2018 Alabama gubernatorial election
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The 2018 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Governor Kay Ivey (R), who took office upon the resignation of Robert Bentley (R), ran for election to a full term and defeated Democratic Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox by a wide margin.[1] Ivey was sworn in for her first full term on January 14, 2019.[2]
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Ivey: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Maddox: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% | |||||||||||||||||
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Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Tommy Battle, mayor of Huntsville[3][4]
- Scott Dawson, evangelist[5]
- Bill Hightower, state senator[6][7]
- Kay Ivey, incumbent governor[8]
- Michael McAllister, former prison officer[9][10] (died April 2018)
Withdrew
- Slade Blackwell, state senator[11][12][13][14][15]
- David Carrington, Jefferson County Commissioner[16]
- Twinkle Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission (running for lieutenant governor)[17]
- Stacy Lee George, former Morgan County Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2014[18][19]
- Josh Jones, businessman[20][21][22]
- John McMillan, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries[23][24] (running for state treasurer)
Declined
- Rick Burgess, radio host[25]
- Bill "Bubba" Bussey, radio host[25]
- Bradley Byrne, U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 2010[26][27] (running for reelection)
- Mary Scott Hunter, member of the Alabama State Board of Education (running for the state senate after initially running for lieutenant governor)[12][28]
- Del Marsh, president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate[29] (running for reelection)
- Arthur Orr, state senator[30][13] (running for reelection)
- Trip Pittman, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2017[12][13]
- Greg Reed, Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate[11][13] (running for reelection)
- Luther Strange, former U.S. senator and former attorney general of Alabama[30][11][31][32][33]
- Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn University football coach[34][35]
- Cam Ward, state senator[12][13] (running for reelection)
- Jim Zeigler, State Auditor of Alabama[36][37] (running for reelection)
Endorsements
Scott Dawson
- Politicians
- Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas[38]
- Individuals
- Rick Burgess, radio host
- Bill "Bubba" Bussey, radio host
- Organizations
- Alabama Republican Assembly
- BamaCarry, Alabama's largest Second Amendment rights group
Kay Ivey
- State senators
- State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Range)
- State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville)
- State Sen. Jimmy Holley (R-Elba)
- State Sen. Del Marsh. (R-Anniston), president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate
- State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville)
- State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence)
- State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur)
- State Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate
- State Sen. Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville)
- State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville)
- State Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills)
- State Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster)
- State Sen. Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City)
- State representatives
- Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton)
- Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City)
- Rep. Alan Booth (R-Troy)
- Rep. K.L. Brown (R-Jacksonville)
- Rep. Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva)
- Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark)
- Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur)
- Rep. Danny Crawford (R-Athens)
- Rep. Corley Ellis (R-Columbiana)
- Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook)
- Rep. Joe Faust (R-Fairhope)
- Rep. Bob Fincher (R-Woodland)
- Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville)
- Rep. Lynn Greer (R-Rogersville)
- Rep. Alan Harper (R-Northport)
- Rep. Steve Hurst (R-Munford)
- Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Montgomery)
- Rep. Ken Johnson (R-Moulton)
- Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville)
- Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan)
- Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn)
- Rep. Steve McMillan (R-Bay Minette)
- Rep. Becky Nordgren (R-Gadsden)
- Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen)
- Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa)
- Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile)
- Rep. Kerry Rich (R-Guntersville)
- Rep. Chris Sells (R-Evergreen)
- Rep. Randall Shedd (R-Cullman)
- Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden)
- Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris)
- Rep. Randy Wood (R-Anniston)
- Individuals
- Edward Aldag, founder and CEO of Medical Properties Trust[39]
- David Cooper, director of Alabama Power Co.[39]
- Stacy Lee George, former Morgan County commissioner and candidate for governor in 2018[40]
- Organizations
- Alabama Farmers Federation
Tommy Battle
- Individuals
- Dale Jackson, radio host
- Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn Tigers head football coach[41]
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Tommy Battle |
Scott Dawson |
Bill Hightower |
Kay Ivey |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tarrance Group (R-Ivey)[42] | May 20–22, 2018 | 602 | ± 4.1% | 18% | 7% | 5% | 58% | 12% |
Leverage Public Strategies[43] | April 23–30, 2018 | 600 | ± 3.9% | 11% | 9% | 4% | 47% | 30% |
The Tarrance Group (R-Ivey)[44] | August 28–30, 2017 | 601 | ± 4.1% | 11% | – | 3% | 66% | 16% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Tommy Battle |
Young Boozer |
Bill Hightower |
Mike Hubbard |
Kay Ivey |
Tim James |
Del Marsh |
John McMillan |
John Merrill |
Roy Moore |
Martha Roby |
Luther Strange |
Undecided/ Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Insight Research[45] | July 2016 | 607 | – | 9% | 2% | – | – | – | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 28% | 6% | 19% | 24% |
Public Insight Research[45] | July 2015 | 601 | – | – | – | – | 4% | – | 4% | 5% | 2% | 3% | 32% | – | 19% | 30% |
Hypothetical polling
Results

Ivey
- >90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
Battle
- 40–50%
- 60–70%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kay Ivey (incumbent) | 330,743 | 56.10% | |
Republican | Tommy Battle | 146,887 | 24.92% | |
Republican | Scott Dawson | 79,302 | 13.45% | |
Republican | Bill Hightower | 29,275 | 4.97% | |
Republican | Michael McAllister (deceased) | 3,326 | 0.56% | |
Total votes | 589,533 | 100% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Sue Bell Cobb, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court[47]
- Christopher A. Countryman, equality activist, former juvenile corrections officer and former pastor[48][49][50]
- James C. Fields, former state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014[51][52][53]
- Walt Maddox, mayor of Tuscaloosa[54]
- Doug "New Blue" Smith, nominee for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2014[55]
- Anthony White, ordained minister[56]
Withdrew
- Jason Childs, truck driver and former pastor[57][58][59]
Declined
- Doug Jones, U.S. senator[32]
- Terri Sewell, U.S. representative for Alabama's 7th Congressional District
Endorsements
Sue Bell Cobb
- Politicians
- Thomas Parchman III, candidate for Jefferson County Circuit Clerk
- Individuals
- J. Norman Baldwin, author and professor of Political Science at University of Alabama[60]
- Wade Chapman, student activist
- Josh Coleman, Central Alabama Pride
- Suzanne Durham, former CEO of YMCA Birmingham[61]
- Quincy Hall, Equality Alabama Board of Directors president
- Ruth Harrell, former president of the Alabama State Nurses Association[62]
- Miah Jackson, councilwoman for Selma, Alabama
- Frannie James, Jefferson County Democratic Party executive director
- Mark Johnston, former candidate for governor of Alabama
- Billy Jones, president of Crowne Healthcare[63]
- Lilly Ledbetter[64]
- Lonnie Malone, executive director of the Effective Family Inc.
- Kelley Parris, director of the Children's Board of Hillsborough County
- John A. Pickens, former executive director of Alabama Appleseed Center
- Joanne Shum, director of Alabama HIPPY[65]
- James T. Stephens, chairman of EBSCO Industries
- Sue Thompson, activist
- Organizations
- Alabama Progressive Democratic Alliance
James Fields
- Unions
Christopher A. Countryman
- Organizations
- Alabama Internet Democrats
- Alabama United
- Madison County Our Revolution of Madison County, Alabama
- Millions for Medicare of Alabama
- Power House of Montgomery, Alabama
- Individuals
- Cortney Brown, businesswoman of Huntsville, Alabama
- Bev Cowling, director of Madison County Our Revolution of Madison County, Alabama
