2012 Alabama elections

2012 Alabama elections
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2014 →

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

Republican 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

2012 Alabama Public Service Commission election
← 2008
2016 →
 
Nominee Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Lucy Baxley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,078,108 909,323
Percentage 54.17% 45.69%
County results
Cavanaugh:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Baxley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Commissioner before election

Lucy Baxley
Democratic

 Elected Commissioner

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh
Republican

Incumbent Alabama Public Service Commission president Lucy Baxley, the only Democrat holding a statewide office at the time, lost re-election to Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh in a rematch of 2008.

Democratic nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Primary results

2012 Alabama PSC President Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh 248,297 48.92%
Republican Chip Brown 135,568 26.71%
Republican Kathy Peterson 123,729 24.37%
Total votes 507,594 100%

Primary runoff results

2012 Alabama PSC President Republican primary runoff results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh 52,371 60.82%
Republican Chip Brown 33,734 39.18%
Total votes 86,105 100%

General election

2012 Alabama PSC President election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh 1,078,108 54.17%
Democratic Lucy Baxley (incumbent) 909,323 45.69%
Write-in 2,890 0.15%
Total votes 1,990,321 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

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

2012 Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice election
← 2006
2018 →
 
Nominee Roy Moore Bob Vance
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,051,627 977,301
Percentage 51.77% 48.12%
County results
Moore:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Vance:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Chief Justice before election

Chuck Malone
Republican

 Elected Chief Justice

Roy Moore
Republican

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
Primary results
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roy Moore 282,743 50.38%
Republican Charles Graddick 141,570 25.22%
Republican Chuck Malone (incumbent) 136,927 24.40%
Total votes 561,240 100%

Democratic Nominee

Disqualified
  • Harry Lyon, lawyer.

Independent Candidates (later withdrew)

  • Ginger Poynter, lawyer. (endorsed Vance)
  • Melinda Lee Maddox, lawyer.

General election

2012 Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roy Moore 1,051,627 51.77%
Democratic Bob Vance 977,301 48.12%
Write-in 2,189 0.11%
Total votes 2,031,117 100%
Republican hold

State Supreme Court, Associate Justice (Place 1)

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

Republican Primary

Confirmed Candidates
Withdrawn candidates
Primary results
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tommy Bryan 309,147 65.35%
Republican Debra Jones 163,938 34.65%
Total votes 473,085 100%

General election

2012 Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Place 1 election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tommy Bryan 1,264,751 98.08%
Write-in 24,788 1.92%
Total votes 1,289,539 100%
Republican hold

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.

2012 Alabama ballot measures
Name Description Votes Type
Yes % No %
Amendment 1 (September) Transfers $145.8 million from an oil and gas trust fund to the General Fund for Medicaid budget. 390,421 65.35 206,995 34.65 Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Amendment 1 (November) Extends payments made to the Forever Wild Land Trust for a 20-year period. 1,323,819 75.16 437,560 24.84
Amendment 2 Allows issuance of general obligation bonds of no more than $750 million. 1,145,034 69.41 504,610 30.59
Amendment 3 Defines the Stockton Landmark District within Baldwin County. 887,024 67.80 421,255 32.20
Amendment 4 Removes references to segregation of schools from the state constitution. 675,064 39.34 1,040,987 60.66
Amendment 5 Transfers assets and liabilities of the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Prichard to the Mobile Area Water Sewer System. 900,596 68.66 411,167 31.34
Amendment 6 Prohibits mandatory participation in any healthcare system. 969,069 58.96 674,518 41.04
Amendment 7 Allows for the use of secret ballots in votes of employee representation and public votes on referendums and public office. 1,056,299 67.11 517,595 32.89
Amendment 8 Provides that the compensation paid to legislators does not increase during term of office. 1,102,981 68.50 507,123 31.50
Amendment 9 Allows the state legislature to implement business privilege tax on corporations. 880,606 57.80 642,927 42.20
Amendment 10 Related to the authority of state legislature and banking in the state. 778,996 54.05 662,372 45.95
Amendment 11 Prohibits any municipality outside of Lawrence County from imposing any municipal ordinance or regulation. 830,067 66.11 425,501 33.89
Source: Alabama Secretary of State
Results by county
Amendment 1 (September) results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
No:
  •   50–60%
Amendment 1 (November) results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Amendment 2 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Amendment 3 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   70–80%
Amendment 4 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Amendment 5 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   80–90%
Amendment 6 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Amendment 7 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Amendment 8 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Amendment 9 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Amendment 10 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Amendment 11 results by county
Yes:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
No:
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

