2014 Alabama elections

2014 Alabama elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Alabama on November 4, 2014. All of Alabama's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives.

Primary elections were held on June 3, 2014, for offices that need to nominate candidates. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate won a majority of the vote, were held on July 15.

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Robert J. Bentley, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, ran for re-election to a second term as governor.[1]

He defeated former Morgan County Commissioner Stacy Lee George and retired software company owner and candidate for Mayor of Scottsboro in 2012 Bob Starkey in the Republican primary.[1]

In the Democratic primary, former U.S. Representative Parker Griffith defeated businessman and former professional baseball player Kevin Bass.[1]

Results

2014 Alabama gubernatorial election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanRobert J. Bentley (incumbent) 750,231 63.6
DemocraticParker Griffith427,78736.2
n/aWrite-ins2,3950.2
Total votes1,180,413 100.0
Republican hold

Lieutenant governor

2014 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election
 
NomineeKay IveyJames C. Fields
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Popular vote738,090428,007
Percentage63.2%36.7%
County results
Ivey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Fields:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Kay Ivey
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Kay Ivey
Republican

In Alabama, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately. Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, ran for re-election to a second term.[1]

Pastor and conservative activist Stan Cooke also ran in the Republican primary.[1]

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Kay
Ivey		Stan
Cooke		Undecided
Cygnal[3]May 29–30, 20141,217± 2.81%58%32%10%
Cygnal[4]May 19–20, 20141,324± 2.69%35%18%47%
Republican primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanKay Ivey (incumbent) 257,588 61.7
RepublicanStan Cooke160,02338.3
Total votes417,611 100.0

Former state representative James C. Fields was the only Democrat running for the office.[1] Scott Ninesling, a fire chief and emergency response supervisor for a liquefied natural gas plant in Angola, had declared his candidacy, but he withdrew before the filing deadline.[6]

2014 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanKay Ivey (incumbent) 738,090 63.2
DemocraticJames C. Fields428,00736.7
n/aWrite-ins1,1460.1
Total votes1,167,243 100.0
Republican hold

Attorney General

2014 Alabama Attorney General election
 
NomineeLuther StrangeJoe Hubbard
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Popular vote681,973483,771
Percentage58.39%41.42%
County results
Strange:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Hubbard:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Attorney General before election

Luther Strange
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Luther Strange
Republican

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Luther Strange, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, ran for re-election to a second term.[1]

He was unopposed in the Republican primary. State Representative Joe Hubbard, the great-grandson of former U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill, was the only Democrat running for the office.

2014 Alabama Attorney General election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanLuther Strange (incumbent) 681,973 58.39
DemocraticJoe Hubbard483,77141.42
n/aWrite-ins2,1570.19
Total votes1,167,901 100
Republican hold

Secretary of State

2014 Alabama Secretary of State election
 
NomineeJohn MerrillLula Albert-Kaigler
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Popular vote733,298406,373
Percentage64.2%35.6%
County results
Merrill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Albert-Kaigler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Secretary of State before election

James R. Bennett
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

John Merrill
Republican

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State James R. Bennett, who had served in the office since July 31, 2013, did not run for re-election, per the terms of his appointment.[1] Bennett, who had previously served as secretary of state from 1993 to 2003, was appointed to the office following the resignation of Beth Chapman.

Running in the Republican primary were former Montgomery County Probate Judge Reese McKinney, State Representative John Merrill, and Crenshaw County Probate Judge James Perdue.[1]

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Reese
McKinney		John
Merrill		James
Perdue		Undecided
Cygnal[3]May 29–30, 20141,217± 2.81%21%19%17.1%43%
Cygnal[4]May 19–20, 20141,324± 2.69%12%8.5%9%71%
Republican primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJohn Merrill 143,960 39.57
RepublicanReese McKinney 139,763 38.42
RepublicanJim Perdue80,05022.01
Total votes363,773 100.00
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Reese
McKinney		John
Merrill		Undecided
Cygnal[7]July 7–8, 2014821± 3.42%23%24.2%52.8%
Republican primary runoff results[8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJohn Merrill 108,664 53.1
RepublicanReese McKinney95,80846.9
Total votes204,472 100.0

The only Democrat running was Lula Albert-Kaigler, a retired self-employed worker and candidate for Alabama's 1st congressional district in 2013.[1]

2014 Alabama Secretary of State election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJohn Merrill 733,298 64.2
DemocraticLula Albert-Kaigler406,37335.6
n/aWrite-ins1,2710.1
Total votes1,140,942 100.0
Republican hold

State Auditor

2014 Alabama State Auditor election
November 4, 2014
 
NomineeJim ZeiglerMiranda Joseph
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Popular vote716,122420,843
Percentage62.93%36.98%
County results
Zeigler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Joseph:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
State Auditor before election