- John Harrison, minister and human rights advocate of Birmingham, Alabama
- Mia Raven, director of Power House of Montgomery, Alabama
- Jeni Tanner-Jordan, former president of the Greater Birmingham chapter of the National Organization For Women of Birmingham, Alabama
Walt Maddox
- Politicians
- Roger Bedford Jr., former Alabama state senator 1994–2014[66]
- Napoleon Bracy Jr., Alabama state representative[67]
- Tony Cherry, Choctaw county commissioner
- Sue Bell Cobb, former candidate for governor of Alabama and former Chief Justice of Alabama
- Merika Coleman, Assistant Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives[68]
- Linda Coleman-Madison, Alabama state senator[69]
- Anthony Daniels, Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives[70]
- Christopher J. England, Alabama state representative[71]
- Parker Griffith, former U.S. representative, former candidate for governor in 2014
- Bob Harrison, Madison County, Alabama commissioner
- Doug Jones, U.S. senator (D-AL)[72]
- Susan Lane, Westover, Alabama councilwoman
- Kelvin Lawrence, Alabama state representative[69]
- Artis J. McCampbell, Alabama State Representative[69]
- Larry Means, mayor of Attalla, Alabama
- Darrio Melton, mayor of Selma, Alabama[73]
- Mary Moore, Alabama state representative[69]
- John Rogers, Alabama state representative[69]
- Terri Sewell, U.S. representative (AL-7)
- Bobby Singleton, Alabama state senator[69]
- Susan Smith, Atmore, Alabama councilwoman[74]
- Ron Sparks, former Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, candidate for governor of Alabama in 2010
- Patricia Todd, Alabama state representative; first openly gay elected official in Alabama[69]
- Randall Woodfin, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama[69]
- Individuals
- Lars Anderson, reporter for The Athletic
- Pat Edington, former vice chair of the Alabama Democratic Party
- Brandon Hamner, president of United Steelworkers Local 351
- Jack Jacobs, UMWA chairman
- Tom Ksobiech, associate dean at University of Alabama Law School
- Elliot Maisel, chairman of the Mobile Airport Authority
- Zac McCrary, Democratic pollster
- Alex McDaniel, editorial director of Oxford Eagle and Oxford Magazine
- Charles Morgan, Alabama restaurateur[69]
- Jim Page, president of West Alabama Chamber of Commerce
- Sarah Patterson, former head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnastics team
- Tony Quillen, president of IBEW 558[75]
- Steven Reed, Montgomery County probate judge
- Shelia Hocutt Remington, former Alabama Education Association president[76]
- Bren Riley, Alabama AFL-CIO president[77]
- Richard Allen Smith, MSNBC contributor and former staffer at the Department of Veteran Affairs[78]
- Kurt Thomas, UAB track and field head coach
- Bob Vance, circuit court judge
- Organizations
- Alabama Democratic Conference[69]
- Alabama New South Alliance[79]
- Central Alabama Labor Federation[69]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers[69]
- Jefferson County Millennial Democrats[69]
- Lee County Voters League[69]
- Professional Firefighters of Alabama[69]
- United Mine Workers[69]
- West Alabama AFL-CIO[80]
- Newspapers
Results

Maddox
- >90%
- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- <40%
Cobb
- <40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
Fields
- 50–60%
White
- <40%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Walt Maddox | 154,559 | 54.60% | |
Democratic | Sue Bell Cobb | 82,043 | 28.98% | |
Democratic | James Fields | 22,635 | 8.00% | |
Democratic | Anthony White | 9,677 | 3.42% | |
Democratic | Doug "New Blue" Smith | 9,244 | 3.27% | |
Democratic | Christopher Countryman | 4,923 | 1.74% | |
Total votes | 283,081 | 100% |
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Tony Hewitt Jr., police officer[83]
- Eric Lathan, security guard, Iraq War veteran and candidate for the Jefferson County Commission in 2010[84]
Declined
General election
Summarize
Perspective
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[89] | Safe R | October 26, 2018 |
The Washington Post[90] | Safe R | November 5, 2018 |
FiveThirtyEight[91] | Safe R | November 5, 2018 |
Rothenberg Political Report[92] | Safe R | November 1, 2018 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[93] | Safe R | November 5, 2018 |
RealClearPolitics[94] | Safe R | November 4, 2018 |
Daily Kos[95] | Safe R | November 5, 2018 |
Fox News[96][a] | Likely R | November 5, 2018 |
Politico[97] | Safe R | November 5, 2018 |
Governing[98] | Safe R | November 5, 2018 |
Endorsements
Kay Ivey
- State senators
