Closest U.S. Senate elections in Alabama
The closest U.S. Senate election in Alabama history was in 1986, a margin of 0.56 points. Richard C. Shelby beat Jeremiah Denton, 609,360 to 602,537. Next closest are 1962 (1.7 points) and 1980 (3.1 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Alabama has held, special elections included, see the Alabama U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Alabama history?
The Alabama Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1986, 0.56 points. Richard C. Shelby beat Jeremiah Denton, 609,360 to 602,537. The next closest were 1962 (1.7 points) and 1980 (3.1 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Alabama’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Alabama Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Alabama election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1986 | Richard C. Shelby D def. Jeremiah Denton R | 609,360 – 602,537 | 0.56 points |
| 2 | 1962 | Lister Hill D def. James B. Martin R | 201,937 – 195,134 | 1.7 points |
| 3 | 1980 | Jeremiah Denton R def. Jim Folsom Jr. D | 650,362 – 610,175 | 3.1 points |
| 4 | 1996 | Jeff Sessions R def. Roger Bedford D | 786,436 – 681,651 | 7.0 points |
| 5 | 2002 | Jeff Sessions R def. Susan Parker D | 792,561 – 538,878 | 18.8 points |
| 6 | 1930 | John H. Bankhead D def. J. Thomas Heflin I | 150,985 – 100,952 | 19.9 points |
| 7 | 2020 | Tommy Tuberville R def. Doug Jones D | 1,392,076 – 920,478 | 20.4 points |
| 8 | 1966 | John Sparkman D def. John Grenier R | 482,138 – 313,018 | 21.1 points |
| 9 | 1990 | Howell Heflin D def. Bill Cabaniss R | 717,814 – 467,190 | 21.1 points |
| 10 | 1984 | Howell Heflin D def. Albert Lee Smith R | 860,535 – 498,508 | 26.4 points |
| 11 | 1998 | Richard C. Shelby R def. Clayton Suddith D | 817,973 – 474,568 | 26.6 points |
| 12 | 2008 | Jeff Sessions R def. Vivian Davis Figures D | 1,305,383 – 752,391 | 26.8 points |
| 13 | 2016 | Richard C. Shelby R def. Ron Crumpton D | 1,335,104 – 748,709 | 28.1 points |
| 14 | 1972 | John Sparkman D def. Winton M. Blount R | 654,491 – 347,523 | 29.2 points |
| 15 | 2010 | Richard C. Shelby R def. William G. Barnes D | 968,181 – 515,619 | 30.5 points |
| 16 | 1992 | Richard C. Shelby D def. Richard Sellers R | 1,022,698 – 522,015 | 31.7 points |
| 17 | 2004 | Richard C. Shelby R def. Wayne Sowell D | 1,242,200 – 595,018 | 35.2 points |
| 18 | 2022 | Katie Britt R def. Will Boyd D | 942,154 – 436,746 | 35.7 points |
| 19 | 1920 | Oscar W. Underwood D def. L. H. Reynolds R | 155,664 – 71,334 | 36.8 points |
| 20 | 1960 | John Sparkman D def. Julian E. Elgin R | 389,196 – 164,868 | 40.5 points |
| 21 | 1968 | James B. Allen D def. Perry Hooper R | 638,774 – 201,227 | 47.9 points |
| 22 | 1924 | J. Thomas Heflin D def. Frank J. Lathrop R | 120,017 – 39,623 | 50.4 points |
| 23 | 1950 | Lister Hill D def. John G. Crommelin I | 125,534 – 38,477 | 53.1 points |
| 24 | 1926 | Hugo L. Black D def. Edmund H. Dryer R | 91,843 – 21,722 | 61.7 points |
| 25 | 1944 | Lister Hill D def. John Posey R | 202,604 – 41,983 | 64.8 points |