2020 Alabama elections

2020 Alabama elections

Alabama state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Its primary elections were held on March 3, 2020, with runoffs taking place on July 31.[1]

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Alabama voters will elect the class II U.S. senator from Alabama, 4 of 9 members of the Alabama State Board of Education, all of its seats to the House of Representatives, 2 of 9 seats on the Supreme Court of Alabama, 4 of 10 seats on the Alabama Appellate Court and one seat of the Alabama House of Representatives. It will also vote on five ballot measures.

To vote by mail, registered Alabama voters must request a ballot by October 29, 2020.[2] As of early October some 130,576 voters have requested mail ballots.[3]

Federal offices

President of the United States

Main article: 2020 United States presidential election in Alabama
See also: 2020 Alabama Democratic primary and 2020 Alabama Republican primary

Alabama has 9 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won all of them with 62% of the popular vote.

United States class II Senate seat

Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama

Republican Tommy Tuberville defeated incumbent Democrat Doug Jones, winning 60% of the vote.

United States House of Representatives

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

There were five U.S. Representatives in Alabama that were up for election in addition to two open seats.[4] 6 seats were won by the Republicans while 1 seat was won by the Democrats. No congressional districts changed hands.

Public Service Commission

President

2020 Alabama Public Service Commission election
November 3, 2020
 
Nominee Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Laura Casey
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,403,790 858,054
Percentage 61.99% 37.89%
County results
Cavanaugh:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Casey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Commissioner before election

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh
Republican

Elected Commissioner

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh
Republican

Incumbent Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh won re-election to a third term as Alabama Public Service Commission President and fourth term overall.[5]

Republican primary

Candidates
Primary results
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent) 462,979 73.82
Republican Robin Litaker 164,227 26.18
Total votes 627,206 100

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Laura Casey, retired attorney.[9]
  • Robert Mardis III, corporate imaging specialist.[9]
Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laura Casey 252,851 78.48
Democratic Robert Mardis III 69,352 21.52
Total votes 322,203 100

General election

2020 Alabama Public Service Commission President election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (incumbent) 1,403,790 61.99
Democratic Laura Casey 858,054 37.89
Write-in 2,726 0.12
Total votes 2,264,570 100

State Board of Education

4 of 9 seats of the Alabama State Board of Education are up for election (one is a non-elected position held by the governor).[12] Before the election the composition of that board was:

Member, District 1

Candidates

Both Democratic & Republican are cancelled respectively.

  • Tom Holmes (Democratic)
  • Jackie Zeigler, incumbent (Republican)

General election

General election results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jackie Zeigler (incumbent) 212,461 72.73%
Democratic Tom Holmes 79,380 27.17%
Write-in 294 0.1%
Total votes 292,135 100%

Member, District 3

Candidates

Both Democratic & Republican are cancelled respectively.

  • Jarralynne Agee (Democratic)
  • Stephanie Bell, incumbent (Republican)

General election

General election results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Bell (incumbent) 209,909 68.92%
Democratic Jarralynne Agee 94,375 30.99%
Write-in 278 0.09%
Total votes 304,562 100%

Member, District 5

Republican primary

  • Lesa Keith

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred F. Bell 24,589 30.35
Democratic Tonya Smith Chestnut 16,044 19.8
Democratic Billie Jean Young 11,271 13.91
Democratic Ron Davis 8,957 11.05
Democratic Pamela Laffitte 6,712 8.28
Democratic Patrice McClammy 5,932 7.32
Democratic Woodie Pugh Jr. 5,696 7.03
Democratic Joanne Shum 1,830 2.26
Total votes 81,031 100
Democratic primary runoff results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tonya Smith Chestnut 21,230 61.35
Democratic Fred F. Bell 13,372 38.65
Total votes 34,602 100

General election

General election results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tonya Smith Chestnut (incumbent) 161,192 62.71%
Republican Lesa Keith 95,593 37.19%
Write-in 245 0.10%
Total votes 257,030 100%

Member, District 7

General election

General election results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Belinda Palmer McRae 230,122 98.73%
Write-in 2,957 1.27%
Total votes 233,079 100%

