1938 United States Senate election in Alabama

1938 United States Senate Democratic primary special election in Alabama

January 4, 1938

Nominee Lister Hill James Thomas Heflin Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 90,601 50,189 Percentage 61.81% 34.24%

County results Hill:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Heflin:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Dixie Bibb Graves Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill Democratic

There were 2 elections due to the August 19, 1937, resignation of two-term Democrat Hugo Black. Democrat Dixie Bibb Graves was appointed August 20, 1937 (by her husband, the governor) to finish Black's term

J. Lister Hill won the primary on Jan 4, 1938 with 61.81% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• J. Lister Hill, U.S. Representative from Montgomery
• James Thomas Heflin, former U.S. Senator (1920–31)
• Charles W. Williams

Alabama special Democratic primary, January 4, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Lister Hill	90,601	61.81%
	Democratic	James Thomas Heflin	50,189	34.24%
	Democratic	Charles W. Williams	5,783	3.95%
Turnout			146,573	1.87%
	Democratic hold
Majority			40,412	27.57%

After congressman J. Lister Hill won the January 4, 1938, Democratic primary, Graves resigned and Hill was appointed to continue the term until the April 26, 1938, special election, which he won unopposed.

Results

Alabama special election, April 26, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Lister Hill (Incumbent)	49,429	100.00%
Turnout				1.87%

Alabama election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Lister Hill (Incumbent)	113,413	86.38%
	Republican	J. M. Pennington	17,885	13.62%
	None	Scattering	1	0.00%
Turnout			131,299	4.96%