Jim Zeigler
Republican

Elected State Auditor

Jim Zeigler
Republican

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Samantha Shaw, who had served in the office since January 15, 2007, was term-limited and not eligible to run for re-election to a third term.[1]

Four Republicans ran for their party's nomination: farmer and candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2010 Dale Peterson, former Deputy Conservation Commissioner Hobbie Sealy, secretary of state aide Adam Thompson, and former Public Service Commissioner Jim Zeigler.[1] Attorney Ray Bryan had been running on a platform of abolishing the office,[9] but he was disqualified from the ballot by the Alabama Republican Party for missing the deadline to file a financial statement with the Alabama Ethics Commission. He considered running as an independent, but decided against it.[10]

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Dale
Peterson		Hobbie
Sealy		Adam
Thompson		Jim
Zeigler		Undecided
Cygnal[3]May 29–30, 20141,217± 2.81%17%5%10%24%45%
Cygnal[4]May 19–20, 20141,324± 2.69%11%3%5%20%61%
Republican primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJim Zeigler 164,002 47.07
RepublicanDale Peterson 84,828 24.35
RepublicanAdam Thompson64,68818.57
RepublicanHobbie Sealy34,91010.02
Total votes348,428 100
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Dale
Peterson		Jim
Zeigler		Undecided
Cygnal[7]July 7–8, 2014821± 3.42%22%31%48%
Republican primary runoff results[8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJim Zeigler 131,637 64.92
RepublicanDale Peterson71,14135.08
Total votes202,778 100

The only Democrat running was Miranda Joseph, the nominee for State Auditor in 2010.[1]

2014 Alabama State Auditor election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJim Zeigler 716,122 62.93
DemocraticMiranda Joseph420,84336.98
n/aWrite-ins1,0100.09
Total votes1,137,975 100
Republican hold

State Treasurer

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Young Boozer, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, was running for re-election to a second term.[1]

Boozer was unopposed in the Republican primary. Democrat Joe Cottle, a lobbyist for the Alabama Education Association, had been running, but withdrew from the race.[1]

Results by county
Boozer:
  •   90–100%
2014 Alabama State Treasurer election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanYoung Boozer (incumbent) 748,876 98.0
n/aWrite-ins15,2242.0
Total votes764,100 100.0
Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan, who had served in the office since January 17, 2011, was running for re-election to a second term.[1]

McMillan was unopposed in the Republican primary. The only Democrat running was Doug "New Blue" Smith.[1]

Results by county
McMillan:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Smith:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
2014 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJohn McMillan (incumbent) 734,428 64.7
DemocraticDoug "New Blue" Smith400,29935.2
n/aWrite-ins9700.1
Total votes1,135,697 100.0
Republican hold

Public Service Commission

Both of the Associate Commissioners on the Alabama Public Service Commission are up for election. Republican Jeremy Oden, who was appointed to the commission by Governor Bentley in December 2012, was running for election to a first full term. Republican Terry L. Dunn, who was first elected in 2010, was running for re-election to a second term.[1]

Place 1

Oden was challenged in the Republican primary by Kathy Peterson, the wife of Dale Peterson and a candidate for Public Service Commission in 2012. No Democrat filed to run.[1]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Jeremy
Oden		Kathy
Peterson		Undecided
Cygnal[3]May 29–30, 20141,217± 2.81%36%26%39%
Cygnal[4]May 19–20, 20141,324± 2.69%20%17%64%

Republican primary

PSC Place 1 Republican primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJeremy Oden (incumbent) 188,971 52.4
RepublicanKathy Peterson171,75547.6
Total votes360,726 100.0

General election

2014 Alabama PSC Place 1 election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJeremy Oden (incumbent) 735,298 98.0
n/aWrite-ins15,0432.0
Total votes750,341 100.0
Republican hold

Place 2

Dunn faced three opponents in the Republican primary: Jonathan Barbee, former interim press secretary for the Alabama Republican Party; Chris "Chip" Beeker, former Greene County Commissioner; and Phillip Brown, the Chairman of the Alabama Minority GOP. No Democrat filed to run.[1]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Terry L.
Dunn		Jonathan
Barbee		Chris "Chip"
Beeker		Phillip
Brown		Undecided
Cygnal[3]May 29–30, 20141,217± 2.81%13%12%23%7%45%
Cygnal[4]May 19–20, 20141,324± 2.69%10%6%17%5%63%

Republican primary

PSC Place 2 Republican primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanChris "Chip" Beeker 133,606 39.0
RepublicanTerry L. Dunn (incumbent) 111,404 32.5
RepublicanJonathan Barbee54,34115.9
RepublicanPhillip Brown43,09712.6
Total votes342,448 100.0