- State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Range)
- State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville)
- State Sen. Jimmy Holley (R-Elba)
- State Sen. Del Marsh. (R-Anniston), president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate
- State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville)
- State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence)
- State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur)
- State Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate
- State Sen. Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville)
- State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville)
- State Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills)
- State Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster)
- State Sen. Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City)
- State representatives
- Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton)
- Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City)
- Rep. Alan Booth (R-Troy)
- Rep. K.L. Brown (R-Jacksonville)
- Rep. Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva)
- Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark)
- Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur)
- Rep. Danny Crawford (R-Athens)
- Rep. Corley Ellis (R-Columbiana)
- Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook)
- Rep. Joe Faust (R-Fairhope)
- Rep. Bob Fincher (R-Woodland)
- Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville)
- Rep. Lynn Greer (R-Rogersville)
- Rep. Alan Harper (R-Northport)
- Rep. Steve Hurst (R-Munford)
- Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Montgomery)
- Rep. Ken Johnson (R-Moulton)
- Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville)
- Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan)
- Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn)
- Rep. Steve McMillan (R-Bay Minette)
- Rep. Becky Nordgren (R-Gadsden)
- Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen)
- Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa)
- Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile)
- Rep. Kerry Rich (R-Guntersville)
- Rep. Chris Sells (R-Evergreen)
- Rep. Randall Shedd (R-Cullman)
- Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden)
- Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris)
- Rep. Randy Wood (R-Anniston)
- Individuals
- Edward Aldag, founder and CEO of Medical Properties Trust[39]
- David Cooper, director of Alabama Power Co.[39]
- Stacy Lee George, former Morgan County Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2018[40]
- Organizations
- Alabama Farmers Federation
- National Federation of Independent Business[99]
- National Right to Life[100]
- Susan B. Anthony List[101]
Walt Maddox
- Federal officials
- Parker Griffith, former U.S. representative, former candidate for governor in 2014
- Doug Jones, U.S. senator (D-AL)[72]
- Terri Sewell, U.S. representative (AL-7)
- Local and state politicians
- Lee Auman, Democratic nominee for Alabama's 5th congressional district[102]
- George Bandy, Alabama state representative[69]
- Billy Beasley, Minority Leader of the Alabama State Senate[70]
- Roger Bedford Jr., former Alabama state senator 1994–2014[66]
- Marcel Black, Alabama state representative[69]
- Barbara Boyd, Alabama state representative[69]
- Will Boyd, Democratic nominee for lt. governor[102]
- Napoleon Bracy Jr., Alabama state representative[67]
- James Buskey, Alabama state representative[69]
- Tony Cherry, Choctaw County commissioner
- Sue Bell Cobb, former candidate for governor of Alabama and former Chief Justice of Alabama
- Merika Coleman, Assistant Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives[68]
- Linda Coleman-Madison, Alabama state senator[69]
- Anthony Daniels, Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives[70]
- Christopher J. England, Alabama state representative[71]
- James C. Fields, former candidate for governor of Alabama and former State House Representative
- Vivian Davis Figures, Alabama state senator[69]
- Mallory Hagan, Democratic nominee for Alabama's 3rd congressional district[102]
- Laura Hall, Alabama state representative[69]
- Bob Harrison, Madison County, Alabama commissioner
- Tabitha Isner, Democratic nominee for Alabama's 2nd congressional district[102]
- Miranda Joseph, Democratic nominee for State Auditor[102]
- Robert Kennedy Jr, Democratic nominee for Alabama's 1st congressional district[102]
- Danner Kline, Democratic nominee for Alabama's 6th congressional district[102]
- Susan Lane, Westover, Alabama councilwoman