State judiciary

Two seats on the Alabama Supreme Court and two seats each on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals were up for election, all of which were held by Republicans. Of these four had contested primaries.[14][15]

State Supreme Court, Place 1

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.[16]

Republican primary

Candidates
Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Greg
Shaw 		Cam
Ward 		Undecided
Mason-Dixon[18] February 4–6, 2020 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 24% 19% 57%
Primary results
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Greg Shaw (incumbent) 344,049 58.39%
Republican Cam Ward 245,184 41.61%
Total votes 589,233 100%

General election

2020 Alabama Supreme Court Place 1 election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Greg Shaw (incumbent) 1,554,369 97.58%
Write-in 38,502 2.42%
Total votes 1,592,871 100%

Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2

Incumbent judge Scott Donaldson decided not to seek re-election.[19]

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates


Primary results
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Fridy 353,024 66.02%
Republican Philip Bahakel 181,717 33.98%
Total votes 534,741 100%

General election

2020 Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Place 2 election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Fridy 1,539,415 97.72%
Write-in 35,890 2.28%
Total votes 1,575,305 100%
Republican hold

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Mary Windom, incumbent.[21]
  • Melvin Hasting, attorney.[22]
Primary results
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Windom (incumbent) 387,876 69.45%
Republican Melvin Hasting 170,599 30.55%
Total votes 558,475 100%

General election

2020 Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 1 election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Windom (incumbent) 1,541,862 97.72%
Write-in 34,708 2.28%
Total votes 1,576,570 100%

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2

Democratic primary

No candidates filed for election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates
  • J. Elizabeth Kellum,incumbent.[23]
  • Jill Ganus, judge.[17]
  • William Smith, county commissioner⁣.[17]
Primary results
Republican primary results (first round)[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent) 232,303 43.37%
Republican Willian Smith 198,663 37.09%
Republican Jill Ganus 104,680 19.54%
Total votes 535,646 100%
Republican primary runoff results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent) 270,306 55.73%
Republican William Smith 214,764 44.27%
Total votes 485,070 100%

General election

2020 Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2 election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Elizabeth Kellum (incumbent) 1,537,451 97.83%
Write-in 34,128 2.17%
Total votes 1,571,579 100%

State House of Representatives

A special election had been called on November 17 for the 49th District as a result of Republican incumbent April Weaver resigning from the legislature.[25] Primaries were held on August 4 that year, with a Republican runoff set for September 1.[26] Alabaster City Councilmember Russell Bedsole won the general election against Democratic challenger Cheryl Patton.[27]

Republican primary

Republican primary results (first round)[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russell Bedsole 923 34.84
Republican Mimi Penhale 829 31.30
Republican Chuck Martin 646 24.39
Republican Donna Strong 177 6.68
Republican Jackson McNeely 57 2.15
Republican James Dean 17 0.64
Total votes 2,649 100
Republican primary runoff results[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russell Bedsole 1,250 51.33
Republican Mimi Penhale 1,185 48.67
Total votes 2,435 100

Democratic nominee

  • Cheryl Patton, real estate operative.[30]

General election

2020 Alabama's 49th House of Representatives district special election[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russell Bedsole 1,599 63.18
Democratic Cheryl Patton 930 36.74
Write-in 2 0.08
Total votes 2,531 100.0
Republican hold

Ballot measures

A total of seven statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot, one in March and six in November.[32]

Polling

For March 2020 Amendment

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		For March Amendment Against March Amendment Undecided
Mason-Dixon/Alabama
Daily News/WBRC/WAFF[33] 		February 4–6, 2020 625 (RV) ± 4% 38% 41% 21%

