1938 Alabama Senate election

1938 Alabama Senate election

← 1934 November 8, 1938 1942 →
All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader D. Hardy Riddle (did not stand) — Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 8, 1935 — Leader's seat 8th–Talladega Co. — Last election 35 seats, 96.54% 0 seats, 3.46% Seats won 35 0 Popular vote 114,029 7,887 Percentage 93.50% 6.47%
Winners by vote share Democratic:      60–70%      70–80%      90–100%      Unopposed
President pro tempore before election D. Hardy Riddle Democratic Elected President pro tempore Joseph N. Poole Democratic

Not to be confused with 1938 United States Senate election in Alabama.

The 1938 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 8, 1938, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. The result an electoral wipeout, as all 35 candidates elected were members of the Democratic Party. The election used the same districts first drawn by the Alabama Constitution of 1901.

As the Democratic Party was dominant in the state, state legislative seats were generally decided at the Democratic primary election. The first round of the Democratic primary was held on May 3 with runoff elections on June 14. Four Democratic nominees faced opposition in the general election, with all four facing a Republican and James A. Simpson additionally facing a Communist in Jefferson County's District 13. Joseph N. Poole was unanimously elected President pro tempore at the chamber's opening session on January 10, 1939.^[1]

The election took place concurrently with elections for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state house, and numerous other state and local offices.

Summary

Party		Candidates			Seats
		Num.	Vote	%	Before	Won	+/–
	Democratic	35	114,029	93.50%	35	35
	Republican	4	7,887	6.47%	0	0
	Communist	1	36	0.03%	0	0
Total		40	121,952	100%	35	35

Incumbents

Every incumbent senator in a multi-county district did not seek re-election, as a gentlemen's agreement compelled state senators to give up their seats to allow a candidate from another county to serve.^[2] Four senators sought re-election, and four senators sought seats in the Alabama House of Representatives.^[3]

Won re-election

• District 11: Hayse Tucker won re-election.
• District 13: James A. Simpson won re-election.
• District 20: O. D. Carlton won re-election.
• District 22: J. M. Bonner won re-election.

Did not seek re-election

• District 1: L. A. Weaver did not seek re-election.
• District 2: Vernon L. St. John did not seek re-election.
• District 3: F. G. Stephens did not seek re-election.
• District 4: Schuyler H. Richardson was appointed judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit on December 10, 1937.^[4] Richardson succeeded Shelby S. Fletcher, who died on July 1, 1936.^[5]
• District 5: I. J. Browder did not seek re-election.
• District 6: W. T. Starnes did not seek re-election.
• District 7: Max Wellborn did not seek re-election.
• District 8: D. Hardy Riddle unsuccessfully ran for governor.
• District 9: Will O. Walton was appointed judge of the 5th Judicial Circuit on February 16, 1938.^[6]
• District 10: W. Carvel Woodall did not seek re-election.
• District 12: John A. Kuykendall did not seek re-election.
• District 14: A. M. McConnell did not seek re-election. McConnell succeeded John A. Rogers, who died on September 22, 1936.^[7]
• District 15: Earle Thomas
• District 16: R. L. Goldsmith
• District 17: J. L. Kelly
• District 18: Judson C. Locke was elected to Perry County's first state house seat.^[8]
• District 19: H. L. Glover died November 29, 1936.^[9]
• District 21: G. R. Swift did not seek re-election.
• District 23: W. A. Parrish did not seek re-election.
• District 24: A. M. McDowell did not seek re-election.
• District 25: W. H. Stoddard did not seek re-election. Stoddard succeeded Thomas J. Thrower, who died July 12, 1935.^[10]
• District 26: Thomas S. Frazer did not seek re-election.
• District 27: Isham J. Dorsey did not seek re-election.
• District 28: Floyd Mooneyham did not seek re-election.
• District 29: Webb Chestnut did not seek re-election.
• District 30: Edgar P. Russell did not seek re-election.
• District 31: W. B. Mixon did not seek re-election.
• District 32: H. A. Taylor unsuccessfully ran for Hale County's first state house seat.^[8]
• District 33: C. M. A. Rogers did not seek re-election.
• District 34: Grady W. Cook was elected to Cleburne County's sole state house seat.^[8]
• District 35: D. A. Walden was elected to Henry County's first state house seat.^[8]

General election results

By district

District	Democratic			Republican			Communist			Total
	Candidate	Votes	%	Candidate	Votes	%	Candidate	Votes	%	Votes	Maj.	Mrg.
13th	James A. Simpson	12,668	94.48%	Frank L. Snedeker	704	5.25%	Robert F. Hall	36	0.27%	13,408	+11,964	+89.23%
15th	Karl C. Harrison	5,232	64.68%	Fred Allen	2,857	35.32%	—	—	—	8,089	+2,375	+29.36%
29th	E. M. Baker	6,227	69.20%	J. A. Downer	2,772	30.80%	—	—	—	8,999	+3,455	+38.39%
31st	Zadoc L. Weatherford	4,924	76.01%	Walter Denson	1,554	23.99%	—	—	—	6,478	+3,370	+52.02%
Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 (p. 714–716)[11]

Elected without opposition

Every candidate elected without an opponent was a Democrat.

