1994 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 1994 Alabama gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to select the governor of Alabama. The election saw Republican Fob James defeat incumbent Democrat Jim Folsom Jr. in an upset. This was the first of three consecutive Alabama gubernatorial elections where the incumbent was defeated.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary saw Jim Folsom defeat Paul Hubbert for the Democratic nomination. Lieutenant Governor Folsom became governor on April 22, 1993, after Republican Governor H. Guy Hunt was removed from office.

Candidates

• Tom Hayden
• Paul Hubbert, Executive Secretary of the Alabama Education Association and nominee for governor in 1990
• Jim Folsom Jr., incumbent Governor
• F. Ross Stewart

Results

Republican primary

Fob James defeated five other candidates for the Republican nomination.

Candidates

• Ann Bedsole, State Senator
• Winton Blount III, businessman and son of former Postmaster General Winton Blount
• Fob James, former Democratic Governor
• Mickey Kirkland, pastor
• Jack Pollard, candidate for governor in 1990
• Robin Swift, businessman

Results

General election

Polling

Results

Folsom led in the polls during the campaign which showed him 10 to 12 percent ahead of James on the last weekend before the election. However, James pulled off a narrow upset victory in the election.

References

• Recent Alabama gubernatorial election results