# Alabama's 17th Senate district

Alabama's 17th Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Alabama Senate. The district has been represented by Shay Shelnutt since 2014.

## Geography

| Election | Counties in District |
| 2022 | Portions of Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair |
| 2018 | Portions of Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair |
| 2014 | Portions of Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega |
| 2010 2006 2002 | Portions of Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair |

## Election history
### 2022

Alabama Senate election, 2022: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Shay Shelnutt (Incumbent) | 38,137 | 90.95 | −7.36 |
| | Libertarian | John Fortenberry | 3,675 | 8.76 | +8.76 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 122 | 0.29 | -1.40 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34,462 | 82.18 | −14.43 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,934 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Alabama Senate election, 2018: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Shay Shelnutt (Incumbent) | 45,964 | 98.31 | −0.54 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 792 | 1.69 | +0.54 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45,172 | 96.61 | −1.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,756 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Alabama Senate election, 2014: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Shay Shelnutt | 31,105 | 98.85 | +17.74 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 363 | 1.15 | +1.03 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30,742 | 97.69 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,468 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

Alabama Senate election, 2010: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Scott Beason (Incumbent) | 38,777 | 81.11 | −17.68 |
| | Democratic | T. E. "Tommy" Hudson | 8,973 | 18.77 | +18.77 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 55 | 0.12 | -1.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29,804 | 62.34 | −35.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,805 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

Alabama Senate election, 2006: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Scott Beason | 30,446 | 98.79 | +14.87 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 373 | 1.21 | +0.78 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30,073 | 97.58 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,819 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

Alabama Senate election, 2002: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jack Biddle (Incumbent) | 30,478 | 83.92 | −14.95 |
| | Libertarian | Caroline Moore | 5,685 | 15.65 | +15.65 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 155 | 0.43 | -0.70 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,793 | 68.27 | −29.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,318 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1998

Alabama Senate election, 1998: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jack Biddle (Incumbent) | 33,233 | 98.87 | −0.09 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 379 | 1.13 | +0.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32,854 | 97.74 | −0.18 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,612 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1994

Alabama Senate election, 1994: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jack Biddle | 28,720 | 98.96 | +62.79 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 302 | 1.04 | +0.89 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28,418 | 97.92 | +70.41 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,022 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 1990

Alabama Senate election, 1990: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mac Parsons (Incumbent) | 22,374 | 63.68 | −36.32 |
| | Republican | Glenn Wadsworth | 12,709 | 36.17 | +36.17 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 50 | 0.15 | +0.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,665 | 27.51 | −72.49 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,133 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1986

Alabama Senate election, 1986: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mac Parsons (Incumbent) | 24,119 | 100.00 | +42.31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,119 | 100.00 | +84.63 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,119 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1983

Alabama Senate election, 1983: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mac Parsons | 8,844 | 57.69 | +24.02 |
| | Independent | Tom Gloor | 6,487 | 42.31 | +42.31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,357 | 15.37 | −17.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,331 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 1982

Alabama Senate election, 1982: Senate District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Spencer Bachus | 23,543 | 66.33 | |
| | Democratic | Dale Corley | 11,953 | 33.67 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,590 | 32.65 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,496 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District officeholders

Senators take office at midnight on the day of their election.
* Shay Shelnutt (2014–present)
* Scott Beason (2006–2014)
* Jack Biddle (1994–2006)
* Mac Parsons (1983–1994)
* Spencer Bachus (1982–1983)
* Doug Cook (1978–1982)
* Eddie Hubert Gilmore (1974–1978)
* Don Horne (1970–1974)
* C. C. Torbert Jr. (1966–1970)
* H. B. Taylor (1962–1966)
* R. G. Kendall (1958–1962)
* Tully A. Goodwin (1954–1958)