• District 1: William M. Malone received 3,108 votes.
• District 2: Norman W. Harris received 2,715 votes.
• District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. received 6,338 votes.
• District 4: Charles E. Shaver received 1,818 votes.
• District 5: Herbert H. Conway received 3,170 votes.
• District 6: John A. Lusk Jr. received 5,742 votes.
• District 7: Henry H. Booth received 1,670 votes.
• District 8: W. L. Howard received 1,468 votes.
• District 9: Daniel R. Boyd received 2,265 votes.
• District 10: T. H. Street received 2,975 votes.
• District 11: Hayse Tucker received 2,130 votes.
• District 12: Oliver E. Young received 6,862 votes.
• District 14: Verdo Elmore received 1,545 votes.
• District 16: Renzo Guy received 565 votes.
• District 17: Joseph N. Poole received 4,603 votes.
• District 18: Howard Cooper received 1,517 votes.
• District 19: P. F. DeVane received 4,255 votes.
• District 20: O. D. Carlton received 1,096 votes.
• District 21: W. C. Holmes received 3,801 votes.
• District 22: J. Bruce Henderson received 668 votes.
• District 23: T. S. Faulk received 2,272 votes.
• District 24: Preston C. Clayton received 1,096 votes.
• District 25: J. M. Rowe received 3,932 votes.
• District 26: Watkins C. Johnston received 1,076 votes.
• District 27: W. A. Dozier received 1,748 votes.
• District 28: Charles A. Stakely Jr. received 4,950 votes.
• District 30: C. C. Thomas received 1,156 votes.
• District 32: E. F. Hildreth received 1,253 votes.
• District 33: Daniel T. McCall received 2,762 votes.
• District 34: A. L. Crumpton received 3,749 votes.
• District 35: W. Perry Calhoun received 2,673 votes.

Democratic primary results

Runoff results by district

Democratic runoffs were held on June 14. Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. An asterisk (*) denotes a runoff winner who trailed in the first round.

District	Winner			Loser			Total
	Candidate	Votes	%	Candidate	Votes	%	Votes	Maj.	Mrg.
5th	Herbert H. Conway*	6,233	59.38%	J. J. Benford	4,263	40.62%	10,496	+1,970	+18.77%
7th	Frank Glenn Propst*	2,863	50.34%	Henry H. Booth	2,824	49.66%	5,687	+39	+0.69%
9th	Daniel R. Boyd	4,928	60.10%	J. F. Jackson	3,272	39.90%	8,200	+1,656	+20.20%
14th	Verdo Elmore	1,953	52.83%	L. W. Wooten	1,744	47.17%	3,697	+209	+5.65%
15th	Karl C. Harrison	3,132	55.01%	J. A. Hines	2,561	44.99%	5,693	+571	+10.03%
21st	W. C. Holmes	5,304	53.90%	W. C. Mason	4,537	46.10%	9,841	+767	+7.79%
Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 (p. 683–685)[12]

Additionally, runoffs in District 3, District 6, and District 29 were planned, but were canceled after candidates withdrew from their races. All three withdrawals were from candidates who placed second in the first round.

• District 3: Finis E. St. John Jr. won the Democratic nomination after W. E. James withdrew by May 22.^[13]
• District 6: John A. Lusk Jr. won the Democratic nomination after Bob Leath withdrew by May 13.^[14]
• District 29: E. M. Baker won the Democratic nomination after Lewis W. Fowler withdrew on May 20.^[15]

First round results by district

The first round of the Democratic primary was held on May 3. Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff, first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff.

