2022 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 2022 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Governor Kay Ivey took office on April 10, 2017, upon the resignation of Robert J. Bentley (R) and won a full term in 2018. In 2022, she won her bid for a second full term in a landslide.

Primary elections in Alabama were held on May 24. Runoff elections for instances where no candidate received 50% plus one vote were scheduled for June 21. A runoff was avoided in the Republican primary, with Ivey winning outright. The Democratic primary advanced to a runoff between Malika Sanders-Fortier and Yolanda Flowers, with Flowers winning the Democratic nomination.

Voter turnout for Alabama's 2022 governor election dropped significantly from its 2018 governor race, with only 38.5% of registered voters turning out. This was also far below Alabama's 63.1% turnout in the 2020 presidential race. Alabama's neighboring state Tennessee also saw a huge drop in voter turnout this midterm cycle.

This was the first gubernatorial election in Alabama history in which both major party nominees were women. Flowers was also the first Black female gubernatorial nominee in Alabama. Governor Ivey was sworn in for her second full term on January 16, 2023.

This is the only gubernatorial election in the 2020s to date to be won by a member of the Silent Generation. This election saw the worst performance of a Democratic Party nominee in the state's history. This is also the first gubernatorial election in which Marengo County voted Republican.

Nominee

 * Kay Ivey, incumbent governor of Alabama

Eliminated in primary

 * Lynda Blanchard, former United States Ambassador to Slovenia (2019–2021) and former candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022
 * Lew Burdette, president of women and youth shelter King's Home in Chelsea
 * Stacy Lee George, corrections officer, former Morgan County commissioner, and candidate for governor in 2014 and 2018
 * Tim James, businessman, son of former governor Fob James, and candidate for governor in 2002 and 2010
 * Donald Trent Jones, yoga instructor
 * Dean Odle, pastor, author, founder and dean of a ministry school
 * Dave Thomas, mayor of Springville (2020–present) and former state representative (1994–2002)
 * Dean Young, businessman and perennial candidate

Declined

 * Will Ainsworth, incumbent lieutenant governor of Alabama (seeking re-election)
 * Mo Brooks, U.S. Representative (running for U.S. Senate)
 * Steve Marshall, incumbent attorney general of Alabama (seeking re-election)
 * Rick Pate, incumbent commissioner of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (seeking re-election)
 * Jim Zeigler, incumbent Alabama State Auditor (2015–present) (formed exploratory committee but did not run; running for Secretary of State)

Polling

 * Graphical summary


 * Aggregate polls

Primary results
[[File:2022 Alabama gubernatorial Republican primary election results map by county.svg|thumb|250px|Results by county: {{legend|#e27f7f|Ivey}}

{{legend|#ffccd0|30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}

{{legend|#e27f7f|50–60%}}

{{legend|#d75d5d|60–70%}}

{{legend|#d72f30|70–80%}}]]

Nominee

 * Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, activist, retired rehabilitation specialist and educator

Eliminated in runoff

 * Malika Sanders-Fortier, attorney and state senator from the 23rd District (2018–present)

Eliminated in primary

 * Patricia Salter Jamieson, nurse and licensed minister
 * Arthur Kennedy, Army veteran and educator
 * Chad "Chig" Martin, small business owner, musician and independent candidate for governor in 2018 (switched from independent)
 * Doug "New Blue" Smith, developmental economist, retired corporate attorney and perennial candidate

Failed to qualify

 * Christopher A. Countryman, equality activist, licensed minister, motivational speaker, former juvenile corrections officer and candidate for governor in 2018

Declined

 * Walt Maddox, mayor of Tuscaloosa and nominee for governor in 2018

Results
[[File:2022 Alabama gubernatorial Democratic primary election results map by county.svg|thumb|Results by county: {{legend|#7996e2|Flowers}}

{{legend|#dfeeff|20-30%}}

{{legend|#bdd3ff|30-40%}}

{{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}}

{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend|#FACA33|Sanders-Fortier}}

{{legend|#f8f8cc|20–30%}}

{{legend|#f2f2a0|30–40%}}

{{legend|#FDE387|40–50%}}

{{legend|#FACA33|50–60%}}

{{legend|#D0A828|60-70%}} {{legend|#ff9955|Jamieson}}

{{legend|#ff7f2a|60–70%}} {{legend|#aade87|Martin}}

{{legend|#c7ffaf|30–40%}} ]]

Results
[[File:2022 Alabama gubernatorial Democratic primary runoff election results map by county.svg|thumb|Runoff results by county: {{legend|#7996e2|Flowers}}

{{legend|#7996e2|50-60%}}

{{legend|#6674de|60-70%}}

{{legend|#584cde|70-80%}}

{{legend|#3933e5|80-90%}} {{legend|#91e27f|Tie}}

{{legend|#91e27f|Flowers / Sanders-Fortier 50%}} {{legend|#FACA33|Sanders-Fortier}}

{{legend|#FACA33|50-60%}}

{{legend|#D0A828|60-70%}} ]]

Libertarian nomination
No primary was held for the Libertarian Party, and candidates were instead nominated by the party.

Nominee

 * James "Jimmy" Blake, former Birmingham city councilman and former chair of the Libertarian Party of Alabama

Declared

 * Jared Budlong, marketing project manager (write-in campaign)
 * Dean Odle, pastor, author and former Republican primary candidate (write-in campaign)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Marengo (largest city: Demopolis)
 * Russell (largest city: Phenix City)
 * Tuscaloosa (largest city: Tuscaloosa)