Governor of Alabama

Alabama Governor
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$124,563
2024 FY Budget:	$6,443,282
Term limits:	Two consecutive terms
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 113
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey Republican Party Assumed office: April 10, 2017
Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
Other Alabama Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Governor of the State of Alabama is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch, and the highest state office in Alabama. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a simple majority and is limited to two consecutive terms. Alabama's original constitution ratified in 1819 made the gubernatorial term of office two years. The 1901 constitution extended the term to four years and, after Amendment 282 was passed in 1968, allowed a governor to succeed himself or herself once.

Alabama has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

Alabama has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: Alabama State Legislature, Alabama House of Representatives, Alabama State Senate

Current officeholder

The 54th and current governor of Alabama is Kay Ivey (R).^[1] Ivey was sworn in after the previous governor, Robert J. Bentley (R), resigned in the wake of an ethics investigation that led to impeachment hearings.^[2]

Before becoming governor, Ivey served as the Lieutenant Governor of Alabama from 2011 to 2017, and as Alabama Treasurer from 2003 to 2011.^[3] Ivey attended Auburn University, Duke University's Governor's Center for Public Policy, Alabama Banking School and the University of Colorado School of Banking. Her professional experience includes working as a high school teacher, a bank officer, and as Assistant Director of the Alabama Development Office.^[4]

Authority

The state constitution establishes the office of the governor in Article V, the Executive Department.

Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 113

Qualifications

State Executives
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014

The governor may not hold any federal or state office in Alabama concurrently with his or her gubernatorial term. Additionally, the governor must be at least 30 years old, an American citizen for at least 10 years on the date of the election and a resident of Alabama for at least seven years.

Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 116

Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 117

Elections

Alabama state government organizational chart, as of 9/11/12.

See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state

See also: Election of governors

Per Section 114 of the state constitution, Alabama elects its governors during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034). Section 116 sets the governor's inauguration for the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election.

Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 114

Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 116

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Alabama governors are restricted to two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait one term before being eligible to run again.

Alabama Constitution of 1901, Amendment 282 (to Section 116)

2022

See also: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Alabama

Incumbent Kay Ivey defeated Yolanda Flowers, James Blake, and Jared Budlong in the general election for Governor of Alabama on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kay Ivey (R)	66.9	946,932
		Yolanda Flowers (D)	29.2	412,961
		James Blake (L)	3.2	45,958
		Jared Budlong (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	9,432

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,415,283
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Alabama

Yolanda Flowers defeated Malika Sanders-Fortier in the Democratic primary runoff for Governor of Alabama on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yolanda Flowers	55.1	32,529
		Malika Sanders-Fortier	44.9	26,469

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,998
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yolanda Flowers	33.9	56,991
✔		Malika Sanders-Fortier	32.5	54,699
		Patricia Jamieson	11.7	19,691
		Arthur Kennedy	9.3	15,630
		Doug Smith	7.1	11,861
		Chad Chig Martin	5.6	9,352

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 168,224
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Christopher Countryman (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Alabama

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Alabama on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kay Ivey	54.5	357,069
		Lynda Blanchard	19.2	126,202
		Tim James	16.2	106,181
		Lew Burdette	6.5	42,924
		Dean Odle	1.8	11,767
		Donald Jones	0.6	3,821
		Dave Thomas	0.4	2,886
		Stacy George	0.4	2,546
		Dean Young	0.4	2,356

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 655,752
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jim Zeigler (R)

2018

See also: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Alabama

Incumbent Kay Ivey defeated Walt Maddox in the general election for Governor of Alabama on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kay Ivey (R)	59.5	1,022,457
		Walt Maddox (D)	40.4	694,495
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	2,637

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,719,589 (100.00% precincts reporting)
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Alabama on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Walt Maddox	54.6	154,850
		Sue Bell Cobb	29.0	82,236
		James C. Fields	8.0	22,683
		Anthony White	3.4	9,719
		Doug Smith	3.3	9,274
		Christopher Countryman	1.7	4,943

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 283,705
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Alabama

Incumbent Kay Ivey defeated Tommy Battle, Scott Dawson, Bill Hightower, and Michael McAllister in the Republican primary for Governor of Alabama on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kay Ivey	56.1	331,739
		Tommy Battle	24.9	147,207
		Scott Dawson	13.5	79,546
		Bill Hightower	5.0	29,367
		Michael McAllister	0.6	3,340

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 591,199
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Slade Blackwell (R)

2014

See also: Alabama Gubernatorial election, 2014

Republican incumbent Robert Bentley won re-election on November 4, 2014.

Governor of Alabama, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Robert Bentley Incumbent	63.6%	750,231
	Democrat	Parker Griffith	36.2%	427,787
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.2%	2,395
Total Votes				1,180,413
Election results via Alabama Secretary of State

Full history

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Governor of Alabama, click [show] to expand the section.

2010 On November 2, 2010, Robert J. Bentley won election to the office of Governor of Alabama. He defeated Ron Sparks (D) in the general election. Governor of Alabama, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Robert J. Bentley 57.6% 860,472      Democratic Ron Sparks 41.9% 625,710      Write-in Write-in 0.5% 8,091 Total Votes 1,494,273 Election results via Alabama Secretary of State. 2006 On November 7, 2006, Bob Riley won re-election to the office of Governor of Alabama. He defeated Lucy Baxley (D) in the general election. Governor of Alabama, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Bob Riley Incumbent 58% 717,287      Democratic Lucy Baxley 42% 518,750 Total Votes 1,236,037 Election results via Alabama Secretary of State. 2002 On November 5, 2002, Bob Riley won election to the office of Governor of Alabama. He defeated Don Siegelman (D) and John Sophocleus (L) in the general election. Governor of Alabama, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Bob Riley 49.2% 672,225      Democratic Don Siegelman Incumbent 48.9% 669,105      Libertarian John Sophocleus 1.7% 23,272      Write-in N/A 0.2% 2,451 Total Votes 1,367,053 Election results via Alabama Secretary of State.