District	First place			Runners-up			Others			Total
	Candidate	Votes	%	Candidate	Votes	%	Candidate	Votes	%	Votes	Maj.	Mrg.
1st	William W. Malone*	4,418	57.58%	R. H. Walker	3,255	42.42%	—	—	—	7,673	+1,163	+15.16%
3rd	Finis E. St. John Jr.*	4,116	48.36%	W. E. James[a]	3,189	37.47%	Bart J. Cowart	1,206	14.17%	8,511	+927	+10.89%
4th	Charles E. Shaver*	4,217	64.14%	H. M. Robertson	2,358	35.86%	—	—	—	6,575	+1,859	+28.27%
5th	J. J. Benford	3,607	37.39%	Herbert H. Conway	3,039	31.51%	Joe Johnson	3,000	31.10%	9,646	+568	+5.89%
6th	John A. Lusk Jr.*	5,613	48.16%	Bob Leath[b]	2,386	20.47%	2 others[c]	3,655	31.37%	11,654	+3,227	+27.69%
7th	Henry H. Booth	2,160	35.92%	Frank Glenn Propst	1,711	28.46%	2 others[d]	2,142	35.61%	6,013	+449	+7.47%
8th	W. L. Howard*	3,009	58.03%	W. M. Rozelle	2,176	41.97%	—	—	—	5,185	+833	+16.07%
9th	Daniel R. Boyd	3,467	41.88%	J. F. Jackson	2,746	33.17%	D. T. Ware	2,065	24.95%	8,278	+721	+8.71%
10th	T. H. Street*	5,634	54.65%	R. W. Stuckey	2,685	26.04%	Mike J. Bulger	1,991	19.31%	10,310	+2,949	+28.60%
11th	Hayse Tucker*	4,450	56.88%	Luther Hearn	2,096	26.79%	Ed Long	1,277	16.32%	7,823	+2,354	+30.09%
12th	Oliver E. Young*	9,039	62.92%	A. U. Hollis	5,327	37.08%	—	—	—	14,366	+3,712	+25.84%
13th	James A. Simpson*	24,460	61.90%	Ben F. Ray	15,058	38.10%	—	—	—	39,518	+9,402	+23.79%
14th	Verdo Elmore	1,657	41.08%	L. W. Wooten	1,443	35.77%	E. P. Windham	934	23.15%	4,034	+214	+5.30%
15th	Karl C. Harrison	3,059	39.83%	J. F. McGraw	2,171	28.26%	J. A. Hines	2,451	31.91%	7,681	+888	+11.56%
17th	Joe N. Poole*	6,342	70.22%	J. W. Joyner	2,690	29.78%	—	—	—	9,032	+3,652	+40.43%
18th	Howard Cooper*	2,690	55.65%	John S. Ward	2,144	44.35%	—	—	—	4,834	+546	+11.29%
19th	P. F. DeVane*	5,104	54.23%	O. B. Christopher	4,307	45.77%	—	—	—	9,411	+797	+8.47%
20th	O. D. Carlton*	1,820	56.89%	S. W. Compton	1,379	43.11%	—	—	—	3,199	+441	+13.79%
21st	W. C. Holmes	4,455	45.18%	W. C. Mason	3,301	33.48%	A. B. McPhaul	2,105	21.35%	9,861	+1,154	+11.70%
23rd	T. S. Faulk*	3,872	51.05%	Joel E. Johnson	3,713	48.95%	—	—	—	7,585	+159	+2.10%
24th	Preston C. Clayton*	1,962	59.91%	Millard I. Jackson	1,313	40.09%	—	—	—	3,275	+649	+19.82%
26th	Watkins C. Johnston*	1,643	51.85%	R. H. Powell	1,526	48.15%	—	—	—	3,169	+117	+3.69%
27th	W. A. Dozier*	3,305	58.10%	T. W. Britton	2,383	41.90%	—	—	—	5,688	+922	+16.21%
28th	Charles A. Stakely*	10,154	78.02%	Charles B. Teasley	2,860	21.98%	—	—	—	13,014	+7,294	+56.05%
29th	E. M. Baker	4,062	49.28%	Lewis W. Fowler	2,556	31.01%	W. B. Thompson	1,624	19.70%	8,242	+1,506	+18.27%
31st	Zadoc L. Weatherford*	5,717	55.22%	M. D. Hansbrough	2,563	24.75%	Charles G. Richeson	2,074	20.03%	10,354	+3,154	+30.46%
32nd	E. F. Hildreth*	1,623	50.37%	D. G. Mayes	1,599	49.63%	—	—	—	3,222	+24	+0.74%
33rd	Daniel T. McCall*	9,167	65.97%	Alfred L. Staples	4,728	34.03%	—	—	—	13,895	+4,439	+31.95%
34th	A. L. Crumpton*	3,329	50.45%	O. O. Mitchell	3,269	49.55%	—	—	—	6,598	+60	+0.91%
35th	W. Perry Calhoun*	4,804	62.69%	N. Frank Pridgen	2,859	37.31%	—	—	—	7,663	+1,945	+25.38%
Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939 (p. 650–655)[16]

Nominated unopposed

The following candidates won the Democratic nomination by default as they were the only to run in their respective district:

• District 2: Norman W. Harris received 6,776 votes.
• District 16: Renzo Guy received 1,287 votes.
• District 22: J. M. Bonner received 1,657 votes.
• District 25: J. M. Rowe received 7,783 votes.
• District 30: C. C. Thomas received 3,383 votes.

