2016 Alabama elections

2016 Alabama elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Alabama on November 8, 2016. Along with the presidential election, all of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives, a United States Senate seat and several state-level and local offices were up for election. Primary elections took place on March 1, 2016.[1]

Federal offices

President of the United States

Republican candidate Donald Trump won Alabama with 62% of the vote and gained nine electoral votes.

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican Senator Richard Shelby won re-election to a sixth term in office with 63% of the vote.

United States House of Representatives

All of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Six Republicans and one Democrat were re-elected. No districts changed partisan control.

Public Service Commission

Incumbent Alabama Public Service Commission president Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh won re-election to a second term.[2]

No Democrats filed to run for this race.[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Primary results

Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent) 439,406 63.04%
Republican Terry Dunn 257,652 36.96%
Total votes 697,058 100%

General election

2016 Alabama Public Service Commission election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent) 1,372,948 97.21%
Write-in 39,407 2.79%
Total votes 1,412,355 100%

State judiciary

Three seats on the Supreme Court of Alabama were up for election in 2016. Of these three only one seat was contested as justice Tom Parker faced a challenger in his bid for re-election.[7]

Alabama Supreme Court, Parker seat

Republican primary

Candidates
Primary results
Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Parker (incumbent) 448,747 72.50%
Republican Donna Beaulieu 170,194 27.50%
Total votes 618,941 100%

General election

2016 Alabama Supreme Court election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Parker (incumbent) 1,375,534 97.52%
Write-in 34,961 2.48%
Total votes 1,410,495 100%

Ballot measures

Fifteen statewide measures appeared on the ballot in Alabama - one in March and fourteen in November.[9]

Summary

2016 Alabama ballot measures
Name Description Votes Type
Yes % No %
Amendment 1 (March) Changes retirement plans for state judicial officials.[10] 680,092 62.84 402,240 37.16 Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Amendment 1 (November) Adds two members, elected at large, to the Auburn University Board of Trustees.[11] 1,182,618 73.43 427,883 26.57
Amendment 2 Prohibits reallocation of state park funds for other uses.[12] 1,414,033 79.74 359,354 20.26
Amendment 3 Changes the procedure for determining local constitutional amendments.[13] 932,652 60.63 605,498 39.37
Amendment 4 Authorizes county commissions to establish programs pertaining to the administration of their respective counties.[14] 1,141,004 71.67 450,952 28.33
Amendment 5 Rewords sections of the state constitution that address the state government's separation of powers.[15] 922,670 59.99 615,275 40.01
Amendment 6 Requires two-thirds vote in the Alabama Senate for conviction and impeachment of a state official.[16] 788,399 53.59 682,889 46.41
Amendment 7 Places employees of the Etowah County Sheriff's office under the authority of its Personnel Board.[17] 704,567 59.38 482,042 40.62
Amendment 8 Adds "right to work" to the state constitution.[18] 1,119,034 69.61 488,515 30.39
Amendment 9 Increases the maximum age allowed for candidates for the position of Judge of Probate in Pickens County.[19] 600,579 51.05 575,882[A] 48.95
Amendment 10 Makes any territory in Calhoun County subject to the police jurisdiction and planning jurisdiction of its respective municipality.[21] 765,364 65.62 401,054 34.38
Amendment 11 Confirms the Major 21st Century Manufacturing Zone Act, allowing Alabama cities to create specific zones to attract industry.[22] 866,515 59.27 595,392 40.73
Amendment 12 Establishes governing body to oversee toll roads and bridges within Baldwin County.[23] 630,834 50.69 613,632[B] 49.31
Amendment 13 Removes age restrictions for government official positions, with the exception of judicial offices..[24] 876,141 57.36 651,178 42.64
Amendment 14 Guarantees the application of budget isolation resolutions to local laws passed by state legislature prior to November 8, 2016.[25] 1,041,400 68.70 474,519 31.30
Source: Alabama Secretary of State[26][6]
Results by county
Amendment 1 (March) results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 1 (November) results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
Amendment 2 results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
Amendment 3 results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 4 results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Amendment 5 results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 6 results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Amendment 7 results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Tie:
  •   50%
Amendment 8 results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 9 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Amendment 10 results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
Amendment 11 results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 12 results by county
Yes:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Amendment 13 results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 14 results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%

Notes

  1. ^ Despite receiving >50% approval statewide, in Pickens County itself the amendment failed 48%–52%. As such, the amendment was rejected in accordance with Alabama state law.[a]
  2. ^ Despite receiving >50% approval statewide, in Baldwin County itself the amendment failed 48%–52%. As such, the amendment was rejected in accordance with Alabama state law.[a]
  1. ^ a b The law states that constitutional amendments addressing issues in a specific county must receive approval from the majority of voters in that county in addition to approval from the majority of voters statewide in order to pass.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Alabama elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  2. ^ "Twinkle Cavanaugh holds onto PSC leadership post; the latest on other statewide races". The News Courier. March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  3. ^ "Alabama Public Service Commission election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Cason, Mike (February 29, 2016). "Twinkle Cavanaugh, Terry Dunn clash again in race for PSC presidency". al. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Republican Party Primary". Alabama Secretary of State. March 11, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Certified General Election Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "Alabama judicial elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Faulk, Kent (February 25, 2016). "Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker seeks third term". al. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "Alabama 2016 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  10. ^ "Alabama Judicial Retirement Measure, Amendment 1 (March 2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  11. ^ "Alabama Auburn University Board of Trustees, Amendment 1 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  12. ^ "Alabama Rules Governing Allocation of State Park Funds, Amendment 2 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Alabama Rules for Determining a Local Constitutional Amendment, Amendment 3 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Alabama County Affairs Administration, Amendment 4 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Alabama State Constitutional Language Governing Separation of Powers, Amendment 5 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "Alabama Impeachment, Amendment 6 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Alabama Supervision of Employees in the Etowah County Sheriff's Department, Amendment 7 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Alabama Right to Work, Amendment 8 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "Alabama Increase of Maximum Qualifying Age for Pickens County Judges, Amendment 9 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  20. ^ Alabama Constitution Section 284.01
  21. ^ "Alabama Restriction of Police and Planning Jurisdiction in Calhoun County, Amendment 10 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  22. ^ "Alabama Use of City Manufacturing Zone Tax Revenue to Incentivize Manufacturing, Amendment 11 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  23. ^ "Alabama Authorization of Toll Districts and Toll District Revenue Bond Debt in Baldwin County, Amendment 12 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  24. ^ "Alabama Removal of Age Restriction for Government Officials, Amendment 13 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  25. ^ "Alabama Approval of Budget Isolation Resolution Proposing a Local Law, Amendment 14 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  26. ^ "Alabama Judicial Retirement Measure". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 5, 2025.