2012 Alabama elections


A general election was held in the U.S. state of Alabama on November 6, 2012. Along with the presidential election, all of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives and several state-level and local offices were up for election. Primary elections took place on March 13, 2012.

Federal offices

President of the United States

candidate Mitt Romney won Alabama with 60.55% of the vote and gained nine electoral votes.

United States House of Representatives

All of Alabama's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Six Republicans and one Democrat were re-elected. No districts changed partisan control.

Public Service Commission

Incumbent Alabama Public Service Commission president Lucy Baxley, the only Democrat holding a statewide office, sought re-election and was challenged by Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh in a rematch; she had defeated her back in 2008.

Democratic nominee

Candidates

  • Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, associate Alabama Public Service Commissioner and 2008 Republican nominee.
  • Chip Brown, real estate businessman and military veteran.
  • Kathy Peterson, businesswoman.

    Primary results

Primary runoff

General election

State judiciary

Eleven statewide judicial seats in Alabama were up for election - five from the state supreme court and six from the appellate courts. Only two of them were contested.

State Supreme Court, Chief Justice

Incumbent Republican Justice Chuck Malone was appointed by Governor Robert J. Bentley in 2011 to fill the remaining term of Democrat Sue Bell Cobb who resigned. Malone ran for re-election to a full term and was challenged by former chief justice Roy Moore and circuit court judge Charles Graddick in the Republican primary. Jefferson County circuit court judge Bob Vance emerged as the Democratic frontrunner after Harry Lyon, the former nominee, was disqualified due to improper comments made by him online.
The involvement of Moore drew a lot of attention to the race owing to his controversial previous tenure as chief justice and initially attracted write-in candidates who sought to block his return. Some former Republican justices even endorsed Vance instead of Moore despite him winning the primary.
Roy Moore won the general election in November, returning to the state supreme court after a decade. Vance lost by a margin of 3.65% while on the same ballot Barack Obama lost by 22%, indicating a strong overperformance in deep red Alabama.

Republican Primary

Candidates
  • Chuck Malone, incumbent chief justice.
  • Roy Moore, former chief justice.
  • Charles Graddick, circuit court judge.
    Primary results

Democratic Nominee

  • Bob Vance, circuit court judge.
    Disqualified
  • Harry Lyon, lawyer.

    Independent Candidates (later withdrew)

  • Ginger Poynter, lawyer.
  • Melinda Lee Maddox, lawyer.

    General election

State Supreme Court, Associate Justice (Place 1)

Incumbent Republican Justice Thomas Woodall decided not to seek re-election.

Republican Primary

Confirmed Candidates

General election

Ballot measures

Twelve statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot in Alabama - one in September and eleven in November. All but one were approved by the voters.

Amendment 1 (September)

The Alabama Medicaid Amendment would transfer $145.8 million from an oil and gas trust fund to the General Fund for Medicaid budget.

Amendment 1 (November)

The Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust Amendment would extend payments made to the Forever Wild Land Trust for a 20-year period.

Amendment 2

The Alabama General Obligation Bond Amendment would allow issuance of general obligation bonds of no more than $750 million.

Amendment 3

The Alabama Baldwin County Stockton Landmark District Amendment would define the Stockton Landmark District within Baldwin County.

Amendment 4

The Alabama Segregation Reference Ban Amendment would remove references to segregation of schools in the state constitution.

Amendment 5

The Alabama Assets and Liabilities Transfer Amendment would transfer assets and liabilities of the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Prichard to the Mobile Area Water Sewer System.

Amendment 6

The Alabama Health Care Amendment would prohibit mandatory participation in any healthcare system.

Amendment 7

The Alabama Secret Ballot Amendment would allow for the use of secret ballots in votes of employee representation and public votes on referendums and public office.

Amendment 8

The Alabama Legislative Compensation Amendment would provide that the compensation paid to legislators does not increase during term of office.

Amendment 9

The Alabama Business Privilege Amendment would allow the state legislature to implement business privilege tax on corporations.

Amendment 10

The Alabama Banking Amendment was related to the authority of state legislature and banking in the state.

Amendment 11

The Alabama Lawrence County Amendment would prohibit any municipality outside of Lawrence County from imposing any municipal ordinance or regulation.