2014 Alabama gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2014 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Governor Robert J. Bentley won a second term over Democrat Parker Griffith. This was the first Alabama gubernatorial race where either Choctaw and/or Conecuh counties voted Republican. This alongside the concurrent Senate race is the last time Jefferson County voted Republican in any statewide election. Bentley did not complete this term; he resigned in April 2017 due to a scandal and was succeeded by fellow Republican Kay Ivey.

2014 Alabama gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →

Nominee Robert J. Bentley Parker Griffith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 750,231 427,787 Percentage 63.56% 36.24%

County results Bentley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Griffith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Robert J. Bentley Republican Elected Governor Robert J. Bentley Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Robert J. Bentley, incumbent Governor^[1][2]
• Stacy Lee George, former Morgan County Commissioner^[3]
• Bob Starkey, retired software company owner and candidate for Mayor of Scottsboro in 2012^[4]

Declined

• Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville^[5]
• Bradley Byrne, U.S. Representative and candidate for Governor in 2010 (ran for re-election)^[2][6]
• David Carrington, President of the Jefferson County Commission (ran for re-election)^[7]
• Beth Chapman, former Secretary of State of Alabama^[8]
• Mike Hubbard, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives (ran for re-election)^[9]
• Mary Scott Hunter, Member of the Alabama State Board of Education (ran for re-election)^[10]
• Kay Ivey, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama (ran for re-election)^[11]
• Tim James, businessman, son of former Governor Fob James and candidate for Governor in 2002 and 2010^[2]
• Del Marsh, President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate (ran for re-election)^[11]
• Roy Moore, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and candidate for Governor in 2006 and 2010^[2]
• Tony Petelos, Jefferson County Manager and former Mayor of Hoover^[2]
• Bob Riley, former governor of Alabama^[11]
• Luther Strange, Attorney General of Alabama (ran for re-election)^[12]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Robert J. Bentley	Stacy Lee George	Bob Starkey	Undecided
Cygnal[13]	May 29–30, 2014	1,217	± 2.81%	80.7%	5.1%	5.3%	8.9%
Cygnal[14]	May 19–20, 2014	1,324	± 2.69%	73.3%	3.1%	1.8%	21.8%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Robert J. Bentley	Bob Riley	Other/ Undecided
Capital Survey Research Center[15]	May 21–23; June 4–6, 2012	315	± 5.5%	49.5%	27.6%	23.9%

Results

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert J. Bentley (incumbent)	388,247	89.35%
	Republican	Stacy Lee George	25,134	5.78%
	Republican	Bob Starkey	21,144	4.87%
Total votes			434,525	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Kevin Bass, businessman, former professional baseball player and candidate for Mayor of Fayette in 2012^[17]
• Parker Griffith, former U.S. Representative^[18]

Declined

• Billy Beasley, state senator^[19]
• Regina Benjamin, former Surgeon General of the United States^[20][21]
• Sue Bell Cobb, former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court^[20][22][23]
• Vivian Davis Figures, Minority Leader of the Alabama Senate and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008^[24]
• Craig Ford, Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives^[25]
• Pete Johnson, retired Jefferson County Judge^[26]
• John Rogers, state representative^[2]
• Robert Vance, Jefferson County Circuit Judge and nominee for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2012^[27]

Results

County results

Democratic primary results^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Parker Griffith	115,433	63.90%
	Democratic	Kevin Bass	65,225	36.10%
Total votes			180,658	100.00%

Independents

Candidates

Declined

• Charles Barkley, former NBA player^[29]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[30]	Solid R	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[31]	Safe R	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[32]	Safe R	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[33]	Safe R	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Robert Bentley (R)	Parker Griffith (D)	Other	Undecided
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[34]	October 16–23, 2014	661	± 6%	63%	25%	0%	12%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[35]	September 20 – October 1, 2014	692	± 4%	65%	28%	1%	6%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[36]	August 18 – September 2, 2014	741	± 5%	62%	28%	1%	9%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[37]	July 5–24, 2014	1,036	± 5.2%	59%	31%	2%	9%
Rasmussen Reports[38]	June 9–10, 2014	750	± 4%	55%	32%	4%	9%

Results

2014 Alabama gubernatorial election^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert J. Bentley (incumbent)	750,231	63.56%	+5.66%
	Democratic	Parker Griffith	427,787	36.24%	−5.86%
	Write-in		2,395	0.20%	N/A
Total votes			1,180,413	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Butler (Largest city: Greenville)
• Chambers (Largest city: Valley)
• Choctaw (Largest city: Butler)
• Conecuh (Largest city: Evergreen)
• Coosa (Largest city: Goodwater)
• Henry (Largest city: Headland)
• Jefferson (Largest city: Birmingham)