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Alabama governors from 1992 to 2013.

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article V, Sections 127 and 128 of the state constitution.

In the event that the elected governor is unable to complete his or her term, the Lieutenant Governor of Alabama succeeds him or her. The lieutenant governor also becomes acting governor at any time when the elected governor is unable to discharge the office for 20 consecutive days. Because Alabama elects its governor and lieutenant governor on separate tickets, it is theoretically possible for the governorship of the state to change parties without an election occurring.

Any two other constitutional officers, excluding the individual who would succeed the governor, may also file an affidavit with the state supreme court declaring that the sitting governor is of unsound mind. In this situation, the court determines whether the governor is mentally competent to exercise the office.

Duties

The governor is responsible for upholding the Alabama Constitution and executing state law. The governor also is commander-in-chief of the state's military forces including the Alabama Army National Guard and Alabama Air National Guard, which are part of the National Guard of the United States, and the Alabama State Defense Force, which is the State Defense Forces. As commander-in-chief, the governor may call out the state's military forces to preserve the public peace when it is not in active service of the United States.

At least once every legislative session, the governor is required to deliver an address to the state legislature, referred to as the "State of the State Address," regarding the condition and operation of the state government and to suggest new legislation.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

• seeing that all laws of the state are faithfully executed.

• overseeing other state executive officers and agencies.

• convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature.

• presenting a budget for the state to the legislature.

• remitting fines and forfeitures and granting reprieves, paroles, commutations of sentence and pardons

• exercising a veto over bills

Divisions

Updated January 13, 2021

The governor's office includes a number of individual divisions:^[5]

• Accounting
• Administration
• Appointments
• Chief of Staff
• Communications
• Constituent Services
• Executive Office
• Governor's Mansion
• Legal
• Legislative Affairs
• Scheduling
• Policy

State budget

Role in state budget

See also: Alabama state budget and finances

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. Alabama's fiscal year runs from October 1 and ends September 30 of the following year. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[6]

1. In September of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year, budget instructions are sent to state agencies.
2. In November, agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.
3. By the second legislative day of each regular session of the legislature, the governor must submit his or her proposed budget to the state legislature. These dates vary from session to session, occurring as early as January and as late as March.
4. The legislature adopts a budget between February and May. It must pass with a simple majority.

The governor is required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, the legislature must pass a balanced budget.^[6]

Alabama is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.^[6][7]

Governor's office budget

The budget for the governor's office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $6,443,282.^[8]

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

The salary of the governor is established by the Alabama State Legislature, as required by constitutional provision.^[9] Article V, Section 118 of the state constitution requires that changes in compensation take effect in the term after they were passed.

Alabama Constitution, Article V, Section 118

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $124,563, according to the Council of State Governments.^[10]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $124,563, according to the Council of State Governments.^[11]

2020

In 2020, the governor's salary was $127,833 according to the Council of State Governments.^[12]

2019

In 2019, the governor's salary was $120,395 according to the Council of State Governments. ^[13]

2018

In 2018, the governor's salary was $120,395 according to the Council of State Governments. ^[14]

2017

In 2017, the governor's salary was $120,395 according to the Council of State Governments. ^[15]

2016

In 2016, the governor's salary was $120,395. However, Gov. Robert Bentley refused to accept his salary until the state's unemployment rate decreased, according to the Council of State Governments. ^[16]

2015

In 2015, the governor's salary was $120,395. However, Gov. Robert Bentley refused to accept his salary until the state's unemployment rate decreased, according to the Council of State Governments. ^[17]

2014

In 2014, the governor's salary was $119,950. However, Gov. Robert Bentley refused to accept his salary until the state's unemployment rate decreases, according to the Council of State Governments. ^[18]

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary was $119,950. However, Gov. Robert Bentley refused to accept his salary until the state's unemployment rate decreases.^[19]

2012

In 2012, the governor's salary was $120,936.

Historical officeholders

There have been 54 governors since 1819. Of the 54 officeholders, 45 were Democrat, seven were Republicans, one was Pre-War Whig, and one was a Democrat/Whig.^{[20][21] [22]}

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Alabama

Partisan breakdown of the Alabama governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, Alabama had Democratic governors in office for six years while there were Republican governors in office for 16 years, including the previous 11. Alabama was under Republican trifectas for the last three years of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Alabama, the Alabama State Senate and the Alabama House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Alabama state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Between the years 1993-1994 and 1999-2002, Alabama had Democratic trifectas, and since 2011, Alabama has had a Republican trifecta. In every remaining year between 1992 and 2012, Alabama had a Republican governor with a Democratic legislature. In every year of the study, Alabama ranked in the bottom-10 on the SQLI ranking. Its lowest ranking occurred during the Democratic trifectas of 1999 and 2000 (46th), while the state’s highest ranking occurred during the divided government years of 2005 and 2006 (41st).

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 44.33
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 43.50
• SQLI average with divided government: 42.83

Chart displaying the partisanship of Alabama government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

State profile

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Alabama

Alabama voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

More Alabama coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Alabama
• United States congressional delegations from Alabama
• Public policy in Alabama
• Endorsers in Alabama
• Alabama fact checks
• More...

Contact information

Physical address:
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130

Phone: (334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 353-0004

See also

Alabama	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis
Alabama State Executive Offices Alabama State Legislature Alabama Courts	2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 Alabama elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016	Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Office of the Governor of Alabama

Footnotes

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