Race Analysis

In 1986, conservative Democrat Charles Graddick narrowly won his party’s nomination for governor. Normally, this would have meant a direct trip to the governors’ office, as Alabama had elected only Democratic governors since 1872 (the races were rarely close). But the loser in the Democratic primary, Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley, contested the nomination, claiming that Republicans had voted illegally in the (open) primary. The state Supreme Court implicitly sided with Baxley. Graddick’s supporters were outraged, and in the fall, Republican Guy Hunt shocked observers by handily winning the general election.

Republicans have lost only one gubernatorial race since, and now control every statewide office in Alabama. Gov. Robert Bentley will face Parker Griffith in the fall, who won election to Congress as a Democrat in 2008, switched parties in 2009, lost the Republican nomination in 2010, and now seems to have rejoined the Democratic Party. Bentley begins as the heavy favorite.