Primary runoff

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Terry L.
Dunn		Chris "Chip"
Beeker		Undecided
Cygnal[7]July 7–8, 2014821± 3.42%22%31%47%
Republican primary runoff results[8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanChris "Chip" Beeker 119,041 59.3
RepublicanTerry L. Dunn (incumbent)81,56340.7
Total votes200,604 100.0

General election

Results by county
Beeker:
  •   90–100%
2014 Alabama PSC Place 2 election[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanChris "Chip" Beeker 735,957 98.0
n/aWrite-ins15,0942.0
Total votes751,051 100.0
Republican hold

State judiciary

One seat on the Supreme Court of Alabama and four seats on the state appellate courts - two on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and two on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals - were up for election in 2014. All five Republican incumbents were re-elected without having to face an opponent.[11]

State Senate

All 35 seats of the Alabama Senate were up for election in 2014.

Prior to the election the Republicans held a 23–11 edge; after the election the Republicans regained control 26–8 with 1 independent going to the GOP side.

State House of Representatives

All 105 seats in the Alabama House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

Prior to the election the Republicans had a 66–37 edge; after the election the Republicans regained control 72–33.

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican senator Jeff Sessions ran for re-election to a fourth term. No other candidates filed before the deadline and so he was unopposed in the primary and general elections.

2014 United States Senate election in Alabama[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJeff Sessions (incumbent) 795,606 97.3
n/aWrite-ins22,4842.7
Total votes818,090 100.0
Republican hold

United States House of Representatives

All of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

Ballot measures

Six statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot in Alabama - one in July and five in November. All of them were approved by the voters.[13]

Amendment 1 (July)

Results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%

The Alabama Cotton Producer Assessment Refund Amendment would end the assessment refund for cotton producers who do not participate in the assessment program for cotton checkoff.[14]

Amendment 1 (July)
ChoiceVotes%
Referendum passed Yes158,35667.08
No77,72532.92
Total votes236,081100.00

Amendment 1 (November)

Results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%

The Alabama Foreign Laws in Court Amendment would forbid the state's recognition of laws violating its policies, including all foreign law.[15]

Amendment 1 (November)
ChoiceVotes%
Referendum passed Yes696,14172.33
No266,27227.67
Total votes962,413100.00

Amendment 2

Results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%

The Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund Amendment would increase the amount of general obligation bonds authorized by $50 million.[16]

Amendment 2
ChoiceVotes%
Referendum passed Yes479,02650.48
No469,99849.52
Total votes949,024100.00

Amendment 3

Results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%

The Alabama Right to Bear Arms Amendment would protect the right to bear arms in the state and require strict scrutiny of any restriction on the right.[17]

Amendment 3
ChoiceVotes%
Referendum passed Yes736,46272.50
No279,39727.50
Total votes1,015,859100.00

Amendment 4

Results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%

The Alabama Board of Education Expenditure Increase Amendment would require a two-thirds majority vote by the Alabama Legislature to increase local education expenditure by $50,000 or more.[18]

Amendment 4
ChoiceVotes%
Referendum passed Yes535,30856.24
No416,46043.76
Total votes951,768100.00

Amendment 5

Results by county
Yes:
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%

The Alabama Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment would clarify that the people in Alabama have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to reasonable regulations.[19]

Amendment 5
ChoiceVotes%
Referendum passed Yes789,77779.84
No199,48320.16
Total votes989,260100.00

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "List of candidates for major Alabama offices". ABC 3340. February 8, 2014. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Certified General Election Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Cygnal
  4. ^ a b c d e Cygnal
  5. ^ a b c d e "Official Alabama Secretary of State Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  6. ^ "Democrat Ninesling running for lieutenant governor". Tuscaloosa News. July 16, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Cygnal
  8. ^ a b c "Alabama Runoff Results". Al.com. July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Candidate for Alabama auditor seeks to abolish auditor's office". al.com. June 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  10. ^ Juanta Coffman (February 26, 2014). "State auditor candidate to sit out 2014". ABC3340. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "Alabama judicial elections, 2014". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  12. ^ "Certified General Election Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  13. ^ "Alabama 2014 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Alabama Cotton Producer Assessment Refund Amendment, Amendment 1 (2014)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "Alabama Foreign Laws in Court, Amendment 1 (2014)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund, Amendment 2 (2014)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  17. ^ "Alabama Right to Bear Arms, Amendment 3 (2014)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  18. ^ "Alabama Board of Education Expenditure Increase, Amendment 4 (2014)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  19. ^ "Alabama Right to Hunt and Fish, Amendment 5 (2014)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
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