- Kelvin Lawrence, Alabama state representative[69]
- Richard Lindsey, Alabama state representative[69]
- Artis J. McCampbell, Alabama state representative[69]
- Cara McClure, Democratic nominee for Public Service Commission Place 1[102]
- Larry Means, mayor of Attalla, Alabama
- Darrio Melton, mayor of Selma, Alabama[73]
- Heather Milam, Democratic nominee for Secretary of State[102]
- Mary Moore, Alabama state representative[69]
- Johnny Mack Morrow, Alabama state representative[69]
- Kari Powell, Democratic nominee for Public Service Commission Place 2[102]
- John Rogers, Alabama state representative[69]
- Joseph Siegelman, Democratic nominee for Attorney General[102]
- Bobby Singleton, Alabama state senator[69]
- Donna Smalley, candidate for Alabama State Supreme Court[69]
- Doug "New Blue" Smith, former candidate for governor of Alabama and former nominee for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
- Susan Smith, Atmore, Alabama councilwoman[74]
- Rodger Smitherman, Alabama state senator[69]
- Ron Sparks, former Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, candidate for governor of Alabama in 2010
- Patricia Todd, Alabama state representative; first openly gay elected official in Alabama[69]
- Bob Vance, candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama[69]
- Pebblin Warren, Alabama State Representative[69]
- Anthony White, ordained minister and former candidate for sovernor of Alabama
- Randall Woodfin, mayor of Birmingham[69]
- Individuals
- Lars Anderson, reporter for The Athletic
- Pat Edington, former vice chair of the Alabama Democratic Party
- Brandon Hamner, president of United Steelworkers Local 351
- Jack Jacobs, UMWA chairman
- Tom Ksobiech, associate dean at University of Alabama Law School
- Elliot Maisel, chairman of the Mobile Airport Authority
- Zac McCrary, Democratic pollster
- Alex McDaniel, editorial director of Oxford Eagle and Oxford Magazine
- Charles Morgan, Alabama restaurateur[69]
- Jim Page, president of West Alabama Chamber of Commerce
- Sarah Patterson, former head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnastics team
- Tony Quillen, president of IBEW 558[75]
- Steven Reed, Montgomery County probate judge
- Shelia Hocutt Remington, former Alabama Education Association president[76]
- Bren Riley, Alabama AFL-CIO president[77]
- Richard Allen Smith, MSNBC contributor and former staffer at the Department of Veteran Affairs[78]
- Jim Stovall, writer[103]
- Kurt Thomas, UAB track and field head coach
- Marc Torrence, reporter for Patch Media
- Bob Vance, circuit court judge
- Organizations
- Alabama Democratic Conference[69]
- Alabama New South Alliance[79]
- Central Alabama Labor Federation[69]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers[69]
- Jefferson County Millennial Democrats[69]
- Lee County Voters League[69]
- Professional Firefighters of Alabama[69]
- United Mine Workers[69]
- West Alabama AFL-CIO[80]
- Newspapers
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Kay Ivey (R) |
Walt Maddox (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SurveyMonkey[104] | September 9–24, 2018 | 1,254 | ± 3.8% | 51% | 26% | 22% |
Research Consultants (R-FarmPAC)[105] | September 22, 2018 | 316 | ± 5.5% | 58% | 38% | 4% |
Cygnal (R)[106] | July 24–25, 2018 | 1,027 | ± 3.1% | 56% | 42% | 3% |
Neighborhood Research Corporation (R)[107] | June 12–14 and 18–21, 2018 | 440 | ± 4.4% | 53% | 28% | – |
ALG Research[108][109] | April 27 – May 2, 2018 | 601 | ± 4.0% | 59% | 36% | – |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kay Ivey (incumbent) | 1,022,457 | 59.46% | −4.10% | |
Democratic | Walt Maddox | 694,495 | 40.39% | +4.15% | |
Write-in | 2,637 | 0.15% | -0.05% | ||
Majority | 327,962 | 19.07% | −8.65% | ||
Total votes | 1,719,589 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
Republican hold |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Tuscaloosa County (largest city: Tuscaloosa)
- Jefferson County (largest city: Birmingham)
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Barbour County (largest city: Eufaula)
By congressional district
Ivey won six of seven congressional districts.[111]
District | Ivey | Maddox | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 61% | 39% | Bradley Byrne |
2nd | 64% | 36% | Martha Roby |
3rd | 63% | 37% | Mike Rogers |
4th | 75% | 25% | Robert Aderholt |
5th | 61% | 39% | Mo Brooks |
6th | 64% | 35% | Gary Palmer |
7th | 27% | 73% | Terri Sewell |
See also
References
External links
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