2002 United States Senate election in Alabama

Background

In the 1968 presidential election, Alabama supported native son and American Independent Party candidate George Wallace over both Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Wallace was the official Democratic candidate in Alabama, while Humphrey was listed as the "National Democratic". In 1976, Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter from Georgia carried the state, the region, and the nation, but Democratic control of the region slipped after that.

Since 1980, conservative Alabama voters have increasingly voted for Republican candidates at the federal level, especially in presidential elections. By contrast, Democratic candidates have been elected to many state-level offices and comprised a longstanding majority in the Alabama Legislature.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jeff Sessions, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1997

Sessions was not challenged in the primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Julian L. McPhillips, Attorney and candidate for Attorney General in 1978
• Susan Parker, Alabama State Auditor
• Wayne Sowell, candidate for governor in 1998 and candidate for the U.S. House in 2000

Results

Original on June 4

McPhillips won many counties in the southern part of the state, but Parker won the most counties. Sowell endorsed Parker for the runoff.

Runoff on June 25

General election

Candidates

• Jeff Allen (L)
• Susan Parker (D), Alabama State Auditor
• Jeff Sessions (R), Incumbent U.S. Senator

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 20, 2002

Predictions

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Coosa (Largest city: Goodwater)
• Chambers (Largest city: Valley)
• Barbour (largest city: Eufaula)
• Conecuh (largest city: Evergreen)
• Butler (Largest city: Greenville)
• Crenshaw (Largest city: Luverne)
• Washington (Largest city: Chatom)
• Choctaw (Largest city: Butler)
• Jackson (Largest city: Scottsboro)
• Cherokee (Largest city: Centre)
• Fayette (Largest city: Fayette)
• Franklin (Largest city: Russellville)
• Marion (Largest city: Hamilton)
• Walker (Largest city: Jasper)
• Lauderdale (Largest city: Florence)
• Lamar (Largest city: Vernon)
• Etowah (Largest city: Gadsden)

References

References

1. "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
2. (November 5, 1968). "1968 Presidential General Election Results - Alabama". Uselectionatlas.org.
3. (June 5, 2002). "Primaries set stage for crucial Nov. vote". USA Today.
4. "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search".
5. "Gadsden Times - Google News Archive Search".
6. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=1&year=2002&f=0&off=3&elect=1 2002 Senatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Alabama] US Election Atlas
7. "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search".
8. (November 4, 2002). "Senate Races".
9. [http://www.sos.alabama.gov/vb/election/her/her-sw2.aspx alabama.gov]{{dead link. (June 2025)