1937 Birmingham municipal election

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The 1937 municipal election for the Birmingham City Commission was held on May 4, 1937. Officially a Democratic Party primary, the at-large election served effectively as a general election with no challengers from other parties. In the polling three-term incumbent James M. Jones claimed more votes than all his challengers combined and held the presidency of the commission. A run-off election was held on May 18 to determine the winners of the associate commission seats.

During the runoff campaign, radio announcer Eugene "Bull" Connor claimed that representatives of Governor Bibb Graves' administration were working against his candidacy in retaliation for his opposition in the Alabama House of Representatives to statewide sales tax and licensing fees Graves had requested.

One-term incumbents Lewey Robinson and W. O. Downs, who had often opposed Jones during their time in office, were defeated in the election. Jones did not finish his fourth term, dying in office in 1940. Legislator Cooper Green won a special election to serve the remainder of his term.

Results

Commission president

Associate commissioner

References

  • Crippled Commission Leader Out-Runs 3 Opponents; Downs Eliminated (May 5, 1937) Tuscaloosa News
  • "Jimmie Jones' Great Victory" (May 6, 1937) Tuscaloosa News
  • Birmingham Picks Fore of Tax Program as Commissioner by Huge Majority (May 19, 1937) Tuscaloosa News