2002 United States Senate election in Alabama

The 2002 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions won re-election to a second term. Sessions became the first Republican to be elected to two full terms to the Senate from the state. As of 2022, this is the most recent Senate election in Alabama in which Colbert and Lawrence counties voted for the Democratic candidate.

2002 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1996 November 5, 2002 2008 →

Nominee Jeff Sessions Susan Parker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 792,561 538,878 Percentage 58.58% 39.83%

County results Sessions:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Parker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Jeff Sessions Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions Republican

Background

In the 1968 presidential election, Alabama supported native son and American Independent Party candidate George Wallace over both Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Wallace was the official Democratic candidate in Alabama, while Humphrey was listed as the "National Democratic". In 1976, Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter from Georgia carried the state, the region, and the nation, but Democratic control of the region slipped after that.

Since 1980, conservative Alabama voters have increasingly voted for Republican candidates at the federal level, especially in presidential elections. By contrast, Democratic candidates have been elected to many state-level offices and comprised a longstanding majority in the Alabama Legislature.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jeff Sessions, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1997

Sessions was not challenged in the primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Julian L. McPhillips, Attorney and candidate for Attorney General in 1978
• Susan Parker, Alabama State Auditor
• Wayne Sowell, candidate for governor in 1998 and candidate for the U.S. House in 2000

Results

Original on June 4

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Susan Parker	190,978	47.99%
	Democratic	Julian L. McPhillips	170,222	42.78%
	Democratic	Wayne Sowell	36,719	9.23%
Total votes			397,919	100.00%

McPhillips won many counties in the southern part of the state, but Parker won the most counties. Sowell endorsed Parker for the runoff.

Runoff on June 25

Democratic primary runoff results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Susan Parker	176,708	65.15%
	Democratic	Julian L. McPhillips	94,540	34.85%
Total votes			271,248	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Jeff Allen (L)
• Susan Parker (D), Alabama State Auditor
• Jeff Sessions (R), Incumbent U.S. Senator

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 20, 2002

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe R	November 4, 2002

Results

2002 United States Senate election, Alabama

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Sessions (incumbent)	792,561	58.58%	+6.13%
	Democratic	Susan Parker	538,878	39.83%	−5.63%
	Libertarian	Jeff Allen	20,234	1.50%	+0.06%
	Write-in		1,350	0.10%	+0.06%
Majority			253,683	18.75%
Turnout			1,353,023
	Republican hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Coosa (Largest city: Goodwater)
• Chambers (Largest city: Valley)
• Barbour (largest city: Eufaula)
• Conecuh (largest city: Evergreen)
• Butler (Largest city: Greenville)
• Crenshaw (Largest city: Luverne)
• Washington (Largest city: Chatom)
• Choctaw (Largest city: Butler)
• Jackson (Largest city: Scottsboro)
• Cherokee (Largest city: Centre)
• Fayette (Largest city: Fayette)
• Franklin (Largest city: Russellville)
• Marion (Largest city: Hamilton)
• Walker (Largest city: Jasper)
• Lauderdale (Largest city: Florence)
• Lamar (Largest city: Vernon)
• Etowah (Largest city: Gadsden)

See also

• 2002 United States Senate election