2020 Alabama Republican presidential primary
The 2020 Alabama Republican presidential primary took place in Alabama on March 3, 2020, as one of 14 contests scheduled on Super Tuesday in the 2020 Republican Party presidential primaries for the 2020 United States presidential election. The open primary allocated 50 pledged delegates towards the Republican National Convention, distributed with the "winner take most" system of allocating delegates.[2] This system states that a candidate must receive 15% of the vote to receive any delegates, but only if the winner gets less than 50% of the aggregate vote. Should they receive more than 50% of the vote, it becomes winner-take-all.[3]
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| Elections in Alabama |
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 Government |
Only two candidates ran in this primary: incumbent President Donald Trump, whose sole challenger was former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld. As typical with primary challenges to incumbent presidents,[4] Trump practically ran unopposed, receiving 96.22% of the vote[5] and all 50 delegates.[6] He also carried every single county and congressional district.[5] Weld received a mere 1.52% of the vote, and uncommitted ballots comprised the remaining 2.27% of the vote.
The election corresponded with the highly competitive Republican primary for the 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama, which likely boosted turnout.
Procedure
Alabama is one of 14 states holding primaries on March 3, 2020, also known as "Super Tuesday,"[7] having joined other southern states on the date after a bill on June 10, 2015 shifted the date.[8]
Delegates had to file a Declaration of Candidacy by November 8, 2019, in which they bind themselves to a presidential candidate. Delegates cannot vote contrary to their pledged vote unless They may run either in the congressional district wherein they vote or for the at-large delegation, but not both. National Convention District Alternate delegates may be elected by the Congressional District Committee, while at-large alternates are elected by the Republican Executive Committee.
Voting is expected to take place from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. There are 21 delegates allocated based on the results in each congressional district. In the open primary, if a candidate receives a majority of the vote or if only one candidate receives 20% or more of the vote, they're awarded all three of the congressional district's delegates. If no candidate does so, the first-place candidate receives 2 district delegates and the second-place candidate receives 1. If no candidate receives over 20% of the vote, the three district delegates are awarded proportionally to each contender. Of the 50 pledged delegates, 3 are allocated to each congressional district, 10 to at-large delegates, and another 3 are allocated to pledged party leaders and elected officials (PLEO delegates). 16 bonus delegates were allocated as Alabama shares a primary date with numerous other states on Super Tuesday.
The 47 pledged delegates Alabama sent to the national convention were joined by 3 pledged PLEO delegates, consisting of the National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, and chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.[9]
Candidates
The following people filed for the Republican presidential primary and were on the ballot in Alabama:[10]
There was also the option of casting an uncommitted ballot, which would not be pledged to any candidate.
Fundraising
According to the Federal Election Commission, between April 1, 2019 and November 23, 2020, Donald Trump raised $5,732,810.44[11] and Bill Weld raised $3,062.20[12] from Alabama-based contributors.
Results
Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld challenged incumbent president Donald Trump in the Republican primary in Alabama.[13] Trump received 96.22% of the vote[5] and all 50 delegates,[6] while Bill Weld received only 1.52% of the vote. Uncommitted votes made up the other 2.27%.
