United States Senate election in Alabama, 2002
Encyclopedia
The 2002 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions
won re-election to a second term.
, Alabama supported native son and American Independent Party
candidate George Wallace
over both Richard Nixon
and Hubert Humphrey
. Wallace was the official Democratic candidate in Alabama, while Humphrey was listed as the "National Democratic". In 1976
, Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter
from Georgia carried the state, the region, and the nation, but Democratic control of the region slipped after that.
Since 1980, conservative Alabama voters have increasingly voted for Republican candidates at the Federal level, especially in Presidential elections. By contrast, Democratic candidates have been elected to many state-level offices and comprised a longstanding majority in the Alabama Legislature
.
McPhillips won many counties in the southern part of the state, but Parker won the most counties. Sowell endorsed Parker for the run off.
Runoff on June 25th
Jeff Sessions
Jefferson Beauregard "Jeff" Sessions III is the junior United States Senator from Alabama. First elected in 1996, Sessions is a member of the Republican Party...
won re-election to a second term.
Background
In the 1968 presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
, Alabama supported native son and American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
candidate George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
over both Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
. Wallace was the official Democratic candidate in Alabama, while Humphrey was listed as the "National Democratic". In 1976
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...
, Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
from Georgia carried the state, the region, and the nation, but Democratic control of the region slipped after that.
Since 1980, conservative Alabama voters have increasingly voted for Republican candidates at the Federal level, especially in Presidential elections. By contrast, Democratic candidates have been elected to many state-level offices and comprised a longstanding majority in the Alabama Legislature
Alabama Legislature
The Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of Alabama. It is a bicameral body composed of the Alabama House of Representatives, with 105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 35 members...
.
Candidates
- Susan ParkerSusan ParkerSusan D. Parker is an American Democratic politician from Alabama. A resident of Rogersville, Parker was elected Alabama State Auditor in 1998 and served until 2002....
- Alabama State Auditor - Julian L. McPhillipsJulian L. McPhillipsJulian L. McPhillips Jr is a U.S. Lawyer and was a candidate for Attorney General of Alabama in 1978. In 2002, McPhillips lost out in the Democratic nomination to challenge first-term Republican incumbent Jeff Sessions for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama.-Early life:Julian McPhillips is the son of...
- former Attorney General candidate in 1978 - Wayne SowellWayne SowellWayne Sowell was the Democratic candidate for Alabama in the United States Senate election of 2004. He was also a former Gubernatorial candidate in 1998 and former congressional candidate in 2000.-2002 elections:...
- former Gubernatorial candidate in 1998 and former congressional candidate in 2000
Results
Original on June 4th| Alabama Democratic senatorial primary, 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Susan Parker | 190,978 | 48.0% |
| Julian L. McPhillips Jr. | 170,222 | 42.8% |
| Wayne Sowell | 36,719 | 9.2% |
| Totals | 100.00% | |
McPhillips won many counties in the southern part of the state, but Parker won the most counties. Sowell endorsed Parker for the run off.
Runoff on June 25th
| Alabama Democratic senatorial primary runoff, 2002 (99% Reporting) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Susan Parker | 176,708 | 65% |
| Julian L. McPhillips Jr. | 94,540 | 35% |
| Totals | 100.00% | |
Results
| Alabama Republican senatorial primary, 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Jeff Sessons | 100% | |
| Totals | 100.00% | |
Candidates
- Jeff Allen (L)
- Susan ParkerSusan ParkerSusan D. Parker is an American Democratic politician from Alabama. A resident of Rogersville, Parker was elected Alabama State Auditor in 1998 and served until 2002....
(D)- Alabama State Auditor - Jeff SessionsJeff SessionsJefferson Beauregard "Jeff" Sessions III is the junior United States Senator from Alabama. First elected in 1996, Sessions is a member of the Republican Party...
(R)- Incumbent U.S. Senator