Alabama gubernatorial election, 1982

Alabama gubernatorial election, 1982

November 2, 1982

Nominee George Wallace Emory Folmar Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 650,538 440,815 Percentage 57.64% 39.06%

County Results

Governor of Alabama before election Fob James Democratic Elected Governor of Alabama George Wallace Democratic

Elections in Alabama
Federal government Presidential elections 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1944 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Presidential Primaries Democratic 2008 Republican 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections 1962 1980 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 U.S. House elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 1st (special), 2013 2014 2016
State government Gubernatorial elections 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 State elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Ballot measures 2006 Amendment 774
Mobile government Mayoral elections 2001 2005 2009 2013
Montgomery government Mayoral elections 2015

The Alabama gubernatorial election of 1982 included the last campaign and final electoral victory of George Wallace. The election occurred on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Governor Fob James declined to run for a second term, allowing for an open election in 1982. In the Democratic primary, Wallace received challenges from Lieutenant Governor George McMillan, Speaker of the State House Joe McCorquodale, Jr., former Governor Jim Folsom, and Reuben McKinley. Because Wallace did not receive a majority of the votes, he advanced to a run-off with McMillan and then narrowly won the Democratic nomination. Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar went unchallenged for the Republican nomination.

Wallace, formerly a notorious segregationist, renounced those views in 1979. On November 2, 1982, Wallace not only won the general election, but also over 90% of the black vote. Overall, Wallace received 650,538 (57.64%) votes against Folmar's 440,815 (39.06%) votes.

Background

Incumbent Governor of Alabama Forrest Hood "Fob" James Jr. declined to seek a second term. Shortly after former Governor George Wallace finished his third term in 1979, he renounced his infamous segregationist past, especially when he stood in front of the school house door at the University of Alabama in 1963, noting that, "I was wrong. Those days are over, and they ought to be over." With Governor James retiring, Wallace decided to run for a fourth non-consecutive term in 1982.

Democratic primary

Incumbent Democratic Governor of Alabama Fob James decided to not seek a second term.

Candidates

• Jim Folsom, former Governor
• Joe McCorquodale, Jr., Speaker of the State House of Representatives
• Reuben McKinley
• George McMillan, Lieutenant Governor
• George Wallace, former Governor

Primary results

• Wallace – 425,469 (42.53%)
• McMillan – 296,271 (29.62%)
• McCorquodale – 250,614 (25.05%)
• Folsom – 17,333 (1.73%)
• McKinley – 10,617 (1.06%)

Runoff

• Wallace – 512,203 (51.19%)
• McMillan – 488,444 (48.81%)

Republican primary

Emory M. Folmar won the Republican Party primary without any opposition.

Election results

• George Wallace (D) – 650,538 (57.64%)
• Emory M. Folmar (R) – 440,815 (39.06%)
• Leo Suiter (Alabama Conservative) – 17,936 (1.59%)
• Henry Klingler (Libertarian) – 7,671 (0.68%)
• John Jackson (Alabama National Democrat) – 4,693 (0.42%)
• John Dyer (Prohibition) – 4,364 (0.39%)
• Martin J. Boyers (Socialist Workers) – 2,578 (0.23%)

References

• http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7393

Alabama gubernatorial elections
1819 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1841 1843 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1865 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014