References

  1. ↑ "Alabama elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Lyman, Brian (October 14, 2012). "Baxley, Cavanaugh meet in PSC presidency rematch". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ Dean, Charles J. (September 23, 2012). "Alabama Public Service Commission president race is for last seat held by a Democrat". Al.com. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  4. ↑ Brownfield, Andy (March 14, 2012). "PSC president primary race headed for runoff". The Gadsden Times. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ Moseley, Brandon (December 27, 2011). "Kathy Peterson Running for Public Service Commission". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Alabama state executive official elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Alabama judicial elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Bob (June 30, 2011). "Sue Bell Cobb resigns as chief justice". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Derby, Kevin (November 23, 2011). "Roy Moore to Run for His Old Job -- Not the White House". Sunshine State News. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Talbot, George (July 29, 2011). "Charlie Graddick says he's 'running to win' in Supreme Court chief justice race". AL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ Chandler, Kim (August 22, 2012). "Judge Robert Vance will be Democrats' candidate for Alabama chief justice". AL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Velasco, Eric (August 18, 2012). "New candidate sought to replace Alabama chief justice nominee Harry Lyon (slideshow)". AL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 Talbot, George (August 21, 2012). "Mobile lawyers drop write-in bids for Alabama Supreme Court chief justice". AL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  14. ↑ Beyerle, Dana (October 30, 2012). "Vance gets Republican, retired justice endorsements". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  15. ↑ Chandler, Kim (November 8, 2012). "'10 Commandments judge' Roy Moore wins his old job back". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ Velasco, Eric (August 31, 2011). "Alabama's new chief justice says he'll run for full 6-year term in 2012". AL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Recertification of Results - Republican Party Primary" (PDF). sos.alabama.gov. April 6, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  18. ↑ Chandler, Kim (August 21, 2012). "Judge Robert Vance says he wants to offer 'choice' in chief justice race". AL.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Amended Certification of General Election Results" (PDF). sos.alabama.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  20. 1 2 McCreless, Patrick (January 10, 2012). "Circuit Judge Debra Jones to seek Alabama Supreme Court seat". The Anniston Star. Retrieved September 3, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ↑ Kirby, Brendan (March 6, 2012). "Meet the candidates: Alabama Supreme Court race turns on which kind of experience is best". AL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  22. ↑ Jones, Adam (September 18, 2011). "Local judge drops out of high court race". The Tuscaloosa News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Certified General Election Results - Without Write-in Appendix" (PDF). sos.alabama.gov. November 28, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Alabama 2012 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Alabama Medicaid Amendment, Amendment 1 (September 2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust Amendment, Amendment 1 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Alabama General Obligation Bond Amendment, Amendment 2 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Alabama Baldwin County Stockton Landmark District Amendment, Amendment 3 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Alabama Segregation Reference Ban Amendment, Amendment 4 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Alabama Assets and Liabilities Transfer Amendment, Amendment 5 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Alabama Healthcare Amendment, Amendment 6 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Alabama Secret Ballot Amendment, Amendment 7 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Alabama Legislative Compensation Amendment, Amendment 8 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Alabama Business Privilege Tax Amendment, Amendment 9 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Alabama Banking Amendment, Amendment 10 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Alabama Lawrence County Amendment, Amendment 11 (2012)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Certification of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2025.