Race for governor and bad timing Emory Folmar

folmar ran unsuccessfully governor in 1982 winning on 40% of vote. folmar lost george wallace, seeking unprecedented fourth term. election noted being first competitive two-party campaign in alabama history due strong republican political gains on national, state , local levels after long history of state democratic domination in alabama. however, alabama remained largely democratic @ state level, dooming folmar s campaign. afterward, served chairman of alabama republican party 1985 1989. high position in party , ronald reagan enjoying widespread popularity, folmar have sought republican gubernatorial nomination again in 1986, instead went guy hunt thought republicans sacrificial lamb . democratic side featured 2 strong candidates, bill baxley , charles graddick. graddick won primary, alabama democratic party argued many republicans had crossed on , illegally voted graddick in democratic primary. however, alabama had no party registration laws restrict participation in either party primary voters. democratic party leaders managed have graddick s win nullified in favor of baxley. resulting negative press led voter backlash against democrats , guy hunt subsequently elected first republican alabama governor since post-civil war reconstruction period. folmar later become state chairman george h. w. bush s 1988 , 1992 presidential campaigns. largely credited helping guide party legitimate status in state. since unsuccessful bid against wallace , subsequent state party leadership, of 4 elected governors, 3 have been republicans. second democrat governor during period. lieutenant governor jim folsom, jr. served out remainder of hunt s term after convicted of misappropriating campaign contributions. folsom defeated former governor fob james, democrat turned republican.