The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the seven

U.S. representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from the state, one from each of the state's seven

congressional districts Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts and legislative districts, electorates, or wards in other nations, are divisions of a larger administrative region that represent the population of a region in the larger congressional bod ...

. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...

Primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...

s were held on March 13, 2012; runoff elections were held on April 24.

Redistricting

redistricting Redistribution (re-districting in the United States and in the Philippines) is the process by which electoral districts are added, removed, or otherwise changed. Redistribution is a form of boundary delimitation that changes electoral dist ...

bill was passed by the

Alabama House of Representatives The Alabama State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency contai ...

and

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

on June 2, 2011, and signed into law by

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Robert Bentley on June 8. To comply with the 1965

Voting Rights Act The suffrage, Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of Federal government of the United States, federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President of the United ...

, the map received approval from the

U.S. Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United State ...

or a federal court before it could be enacted; the Department of Justice approved the map on November 21, 2011.

Overview

The table below shows the total number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost by each political party in the election for the United States House of Representatives in Alabama.

District 1

The redrawn 1st district remains based in

Mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ( ...

and continues to include the entirety of the state's coast.

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

Jo Bonner Josiah Robins Bonner Jr. (born November 19, 1959) is an American academic administrator and former politician who currently serves as the fourth president of the University of South Alabama. He was previously the U.S. representative for from 200 ...

, who has represented the 1st district since 2003, sought re-election. Peter Gounares, a real estate broker who unsuccessfully challenged Bonner in the Republican primary in

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

; Pete Riehm, a real estate agent; and Dean Young, a businessman and conservative activist, challenged Bonner in the Republican primary. Bonner defeated his three challengers. No Democrats qualified to seek the nomination. Clint Moser, who had planned to run against Bonner as an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

, did not do so. Bonner easily won re-election on November 6, 2012.

Primary results

General election

District 2

The redrawn 2nd district is based in the suburbs of Montgomery and covers the southeast of the state. Republican

Martha Roby Martha Kehres Roby ( ; née Dubina; born July 26, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, she defeated the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representati ...

, who has represented the 2nd district since January 2011, sought re-election in 2012. Therese Ford challenged Roby as the Democratic candidate. Former U.S. Representative

Bobby Bright Bobby Neal Bright Sr. (born July 21, 1952) is an American former lawyer, farmer, and former politician who served as a U.S. Representative and was previously the three term Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. He served from 2009 to 2011 as the Represe ...

, whom Roby defeated in the 2010 general election, decided not to run again. Roby won re-election on November 6, 2012.

General election

District 3

The redrawn 3rd district is more favorable to Republicans than its previous incarnation. Republican Mike Rogers, who has represented the 3rd district since 2003, sought re-election. John Andrew Harris, who works in the child nutrition program for

Auburn City Schools The Auburn City School District or Auburn City Schools is the school district of Auburn, Alabama, United States. The superintendent is Dr. Cristen Herring. History Early history of Auburn schools The earliest settlers of Auburn made the estab ...

, challenged Rogers unsuccessfully.

General election

District 4

The northern part of

Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa County is a county in the northwest-central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama and is the center of commerce, education, industry, health care, and entertainment for the region. The county's population was 227,036 as of the 2020 c ...

was added to the 4th district during redistricting, while most of Blount County was removed. Republican

Robert Aderholt Robert Brown Aderholt (; born July 22, 1965) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes most of Tuscaloosa County north of the Black W ...

, who has represented the 4th district since 1997, sought re-election.

State representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

Daniel Boman, and Rick Neighbors, a former plant supervisor, sought the Democratic nomination to challenge Aderholt. Boman defeated Neighbors, but Aderholt won the general election on November 6, 2012.

Primary results

General election

District 5

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

and Colbert counties were moved from the 4th district to the 5th district during redistricting. Republican

Mo Brooks Morris Jackson "Mo" Brooks Jr. (born April 29, 1954) is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2023. His district was based in Huntsville and stretches across the northern fifth of the stat ...

, who represented the 5th district since January 2011, sought re-election.

Parker Griffith Rolf Parker Griffith Jr. (born August 6, 1942) is an American retired physician, entrepreneur and politician who served in the Alabama State Senate from 2006 to 2008 and then as the U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2011. A lifelong member o ...

, who represented the district from 2009 to 2011 and was defeated by Brooks in the Republican primary in

, again challenged Brooks in the Republican primary. Brooks defeated Griffith. Charlie Holley, a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

minister, unsuccessfully challenged Brooks as the Democratic nominee. Brooks won the November 6, 2012, general election.

Primary results

General election

District 6

The redrawn 6th district is centered around the suburbs of

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

. Republican

Spencer Bachus Spencer Thomas Bachus III (born December 28, 1947) is an American politician. He is a former U.S. Representative for the state of Alabama, serving from 1993 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he served as ranking member (2007–2011) an ...

, who has represented

Alabama's 6th congressional district Alabama's 6th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Alabama that elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It is composed of the wealthier portions of Birmingham, nearly all of Jeffer ...

since 1993, sought re-election.

State Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

Scott Beason Scott Beason (born October 13, 1969) is an American talk radio host and a Republican former member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 17th District from 2006 to 2014. He ran unsuccessfully in 2012 against incumbent Spencer Bachus for the G ...

; Al Mickle, a businessman and

Tea Party A tea party is a social gathering event held in the afternoon. For centuries, many societies have cherished drinking tea with a company at noon. Tea parties are considered for formal business meetings, social celebrations or just as an afternoon ...

activist; and Blount County

Probate Judge A probate court (sometimes called a surrogate court) is a court that has competence in a jurisdiction to deal with matters of probate and the administration of estates. In some jurisdictions, such courts may be referred to as Orphans' Courts o ...

David Standridge challenged Bachus in the Republican primary. Justin Barkley had planned to challenge Bachus, but dropped his bid in January 2012. Stan Pate, a businessman, planned to run but ended his bid in February 2012. Bachus defeated his three primary challengers. Col. Penny Bailey, a retired

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

; and William G. Barnes, an attorney and Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in

, sought the Democratic nomination. Bailey defeated Barnes, but Bachus won the general election on November 6, 2012.

Primary results

General election

District 7

The redrawn 7th district, located on the state's western border, is 64%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

and was made even more favorable to Democrats in the 2010 redistricting. Incumbent

Terri Sewell Terri is an alternative spelling of Terry. It is a common feminine given name and is also a diminutive for Teresa. Notable people with the name include: *Terri Allard (born 1962), American country/folk singer/songwriter *Terri S. Armstrong, Amer ...

, who has represented the 7th district since January 2011, sought re-election. Don Chamberlain and Phil Norris, a retired

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

submariner, sought the Republican nomination to challenge Sewell. Chamberlain defeated Norris, then Sewell won the general election on November 6, 2012. She is the only Democrat in Alabama's Congressional delegation. As of 2021, this is the last time Republicans contested Alabama's 7th congressional district.

Primary results

General election

References

External links

Elections
from the Alabama Secretary of State
Alabama Votes
government election center
United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2012
at

Ballotpedia Ballotpedia is a nonprofit and nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that covers federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy in the United States. The website was founded in 2007. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the Lucy Bur ...

Alabama U.S. House
at OurCampaigns.com
Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Alabama
at

OpenSecrets OpenSecrets is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that tracks data on campaign finance and lobbying. It was created from a merger of the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP). ...

Outside spending
at the

Sunlight Foundation The Sunlight Foundation was an American 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocated for open government. The organization was founded in April 2006 with the goal of increasing transparency and accountability in the United States ...

Election news coverage
from ''AL.com'' {{2012 United States elections

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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 ...

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...