1974 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 1974 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic governor George Wallace was reelected in a landslide over his Republican opponent, businessman Elvin McCary. Wallace was the first Alabama governor to win election to a second consecutive term, as the state's Constitution was amended in 1968 to allow governors to serve a maximum two elected consecutive terms. This was also Wallace's first campaign after having been paralyzed following being shot by Arthur Bremer in an assassination attempt during Wallace's run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination.

1974 Alabama gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 5, 1974 1978 →
 
Nominee George Wallace Elvin McCary
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 497,574 88,381
Percentage 83.16% 14.77%

County results
Wallace:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election

George Wallace
Democratic

Elected Governor

George Wallace
Democratic

As of 2022, this is the last time any gubernatorial candidate in Alabama won every county in the state.

Democratic primary

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Primary elections were held on May 7, 1974.[1]

Candidates

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Results

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Results by county:
  Wallace
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80-90%
  McLain
  •   50–60%
Democratic primary results[2][3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Wallace (incumbent) 536,235 64.79
Democratic Gene McLain 249,035 30.09
Democratic Jim Folsom 24,821 3.00
Democratic Shorty Price 9,834 1.19
Democratic Thomas Robinson 7,726 0.93
Total votes 827,651

Republican primary

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  • Elvin McCary, businessman

Results

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1974 Alabama gubernatorial election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Wallace (incumbent) 497,574 83.16
Republican Elvin McCary 88,381 14.77
Prohibition Jim Partain 12,350 2.06
Total votes 598,305 100
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ B. Drummond Ayres Jr. (May 8, 1974). "Alabama primary won by Wallace". New York Times. New York City. p. 41. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 96.
  3. ^ America Votes 11, p. 28.
  4. ^ "AL Governor, 1974 – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "1974 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Alabama". U.S.Election Atlas. Retrieved June 27, 2015.

Bibliography

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  • Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  • Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1975). America Votes 11: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1974. Washington, D.C.: Elections Research Center.