United States presidential election in Alabama, 2016



The United States presidential election in Alabama was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election, in which all fifty states and the District of Columbia participated. Alabama voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican party nominee, Senator Thomas P. Leach of Arizona, and running mate Indiana Congressman Todd Rokita against the Democratic Party nominee, incumbent President William C. Rutherford of Texas and his running mate, Vice-President Carlotta Sanchez of California.

Alabama was won by Senator Leach with 52.45% of the popular vote, against President Rutherford, with 45.46% of the popular vote. The state shifted about 6.75% more Democratic as compared to the last election, but still weighed in as 32.19% more Republican then the nation at large.

Partisan background
The presidential election of 2016 was a very partisan election for Alabama, with 98% of the electorate voting for either the Democratic or Republican Parties. The majority of counties in Alabama voted for Leach. Typical of the time, several counties nearby, but not inclusive of, the major population centers of Montgomery and Birmingham voted for the Democrats, indicating an urban spill-over effect.

Republican victory
Leach won the election in Alabama by a 6.99% margin. By 2016, Alabama had become one of the most Republican states in the Deep South, having last voted for a Democrat in the election of 1976. The state remained loyal to the Republican Party in this election, in spite of the fact that Leach did perform much more weakly then former President Mitt Romney had in 2016, both here, and nationwide. President Rutherford obtained 62% of the national popular vote, but Alabama was one of two states (along with its neighbor of Mississippi), to vote for his opponent.