Politics Alabama
State Facts: Legislature
This page was last updated: 31 May, 2012
Our system of representation works because those who are elected to public office are responsible for their actions to those who elected them. The system begins to fail, however, when voters are offered no choice at the ballot box and legislators are elected without having an opponent in the general election.
If the number of such legislators is small, the system continues to function properly. However, if a large percentage of the legisature, for example, twenty percent, have no opponents, then problems begin to develop. In large enough numbers, these unelected legislators are free to impose their own vision of political reality on the state, and the checks and balances don't apply to a legislator with no opponent.
During the 2006 elections, 57.14% of the House (60 people) and 34.28% (12 people) of the Senate were elected without opponents. This means that 51.43% of Alabama voters had no choice to make for their legislator. At the same time, only two independent candidates ran for office, and both of them ran in districts that already had both a Democrat and a Republican running..
That this can happen in Alabama is bad. That so many legislators have held their offices for 3 terms or more without opposition, without the voters having a choice, is one of the central problems faced in Alabama today. Most other problems stem from this fact, because these unelected legislators feel free to ignore the voters who, if facts are faced, are powerless to remove the legislator anyway.
The information provided below was compiled after the 2006 legislative elections, and was taken from election results on the Secretary of State's website (click here). Politics Alabama does not guarantee the accuracy of these figures.
** Special Award **
Legislator who has run without opposition the most times:
James E. Buskey (D)
Has not had an opponent in the general election since 1982... that's TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO!!!
Unopposed Legislators, AL House
Over the past 25-years or so, the Democrat and Republican parties have not managed to provide Alabama voters with a great amount of choice in Representatives. Most House races have historically had only one candidate in the general election. This list shows candidates who won in the 2006 elections without having an opponent from the other party. Legislators serving unopposed for more than a decade are noted in italics. Those serving more than two decades are in bold italics. This data goes back to 1982, and was compiled just after the 2006 election.
District Name Party Unopposed Since
3 Black, Marcel Dem 2006, 1 term
8 Dukes, Bill J. Dem 2006, 1 term
10 Ball, Mike Rep 2006, 1 term
14 Guin, Ken Dem 2006, 1 term
15 Moore, Pat Rep 2006, 1 term
16 Thigpen, William Dem 2006, 1 term
18 Morrow, Johnny Mack Dem 2002, 2 terms
19 Hall, Laura Dem 1998, 3 terms
20 Sanderford, Howard Rep 2006, 1 term
22 Hall, Albert Dem 2006, 1 term
23 Robinson, John Dem 2002, 2 terms
24 Greeson, Todd Rep 2006, 1 term
25 McCutheon, Mac Rep 2006, 1 term
27 McLaughlin, Jeff Dem 2006, 1 term
30 Galliher, Blaine Rep 2002, 2 terms
31 Mask, Barry Rep 2006, 1 term
36 Wood, Randy Rep 2006, 1 term
39 Lindsey, Richard J. Dem 1986, 6 terms
41 Hill, Mike Rep 2006, 1 term
43 McClurkin, Mary Sue Rep 2002, 2 terms
46 Demarco, Paul Rep 2006, 1 term
47 Williams, Jack Rep 2006, 1 term
48 Canfield, Greg Rep 2006, 1 term
49 Ward, Cam Rep 2002, 2 terms
50 McClendon, Jim Rep 2006, 1 term
51 Treadaway, Allen Rep 2006, 1 term
52 Rogers, John W. Jr. Dem 1986, 6 terms
