Merrill	Undecided
Cygnal[7]	July 7–8, 2014	821	± 3.42%	23%	24.2%	52.8%

Republican primary runoff results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Merrill	108,664	53.1
	Republican	Reese McKinney	95,808	46.9
Total votes			204,472	100.0

The only Democrat running was Lula Albert-Kaigler, a retired self-employed worker and candidate for Alabama's 1st congressional district in 2013.^[1]

2014 Alabama Secretary of State election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Merrill	733,298	64.2
	Democratic	Lula Albert-Kaigler	406,373	35.6
	n/a	Write-ins	1,271	0.1
Total votes			1,140,942	100.0
	Republican hold

State Auditor

2014 Alabama State Auditor election

← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →

Nominee Jim Zeigler Miranda Joseph Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 716,122 420,843 Percentage 62.93% 36.98%

County results Zeigler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Joseph:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

State Auditor before election Jim Zeigler Republican Elected State Auditor Jim Zeigler Republican

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Samantha Shaw, who had served in the office since January 15, 2007, was term-limited and not eligible to run for re-election to a third term.^[1]

Four Republicans ran for their party's nomination: farmer and candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2010 Dale Peterson, former Deputy Conservation Commissioner Hobbie Sealy, secretary of state aide Adam Thompson, and former Public Service Commissioner Jim Zeigler.^[1] Attorney Ray Bryan had been running on a platform of abolishing the office,^[9] but he was disqualified from the ballot by the Alabama Republican Party for missing the deadline to file a financial statement with the Alabama Ethics Commission. He considered running as an independent, but decided against it.^[10]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dale Peterson	Hobbie Sealy	Adam Thompson	Jim Zeigler	Undecided
Cygnal[3]	May 29–30, 2014	1,217	± 2.81%	17%	5%	10%	24%	45%
Cygnal[4]	May 19–20, 2014	1,324	± 2.69%	11%	3%	5%	20%	61%

Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Zeigler	164,002	47.07
	Republican	Dale Peterson	84,828	24.35
	Republican	Adam Thompson	64,688	18.57
	Republican	Hobbie Sealy	34,910	10.02
Total votes			348,428	100

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dale Peterson	Jim Zeigler	Undecided
Cygnal[7]	July 7–8, 2014	821	± 3.42%	22%	31%	48%

Republican primary runoff results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Zeigler	131,637	64.92
	Republican	Dale Peterson	71,141	35.08
Total votes			202,778	100

The only Democrat running was Miranda Joseph, the nominee for State Auditor in 2010.^[1]

2014 Alabama State Auditor election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Zeigler	716,122	62.93
	Democratic	Miranda Joseph	420,843	36.98
	n/a	Write-ins	1,010	0.09
Total votes			1,137,975	100
	Republican hold

State Treasurer

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Young Boozer, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, was running for re-election to a second term.^[1]

Boozer was unopposed in the Republican primary. Democrat Joe Cottle, a lobbyist for the Alabama Education Association, had been running, but withdrew from the race.^[1]

Results by county

Boozer:

•   90–100%

2014 Alabama State Treasurer election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Young Boozer (incumbent)	748,876	98.0
	n/a	Write-ins	15,224	2.0
Total votes			764,100	100.0
	Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, was running for re-election to a second term.^[1]

McMillan was unopposed in the Republican primary. The only Democrat running was Doug "New Blue" Smith.^[1]

Results by county

McMillan:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

Smith:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

2014 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John McMillan (incumbent)	734,428	64.7
	Democratic	Doug "New Blue" Smith	400,299	35.2
	n/a	Write-ins	970	0.1
Total votes			1,135,697	100.0
	Republican hold

Public Service Commission

Both of the Associate Commissioners on the Alabama Public Service Commission are up for election. Republican Jeremy Oden, who was appointed to the commission by Governor Bentley in December 2012, was running for election to a first full term. Republican Terry L. Dunn, who was first elected in 2010, was running for re-election to a second term.^[1]

Place 1

Oden was challenged in the Republican primary by Kathy Peterson, the wife of Dale Peterson and a candidate for Public Service Commission in 2012. No Democrat filed to run.^[1]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jeremy Oden	Kathy Peterson	Undecided
Cygnal[3]	May 29–30, 2014	1,217	± 2.81%	36%	26%	39%
Cygnal[4]	May 19–20, 2014	1,324	± 2.69%	20%	17%	64%

Republican primary

PSC Place 1 Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeremy Oden (incumbent)	188,971	52.4
	Republican	Kathy Peterson	171,755	47.6
Total votes			360,726	100.0

