2018 Alabama gubernatorial election

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

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

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

References

2018 elections in the United States
November 2018 events
Alabama