Summary

2020 Alabama ballot measures
Name Description Votes Type
Yes % No %
Amendment 1 (March) Reforms the state education board, including requiring members to be appointed by the governor.[34] 277,320 24.88 837,234 75.12 Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Amendment 1 (November) Allows only a U.S. citizen who is 18 years old or older to vote in Alabama.[35] 1,535,862 77.01 458,487 22.09
Amendment 2 Makes certain changes to judicial law and court systems and procedures.[36] 881,145 48.94 919,380 51.06
Amendment 3 Provides that a judge, other than a probate judge, appointed to fill a vacancy would serve an initial term until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after the judge has completed two years in office.[37] 1,193,532 64.84 647,305 35.16
Amendment 4 Authorizes the state legislature during the 2022 regular session to recompile the Constitution of Alabama and provide for its ratification.[38] 1,222,682 66.82 607,090 33.18
Amendment 5 Provides for a "Stand Your Ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Franklin County.[39] 1,213,544 71.61 481,088 28.39
Amendment 6 Provides for a "Stand Your Ground" law applicable to individuals in churches in Lauderdale County.[40] 1,216,008 71.61 482,189 28.39
Source: Alabama Secretary of State[41][11]
Results by county
Amendment 1 (March) results by county
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Amendment 1 (November) results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 2 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Amendment 3 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Amendment 4 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 5 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Amendment 6 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

References

  1. ^ "Alabama elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com, archived from the original on October 6, 2020
  3. ^ Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020, Detailed state statistics
  4. ^ "Live: Alabama State Primary Election Results 2020". New York Times. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Harper, Brad (November 3, 2020). "Twinkle Cavanaugh to return to Alabama Public Service Commission, winning over Laura Casey". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  6. ^ Ross, Sean (June 3, 2019). "Exclusive: Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh running for re-election at PSC". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  7. ^ Moseley, Brandon (February 28, 2020). "Litaker challenges opponent to pledge to not run for another office in 2022". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Certification of Results - Republican Party". Alabama Secretary of State. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  9. ^ a b Harper, Brad. "'Transparency' vs. 'fight off liberals': Alabama Public Service Commission candidates clash over priorities". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  10. ^ "Certification of Results - Democratic Party". Alabama Secretary of State. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Final Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  12. ^ "State Board of Education". Alabama State Department of Education. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d "Texas 2020 election results". November 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Alabama Supreme Court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  15. ^ "Alabama intermediate appellate court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Fiscus, Kirsten (March 3, 2020). "Alabama Supreme Court judge bests state senator for seat on state's highest court". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d Ross, Sean (March 2, 2020). "What to look for in Alabama's 2020 primary on Tuesday". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Mason-Dixon
  19. ^ Ross, Sean (June 12, 2019). "State Rep. Matt Fridy running for Court of Civil Appeals". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  20. ^ Sparacino, Emily (March 3, 2020). "Fridy wins Court of Civil Appeals seat in Republican primary". Shelby County Reporter. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  21. ^ Ross, Sean (October 4, 2019). "Mary Windom seeking reelection to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  22. ^ Moseley, Brandon (March 2, 2020). "Melvin Hasting is running for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Place 1". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  23. ^ Ross, Sean (August 23, 2019). "Kellum seeking reelection to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  24. ^ "Republican Party Runoff Results". Alabama Secretary of State. July 29, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  25. ^ "Rep. April Weaver resigns to join Trump administration". WSFA. May 12, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  26. ^ Love, Joyanna (August 4, 2020). "House District 49 Republican primary ends without majority winner". The Clanton Advertiser. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  27. ^ Moseley, Brandon (November 18, 2020). "Russell Bedsole wins House District 49 special election". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  28. ^ "Certification of Results - Republican Party" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. August 12, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  29. ^ "Certification of Republican Runoff Results" (PDF). Alabama Secrtary of State. September 16, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  30. ^ Beck, Caroline (November 13, 2020). "Bedsole, Patton face off in HD49 special election". WBRC. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  31. ^ "Certification of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  32. ^ "Alabama Amendment 1, Appointed Education Board Amendment (March 2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  33. ^ Mason-Dixon/Alabama
    Daily News/WBRC/WAFF
  34. ^ "Alabama Amendment 1, Appointed Education Board Amendment (March 2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  35. ^ "Alabama Amendment 1, Citizenship Requirement for Voting Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  36. ^ "Alabama Amendment 2, Judicial System Restructuring Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  37. ^ "Alabama Amendment 3, Judicial Vacancies Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  38. ^ "Alabama Amendment 4, Authorize Legislature to Recompile the State Constitution Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  39. ^ "Alabama Amendment 5, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  40. ^ "Alabama Amendment 6, "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  41. ^ "State Certification of Statewide Amendment" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. March 19, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
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