1935–1938 special elections

District 25 (Coffee–Crenshaw–Pike)

A special election in Senate District 25 (Coffee–Crenshaw–Pike) was made necessary by the death of incumbent senator Thomas J. Thrower on July 12, 1935. W. H. Stoddard of Crenshaw County won the Democratic nomination unopposed, and did not face opposition at the September 11, 1935 general special election.^[17][18]

District 14 (Pickens–Sumter)

A special election in Senate District 4 (Madison County) was made necessary by the death of incumbent senator John A. Rogers on September 22, 1936. Marcus E. McConnell won the Democratic nomination unanimously and did not face opposition at the November 3, 1936 general special election.^[19]

District 4 (Madison County)

A special election in Senate District 4 (Madison County) was made necessary by the death of incumbent senator Shelby S. Fletcher on July 1, 1936. Attorney Schuyler H. Richardson won the Democratic nomination unanimously and did not face opposition at the November 3, 1936 general special election.^[20] Richardson was later appointed judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit on December 10, 1937.^[21]

1936 Alabama Senate District 4 special general election
November 3, 1936^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Schuyler H. Richardson	4,542	99.28%
	Write-in	Charles D. Lane	33	0.72%
Total votes			4,575	100.00%

See also

• 1938 Alabama elections
  • 1938 United States Senate special election in Alabama
  • 1938 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
  • 1938 Alabama gubernatorial election
• 1938 United States elections

References

1. Hatton, Hartwell (11 January 1939). "Carpetbag Label Placed On New Wilcox Senator". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
2. "Senate Rotation Object of Bill". The Haleyville Advertiser. 16 August 1957. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
3. Hutto, James C. (8 April 1938). "Four Senators Are Candidates For The House". The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
4. "Graves Names Senator Judge". The Dothan Eagle. Associated Press. 10 December 1937. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
5. "Obituary for Shelby Fletcher". Jackson County Sentinel. 2 July 1936. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
6. "Will Walton Is New Judge For Fifth Circuit". The Opelika-Auburn News. 17 February 1938. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
7. "Senator Rogers, State Political Notable Is Dead". Associated Press. 22 September 1938. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
8. Sparrow, Hugh W. (12 May 1938). "70 Members of Body Selected". Birmingham Post-Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
9. "Pro-Graves Solon Is Dead At Leroy". The Birmingham Post. 30 November 1936. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
10. "State Senator Dies Suddenly". The Birmingham News. Associated Press. 13 July 1935. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
11. Owen, Marie Bankhead (1939). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 714–716. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
12. Owen, Marie Bankhead (1939). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 683–685. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
13. "Baby Senator". The Birmingham News. 22 May 1938. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
14. "Political Hopefuls Face Run-Off Tests". The Birmingham News. Associated Press. 13 May 1938. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
15. Fowler, Lewis W. (20 May 1938). "To The Voters of Dekalb And Cherokee Counties". The Coosa River News. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
16. Owen, Marie Bankhead (1939). Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1939. Montgomery, Alabama: Walker Printing Company. pp. 650–655. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
17. "Special Vote Called For Naming Senator". The Birmingham Post. United Press. 7 August 1935. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
18. "Changes In Polling Places For City". The Troy Messenger. 6 September 1935. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
19. "M. E. McConnell Named Senator". Sumter County Journal. 1 October 1936. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
20. "Richardson Selected To Replace Fletcher In State Legislature". The Monroe Journal. 20 August 1936. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
21. "Graves Names Senator Judge". The Dothan Eagle. Associated Press. 10 December 1937. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
22. "Official Checks Brings 11-1 Odds ForRoosevelt". The Huntsville Times. 8 November 1936. Retrieved 25 August 2025.

1. Withdrew before the runoff
2. Withdrew before the runoff
3. Evan J. Owen: 2,109 votes, 18.10%; Dozier Thornton: 1,546 votes, 13.27%
4. Rutherford Lapsley: 1,534 votes, 25.51%: Farmer M. Nixon: 608 votes, 10.11%