1966 Alabama gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1966 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1966 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1966, and saw the election of Lurleen Wallace as the governor over U.S. Representative James D. Martin. Incumbent Democrat George Wallace was term limited and could not seek a second consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 1970 and 1974 before being term-limited again, and then successfully ran again in 1982.

1966 Alabama gubernatorial election

November 8, 1966

Nominee Lurleen Wallace James D. Martin Carl Robinson Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 537,505 262,943 47,653 Percentage 63.38% 31.0% 5.62%

County results L. Wallace:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Martin:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election George Wallace Democratic Elected Governor Lurleen Wallace Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Democratic primary results by county
Wallace:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Flowers:      40-50%      50-60%

• Carl Elliott, former U.S. Representative
• Richmond Flowers, Sr., Attorney General
• Jim Folsom, former Governor
• Bob Gilchrist, State Senator
• Eunice Gore
• John Malcolm Patterson, former Governor
• Sherman Powell
• A.W. Todd, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
• Lurleen Wallace, First Lady
• Charles Woods, businessman

Results

The Democratic primary was handily won by Lurleen Wallace, who was running as the proxy of her husband, governor George Wallace. Wallace captured a majority of the vote cast in the first round of the primary and there was therefore no runoff necessary.

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lurleen Wallace	480,841	54.10
	Democratic	Richmond Flowers, Sr.	172,386	19.40
	Democratic	Carl Elliott	71,792	8.10
	Democratic	Bob Gilchrist	49,502	5.57
	Democratic	Charles Woods	41,148	4.63
	Democratic	John Malcolm Patterson	31,011	3.49
	Democratic	Jim Folsom	24,145	2.72
	Democratic	A.W. Todd	9,013	1.01
	Democratic	Sherman Powell	7,231	0.81
	Democratic	Eunice Gore	1,589	0.18
Total votes			888,658	100

General election

Until 1966, the official election of the Democratic nominee had been a foregone conclusion. This election proved to be a significant departure from that trend, and the showing of James D. Martin proved to the best by a Republican candidate for governor in Alabama since Reconstruction.

1966 Alabama gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lurleen Burns Wallace	537,505	63.38	−32.89%
	Republican	James D. Martin	262,943	31.00	N/A
	Independent	Carl Robinson	47,653	5.62	N/A
Majority			274,562	32.38
Turnout			848,101
	Democratic hold