| 2020 Alabama Republican presidential primary[5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Popular vote | Delegates[6] | |
| Count | Percentage | ||
 Donald Trump |
695,470 | 96.22% | 50 |
| Bill Weld | 10,962 | 1.52% | 0 |
| Uncommitted | 16,378 | 2.27% | 0 |
| Total | 722,809 | 100% | 50 |
Results by county
| 2020 Alabama Republican primary (results per county)[5] |
Total votes cast | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Donald Trump | Bill Weld | Uncommitted | ||||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Autauga | 9,619 | 96.14% | 140 | 1.40% | 246 | 2.46% | 10,005 |
| Baldwin | 39,089 | 95.78% | 670 | 1.64% | 1,052 | 2.58% | 40,811 |
| Barbour | 2,739 | 98.56% | 17 | 0.61% | 23 | 0.83% | 2,779 |
| Bibb | 3,970 | 97.95% | 32 | 0.79% | 51 | 1.26% | 4,053 |
| Blount | 12,819 | 98.04% | 107 | 0.82% | 149 | 1.14% | 13,075 |
| Bullock | 420 | 98.13% | 1 | 0.23% | 7 | 1.64% | 428 |
| Butler | 3,391 | 97.00% | 40 | 1.14% | 65 | 1.86% | 3,496 |
| Calhoun | 16,539 | 97.43% | 162 | 0.95% | 275 | 1.62% | 16,976 |
| Chambers | 4,093 | 97.13% | 38 | 0.90% | 83 | 1.97% | 4,214 |
| Cherokee | 5,520 | 96.30% | 94 | 1.64% | 118 | 2.06% | 5,732 |
| Chilton | 8,951 | 98.29% | 75 | 0.82% | 81 | 0.89% | 9,107 |
| Choctaw | 1,632 | 98.85% | 12 | 0.73% | 7 | 0.42% | 1,651 |
| Clarke | 4,228 | 98.01% | 36 | 0.83% | 50 | 1.16% | 4,314 |
| Clay | 3,836 | 96.65% | 53 | 1.34% | 80 | 2.02% | 3,969 |
| Cleburne | 3,193 | 97.685 | 23 | 0.70% | 53 | 1.62% | 3,269 |
| Coffee | 9,270 | 96.86% | 123 | 1.29% | 178 | 1.86% | 9,571 |
| Colbert | 8,598 | 97.13% | 101 | 1.14% | 153 | 1.73% | 8,852 |
| Conecuh | 1,344 | 98.53% | 5 | 0.37% | 15 | 1.10% | 1,364 |
| Coosa | 2,064 | 96.49% | 27 | 1.26% | 48 | 2.24% | 2,139 |
| Covington | 7,995 | 97.69% | 69 | 0.84% | 120 | 1.47% | 8,184 |
| Crenshaw | 2,381 | 97.82% | 15 | 0.62% | 38 | 1.56% | 2,434 |
| Cullman | 21,160 | 97.41% | 224 | 1.03% | 338 | 1.56% | 21,722 |
| Dale | 7,836 | 97.14% | 91 | 1.13% | 140 | 1.74% | 8,067 |
| Dallas | 985 | 98.30% | 6 | 0.60% | 11 | 1.10% | 1,002 |
| DeKalb | 11,678 | 98.09% | 82 | 0.69% | 145 | 1.22% | 11,905 |
| Elmore | 14,977 | 96.79% | 189 | 1.22% | 308 | 1.99% | 15,474 |
| Escambia | 5,131 | 97.86% | 32 | 0.61% | 80 | 1.53% | 5,243 |
| Etowah | 16,639 | 96.51% | 212 | 1.23% | 389 | 2.26% | 17,240 |
| Fayette | 4,460 | 97.83% | 42 | 0.92% | 57 | 1.25% | 4,559 |
| Franklin | 5,370 | 96.31% | 78 | 1.40% | 128 | 2.30% | 5,576 |
| Geneva | 6,096 | 97.54% | 52 | 0.83% | 102 | 1.63% | 6,250 |
| Greene | 419 | 98.59% | 4 | 0.94% | 2 | 0.47% | 425 |
| Hale | 1,446 | 98.43% | 11 | 0.75% | 12 | 0.82% | 1,469 |
| Henry | 3,530 | 98.03% | 20 | 0.56% | 51 | 1.42% | 3,601 |
| Houston | 17,965 | 96.46% | 239 | 1.28% | 421 | 2.26% | 18,625 |
| Jackson | 9,658 | 95.33% | 162 | 1.60% | 311 | 3.07% | 10,131 |
| Jefferson | 65,177 | 95.15% | 1,241 | 1.81% | 2,080 | 3.04% | 68,498 |
| Lamar | 3,143 | 98.65% | 16 | 0.50% | 27 | 0.85% | 3,186 |
| Lauderdale | 15,572 | 95.31% | 282 | 1.73% | 484 | 2.96% | 16,338 |
| Lawrence | 5,838 | 97.51% | 51 | 0.85% | 98 | 1.64% | 5,987 |
| Lee | 14,179 | 95.01% | 299 | 2.00% | 445 | 2.98% | 14,923 |
| Limestone | 15,565 | 96.15% | 277 | 1.71% | 346 | 2.14% | 16,188 |
| Lowndes | 653 | 98.64% | 4 | 0.60% | 5 | 0.76% | 662 |
| Macon | 514 | 98.47% | 3 | 0.57% | 5 | 0.96% | 522 |
| Madison | 46,823 | 92.50% | 1,817 | 3.59% | 1,982 | 3.92% | 50,622 |
| Marengo | 2,754 | 98.64% | 8 | 0.29% | 30 | 1.07% | 2,792 |
| Marion | 6,285 | 98.00% | 48 | 0.75% | 80 | 1.25% | 6,413 |
| Marshall | 15,864 | 97.62% | 155 | 0.95% | 231 | 1.42% | 16,250 |
| Mobile | 46,897 | 95.79% | 813 | 1.66% | 1,249 | 2.55% | 48,959 |
| Monroe | 3,599 | 98.33% | 23 | 0.63% | 38 | 1.04% | 3,660 |
| Montgomery | 17,214 | 94.56% | 394 | 2.16% | 597 | 3.28% | 18,205 |
| Morgan | 20,944 | 95.68% | 429 | 1.96% | 516 | 2.36% | 21,889 |
| Perry | 594 | 97.06% | 3 | 0.49% | 15 | 2.45% | 612 |
