1982 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 1982 Alabama gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the governor of Alabama. The incumbent, Fob James, declined to run for re-election, resulting in an open race. Former Democratic Governor George Wallace, who narrowly won the Democratic primary, defeated Republican Emory Folmar, the Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama.

1982 Alabama gubernatorial election

November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02)
 
Nominee George Wallace Emory Folmar
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 650,538 440,815
Percentage 57.6% 39.1%

County results
Wallace:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Folmar:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Fob James
Democratic

Elected Governor

George Wallace
Democratic

In the Democratic primary, Wallace received challenges from Lieutenant Governor George McMillan, Speaker of the State House Joe McCorquodale, former Governor Jim Folsom, and Reuben McKinley. Because Wallace did not receive a majority of the votes, he advanced to a run-off with McMillan and then narrowly won the Democratic nomination. Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar went unchallenged for the Republican nomination.

Wallace, formerly a notorious segregationist, renounced those views in 1979. On November 2, 1982, Wallace not only won the general election, but also over 90% of the black vote. Overall, Wallace received 650,538 (57.64%) votes against Folmar's 440,815 (39.06%) votes. Folmer was the last Alabama Republican gubernatorial nominee to have never won a gubernatorial general election.

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