1946 United States Senate special election in Alabama

The 1946 United States Senate special election in Alabama was held on November 5, 1946. Primary elections were held on July 30, 1946.

1946 United States Senate special primary election in Alabama

June 12, 1946

Nominee John Sparkman James A. Simpson Frank W. Boykin Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Popular vote 85,049 163,217 163,217 Percentage 50.14% 27.57% 27.57%

County results Sparkman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Simpson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% Boykin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%     80–90% Allen:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election George R. Swift Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sparkman Democratic

Incumbent Senator John Bankhead died on June 12, 1946. The Democrats were unopposed, thus making the Democratic primary tantamount to the election. Democrat congressman, John Sparkman won the primary with 50.14% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank W. Boykin, U.S. Representative from Mobile
• James A. Simpson, State Senator from Birmingham and candidate for Senate in 1944
• Ted Allen
• Thomas H. Maxwell
• John Sparkman, U.S. Representative from Huntsville

Results

1946 Democratic U.S. Senate primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Sparkman	85,049	50.14%
	Democratic	James A. Simpson	46,762	27.57%
	Democratic	Frank W. Boykin	35,982	21.21%
	Democratic	Ted Allen	1,260	0.74%
	Democratic	Thomas H. Maxwell	585	0.35%
Total votes			169,638	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• John Sparkman, Representative of Alabama's 8th congressional district

Results

1946 United States Senate special election in Alabama

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Sparkman	163,217	100.00%
	Democratic hold