| Pickens | 2,970 | 98.64% | 15 | 0.50% | 26 | 0.86% | 3,011 |
| Pike | 4,047 | 96.68% | 64 | 1.53% | 75 | 1.79% | 4,186 |
| Randolph | 4,742 | 97.11% | 59 | 1.21% | 82 | 1.68% | 4,883 |
| Russell | 3,061 | 97.86% | 19 | 0.61% | 48 | 1.53% | 3,128 |
| Shelby | 38,474 | 95.63% | 678 | 1.69% | 1,081 | 2.69% | 40,233 |
| St. Clair | 17,154 | 97.89% | 147 | 0.84% | 223 | 1.27% | 17,524 |
| Sumter | 288 | 95.36% | 4 | 1.32% | 10 | 3.31% | 302 |
| Talladega | 11,363 | 97.60% | 107 | 0.92% | 172 | 1.48% | 11,642 |
| Tallapoosa | 7,690 | 97.24% | 84 | 1.06% | 134 | 1.69% | 7,908 |
| Tuscaloosa | 22,619 | 96.37% | 331 | 1.41% | 521 | 2.22% | 23,471 |
| Walker | 15,091 | 96.21% | 252 | 1.61% | 343 | 2.19% | 15,686 |
| Washington | 2,635 | 99.32% | 11 | 0.41% | 7 | 0.26% | 2,653 |
| Wilcox | 701 | 99.01% | 3 | 0.42% | 4 | 0.56% | 708 |
| Winston | 5,341 | 97.66% | 57 | 1.04% | 71 | 1.30% | 5,469 |
| Total | 696,832 | 96.22% | 10,978 | 1.52% | 16,412 | 2.27% | 724,222 |
Results by congressional district
| 2020 Alabama Republican primary (estimated results per congressional district)[9] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Donald Trump | Bill Weld | Uncommitted | Total votes cast | ||||||
| Votes | % | Delegates | Votes | % | Delegates | Votes | % | Delegates | ||
| 1st | 98,267 | 96.10% | 3 | 1,559 | 1.52% | 0 | 2,432 | 2.38% | 0 | 102,258 |
| 2nd | 99,625 | 96.74% | 3 | 1,271 | 1.23% | 0 | 2,088 | 2.03% | 0 | 102,984 |
| 3rd | 93,161 | 96.98% | 3 | 1,126 | 1.17% | 0 | 1,777 | 1.85% | 0 | 96,064 |
| 4th | 126,916 | 97.21% | 3 | 1,423 | 1.09% | 0 | 2,222 | 1.70% | 0 | 130,561 |
| 5th | 126,214 | 94.49% | 3 | 3,200 | 2.40% | 0 | 4,160 | 3.11% | 0 | 133,574 |
| 6th | 100,387 | 96.07% | 3 | 1,582 | 1.51% | 0 | 2,525 | 2.42% | 0 | 104,494 |
| 7th | 64,301 | 96.15% | 3 | 978 | 1.46% | 0 | 1,595 | 2.39% | 0 | 66,874 |
| At-large[5][lower-alpha 1] | 696,832 | 96.22% | 29 | 10,978 | 1.52% | 0 | 16,412 | 2.27% | 0 | 724,222 |
| Total Delegates | 50 | 0 | 0 | 50 | ||||||
Notes
- These do not match the added totals of the results in each congressional district, as the results by congressional district are estimates from The Green Papers while the statewide results are official results from the Alabama Secretary of State.
References
- Matthew Choi (October 31, 2019). "Trump, a symbol of New York, is officially a Floridian now". Politico. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- Brian Lyman (November 8, 2019). "Bloomberg news: Michael Bloomberg launches presidential campaign in Alabama". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- "Explaining the Super Tuesday primaries: The Republicans". National Constitution Center.
- Waxman, Olivia B. (October 10, 2019). "Could Trump Lose the Republican Nomination? Here's the History of Primary Challenges to Incumbent Presidents". Time (magazine). Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- "Republican Party – Official 2020 Primary Election Results". Alabama.gov. Alabama Secretary of State. March 11, 2020. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- "Alabama Election Results 2020". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- Putnam, Josh. "The 2020 Presidential Primary Calendar". Frontloading HQ. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- Hogan, Melanie (June 10, 2015). "SEC Presidential Primary". WVAS. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- "Alabama Republican Delegation 2020". The Green Papers. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- "2020 Primary Election Sample Ballots | Alabama Secretary of State". Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- "TRUMP, DONALD J. - Candidate overview". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- "WELD, WILLIAM FLOYD (BILL) - Candidate overview". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- Sean Ross. "View your county's sample ballot for Alabama's March 3 primary election". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved February 4, 2020.