2018 Alabama gubernatorial election facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
2018 Alabama gubernatorial election

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Nominee Kay Ivey Walter Maddox Party Republican Democrat Popular vote 1,022,457 694,495 Percentage 59.5% 40.4%

County results Ivey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Maddox:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Kay Ivey Republican Elected Governor Kay Ivey Republican

On November 6, 2018 the 2018 Alabama gubernatorial election was held to elect the Governor of Alabama. Incumbent Republican Kay Ivey squared off against Democratic challenger Walter Maddox. Kay Ivey replaced Governor Robert Bentley after he resigned on April 10, 2017. She was running for a full term during this election. Kay achieved that goal and defeated Walter Maddox, who was the mayor of Tuscaloosa. She was sworn in on January 14, 2019.

Primaries

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville
• Scott Dawson, evangelist
• Bill Hightower, State Senator
• Kay Ivey, incumbent governor
• Michael McAllister, former prison officer (died April 2018)

Withdrew

• Slade Blackwell, State Senator
• David Carrington, Jefferson County Commissioner
• Twinkle Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission (running for Lieutenant Governor)
• Stacy Lee George, former Morgan County Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2014
• Josh Jones, businessman
• John McMillan, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (running for state treasurer)

Declined

• Rick Burgess, radio host
• Bill "Bubba" Bussey, radio host
• Bradley Byrne, U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 2010 (running for reelection)
• Mary Scott Hunter, member of the Alabama State Board of Education (running for the state senate after initially running for Lieutenant Governor)
• Del Marsh, President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate (running for reelection)
• Arthur Orr, state senator (running for reelection)
• Trip Pittman, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2017
• Greg Reed, Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate (running for reelection)
• Luther Strange, former U.S. Senator and former attorney general of Alabama
• Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn University football coach
• Cam Ward, state senator (running for reelection)
• Jim Zeigler, State Auditor of Alabama (running for reelection)

Results

Results by county:

Ivey

     >90%
     70–80%
     60–70%
     50–60%
     40–50%

Battle

     40–50%
     60–70%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Sue Bell Cobb, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
• Christopher A. Countryman, equality activist, former juvenile corrections officer and former pastor
• James C. Fields, former state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014
• Walt Maddox, Mayor of Tuscaloosa
• Doug "New Blue" Smith, nominee for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2014
• Anthony White, ordained minister

Withdrew

• Jason Childs, truck driver and former pastor

Declined

• Doug Jones, U.S. Senator
• Terri Sewell, U.S. Representative for Alabama's 7th Congressional District

Results

Results by county:

Maddox

     >90%
     80–90%
     70–80%
     60–70%
     50–60%
     40–50%
     <40%

Cobb/Maddox tie      Tie—Cobb/Maddox

Cobb

     <40%
     40–50%
     50–60%

Fields

     50–60%

White

     <40%

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Tony Hewitt Jr., police officer
• Eric Lathan, security guard, Iraq War veteran and candidate for the Jefferson County Commission in 2010

Declined

• Mark Johnston, pastor, businessman and summer camp executive director

General election

After both Kay Ivey and Walter Maddox won the nominations for governor from their respective parties the focused turned to the general election where the two faced off. Throughout the race Ivey held the lead over Maddox and when election day arrived she won the race. Maddox won 14 counties including his home county of Tuscaloosa County by 1 vote. Kay Ivey won the remaining 53 counties which included the likes of Mobile County and Madison County.

Results