53 Newton, Demetrius C. Dem 1998, 3 terms
54 Todd, Patricia Dem 2006, 1 term
55 Scott, Rodd Dem 2006, 1 term
56 Dunn, Priscilla Dem 1998, 3 terms
57 Coleman, Merika Dem 2002, 2 terms
59 Moore, Mary Dem 2006, 1 term
60 Hilliard, Earl Jr. Dem 2006, 1 term
63 Bentley, Robert Dem 2006, 1 term
68 Jackson, Thomas E. Dem 1994, 4 terms
69 Thomas, James L. Dem 1998, 3 terms
70 England, Chris Dem 2006, 1 term
71 McCampbell, A. J. Dem 2006, 1 term
72 Howard, Ralph Dem 2006, 1 term
74 Love, Jay Rep 2006, 1 term
75 Wren, Greg Rep 2006, 1 term
76 McClammy, Thad Dem 2006, 1 term
77 Knight, John F. Jr. Dem 1994, 4 terms
78 Holmes, Alvin Dem 1986, 6 terms
81 Graham, Betty Carol Dem 2006, 1 term
82 Warren, Pebblin Dem 2006, 1 term
83 Bandy, George Dem 1994, 4 terms
84 Beasely, Billy Dem 2002, 2 terms
87 Beck, Warren Rep 2006, 1 term
89 Boothe, Alan C. Dem 2002, 2 term
90 Newton, Charles O. Dem 1994, 4 terms
96 Davis, Randy Rep 2002, 2 terms
97 Kennedy, Yvonne Dem 1998, 3 terms
98 Gordon, James Dem 2006, 1 term
99 Buskey, James E. Dem 1982, 7 terms
100 Gaston, Victor Rep 1990, 5 terms
103 Mitchell, Joseph Dem 1998, 3 terms
104 Barton, Jim Rep 2006, 1 term
105 Collier, Spencer Rep 2002, 2 terms
<< Summary Data >>
Democrats Unopposed, 2006: 36 34.28%
Republicans Unopposed, 2006: 24 22.86%
Total Unopposed, 2006: 60 57.14%
Number Unopposed in House:
1 term 2 terms 3 terms 4 terms 5 terms 6 terms 7 terms
35 10 6 4 1 3 1
Percent Unopposed, of 105:
1 term 2 terms 3 terms 4 terms 5 terms 6 terms 7 terms
33.3% 9.5% 5.7% 3.8% 0.9% 2.8% 0.9%
From this raw data, it follows that:
23.8% of the Legislature has been unopposed for 2 or more terms.
14.3% of the Legislature has been unopposed for more than a decade.
4.8% of the Legislature has been unopposed for more than two decades.
A complete list of Representatives, complete with contact information, can be found online at:
Unopposed Legislators, AL Senate
Over the past 25-years or so, the Democrat and Republican parties have not managed to provide Alabama voters with a great amount of choice in State Senators. Many Senate races have historically had only one candidate in the general election. This list shows candidates who won in the 2002 elections without having an opponent from the other party. Legislators serving unopposed for more than a decade are noted in italics. This data goes back to 1982 and was compiled just after the 2006 election.
District Name Party Unopposed Since
6 Bedford, Roger Dem 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
10 Means, Larry Dem 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
12 Marsh, Del Rep 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
14 Erwin, Henry E. Jr. Rep 2002, 2 terms, 8 yrs.
15 French, Steve Rep 1998, 3 terms, 12 yrs.
17 Beason, Scott Rep 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
19 McClain, Edward Dem 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
24 Singleton, Bobby Dem 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
26 Ross, Quinton Dem 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
28 Penn, Myron C. Dem 2002, 2 terms, 8 yrs.
32 Byrne, Bradley Rep 2002, 2 terms, 8 yrs.
34 Glover, Rusty Rep 2006, 1 term, 4 yrs.
<< Summary Data >>
Democrats Unopposed, 2002: 6 17.14%
Republicans Unopposed, 2002: 6 17.14%
Total Unopposed, 2002: 12 34.28%
Number Unopposed in Senate:
1 term 2 terms 3 terms
8 3 1
Percent Unopposed, of 35:
1 term 2 terms 3 terms
22.86% 8.57% 2.85%
A complete list of Senators, complete with contact information, can be found online at: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senateroster_district.html