General election

2014 Alabama PSC Place 1 election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeremy Oden (incumbent)	735,298	98.0
	n/a	Write-ins	15,043	2.0
Total votes			750,341	100.0
	Republican hold

Place 2

Dunn faced three opponents in the Republican primary: Jonathan Barbee, former interim press secretary for the Alabama Republican Party; Chris "Chip" Beeker, former Greene County Commissioner; and Phillip Brown, the Chairman of the Alabama Minority GOP. No Democrat filed to run.^[1]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Terry L. Dunn	Jonathan Barbee	Chris "Chip" Beeker	Phillip Brown	Undecided
Cygnal[3]	May 29–30, 2014	1,217	± 2.81%	13%	12%	23%	7%	45%
Cygnal[4]	May 19–20, 2014	1,324	± 2.69%	10%	6%	17%	5%	63%

Republican primary

PSC Place 2 Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris "Chip" Beeker	133,606	39.0
	Republican	Terry L. Dunn (incumbent)	111,404	32.5
	Republican	Jonathan Barbee	54,341	15.9
	Republican	Phillip Brown	43,097	12.6
Total votes			342,448	100.0

Primary runoff

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Terry L. Dunn	Chris "Chip" Beeker	Undecided
Cygnal[7]	July 7–8, 2014	821	± 3.42%	22%	31%	47%

Republican primary runoff results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris "Chip" Beeker	119,041	59.3
	Republican	Terry L. Dunn (incumbent)	81,563	40.7
Total votes			200,604	100.0

General election

Results by county

Beeker:

•   90–100%

2014 Alabama PSC Place 2 election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris "Chip" Beeker	735,957	98.0
	n/a	Write-ins	15,094	2.0
Total votes			751,051	100.0
	Republican hold

State Senate

Main article: 2014 Alabama Senate election

All 35 seats of the Alabama Senate were up for election in 2014.

Prior to the election the Republicans held a 23–11 edge; after the election the Republicans regained control 26–8 with 1 independent going to the GOP side.

State House of Representatives

Main article: 2014 Alabama House of Representatives election

All 105 seats in the Alabama House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

Prior to the election the Republicans had a 66–37 edge; after the election the Republicans regained control 72–33.

United States Senate

Main article: 2014 United States Senate election in Alabama

Incumbent Republican senator Jeff Sessions ran for re-election to a fourth term. No other candidates filed before the deadline and so he was unopposed in the primary and general elections.

2014 United States Senate election in Alabama^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeff Sessions (incumbent)	795,606	97.3
	n/a	Write-ins	22,484	2.7
Total votes			818,090	100.0
	Republican hold

United States House of Representatives

Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

All of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

Ballot measures

Six statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot in Alabama - one in July and five in November. All of them were approved by the voters.^[12]

Amendment 1 (July)

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

The Alabama Cotton Producer Assessment Refund Amendment would end the assessment refund for cotton producers who do not participate in the assessment program for cotton checkoff.^[13]

Amendment 1 (July)

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	158,356	67.08
No	77,725	32.92
Total votes	236,081	100.00

Amendment 1 (November)

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

No:

•   60–70%

The Alabama Foreign Laws in Court Amendment would forbid the state's recognition of laws violating its policies, including all foreign law.^[14]

Amendment 1 (November)

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	696,141	72.33
No	266,272	27.67
Total votes	962,413	100.00

Amendment 2

Results by county

Yes:

•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

No:

•   60–70%
•   50–60%

The Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund Amendment would increase the amount of general obligation bonds authorized by $50 million.^[15]

Amendment 2

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	479,026	50.48
No	469,998	49.52
Total votes	949,024	100.00

Amendment 3

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

No:

•   60–70%

The Alabama Right to Bear Arms Amendment would protect the right to bear arms in the state and require strict scrutiny of any restriction on the right.^[16]

Amendment 3

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	736,462	72.50
No	279,397	27.50
Total votes	1,015,859	100.00

Amendment 4

Results by county

Yes:

•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

No:

•   50–60%

The Alabama Board of Education Expenditure Increase Amendment would require a two-thirds majority vote by the Alabama Legislature to increase local education expenditure by $50,000 or more.^[17]

Amendment 4

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	535,308	56.24
No	416,460	43.76
Total votes	951,768	100.00

Amendment 5

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%

The Alabama Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment would clarify that the people in Alabama have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to reasonable regulations.^[18]

Amendment 5

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	789,777	79.84
No	199,483	20.16
Total votes	989,260	100.00