The 1966 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1966, and saw the election of

Lurleen Wallace Lurleen Burns Wallace (born Lurleen Brigham Burns; September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) was the List of Governors of Alabama, 46th governor of Alabama for 15 months from January 1967 until her death. She was the first wife of Alabama governor Georg ...

as the governor over U.S. Representative

James D. Martin James Douglas Martin (September 1, 1918 – October 30, 2017) was an American politician. Martin was born in Tarrant, Alabama. He served as a member for the 7th district of Alabama of the United States House of Representatives The U ...

. Incumbent Democrat

George Wallace George Corley Wallace Jr. (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Alabama for four terms. A member of the Democratic Party, he is best remembered for his staunch segregationist and ...

was term limited and could not seek a second consecutive term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Carl Elliott Carl Atwood Elliott (December 20, 1913 – January 9, 1999) was a U.S. representative from the U.S. state of Alabama. He was elected to eight consecutive terms, having served from 1949 to 1965. Background Elliott was born in rural Frankli ...

, former U.S. Representative *

Richmond Flowers, Sr. Richmond McDavid Flowers Sr. (November 11, 1918 – August 9, 2007) was the Attorney General of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1963 to 1967, best known for his opposition to then Governor George C. Wallace's policy of racial segregation. Early ...

, Attorney General * Jim Folsom, former Governor * Bob Gilchrist, State Senator * Eunice Gore * John Malcolm Patterson, former Governor * Sherman Powell * A.W. Todd, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries *

, First Lady * Charles Woods, businessman

Results

The Democratic primary was handily won by Lurleen Wallace, who was running as the proxy of her husband, governor

. Wallace captured a majority of the vote cast in the first round of the primary and there was therefore no runoff necessary. AL Gubernatorial Dem Primary, 1966

General election

Until 1966, the official election of the Democratic nominee had been a foregone conclusion. This election proved to be a significant departure from that trend, and the showing of James D. Martin proved to the best by a Republican candidate for governor in Alabama since Reconstruction.

References

{{US Third Party Election

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

Gubernatorial A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political_regions, political region, ranking under the Head of State, head of state and in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of ...

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

November 1966 events in the United States