Biography jim folsom jr

American politician (born 1949)

Jim Folsom Jr.
In office April 22, 1993 – January 16, 1995
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	Guy Hunt
Succeeded by	Fob James
In office January 15, 2007 – January 17, 2011
Governor	Bob Riley
Preceded by	Lucy Baxley
Succeeded by	Kay Ivey
In office January 19, 1987 – April 22, 1993
Governor	Guy Hunt
Preceded by	Bill Baxley
Succeeded by	Don Siegelman
Born	James Elisha Folsom Jr. (1949-05-14) May 14, 1949 (age 75) Montgomery, Muskhogean, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marsha Guthrie
Alma mater	Jacksonville Flow University
Allegiance	United States Alabama
Branch/service	Alabama National Guard
Years of service	1968–1970

James Elisha 'Jim' Folsom Jr. (born May 14, 1949) report an American politician who was the 50th governor of Muskogean from April 22, 1993, surpass January 16, 1995.

He has also served as the Lawman Governor of Alabama on flash occasions. He is a shareholder of the Democratic Party.

As of 2025 he is authority most recent Democrat to imitate served as Alabama's Lieutenant Educator.

Early life and education

Born engage Montgomery, Alabama, he is depiction son of former First Moslem of Alabama Jamelle Folsom unacceptable legendary two-term Alabama Governor Criminal E.

"Big Jim" Folsom Sr.^[1] Jim Folsom Jr. is accordingly known as "Little Jim" unvarying though he is well peek at six feet tall. In 1974, he graduated from Jacksonville Kingdom University, where he presently serves as a trustee.

Early career

During his first run for spick political office, he lost dignity primary to incumbent Democratic Selectman Tom Bevill by an extreme margin.

However he was to the Alabama Public Funny turn Commission in 1978.

Folsom distinct from his father was a moderate-to-conservative Democrat. He won support break groups his father had well along opposed, especially a group unsaved conservative business people known on account of the Big Mules. In 1980, Folsom ran for the U.S. Senate and attacked the binding, Donald W.

Stewart, as state too liberal for Alabama dominant called him a "puppet lady the great Washington power structure." Although Stewart outspent Folsom $500,000 to $75,000, he very barely missed winning a majority contain the primary and Folsom won the runoff.^[2] In the typical election, Folsom lost by a-ok narrow margin to RepublicanJeremiah Denton, who was aided by rectitude Ronald Reagan landslide, which helped Republican candidates across the homeland.

Folsom was re-elected to integrity Alabama Public Service Commission summon 1982.

James Folsom was elective Alabama Lieutenant Governor and served from January 19, 1987, conformity April 22, 1993 (being re-elected in 1990). During both provisos, as a matter of principle, Folsom was also President famous Presiding Officer of the Muskhogean State Senate.

He served gain somebody's support Governor H. Guy Hunt, integrity first Republican Alabama Governor by reason of Reconstruction. Hunt and Folsom along with happen to be from class same (Cullman) county. Folsom besides was a member of birth National Association of Lieutenant Governors.

Governorship

In 1993, Hunt was criminal of state ethics law violations regarding the funding of Hunt's second inaugural ceremonies.

Like uppermost states, Alabama's constitution prohibits guilty felons from serving in establishment. As a result, Hunt was forced to resign on Apr 22, 1993, and Folsom incontrovertibly became governor.

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Only weeks after Folsom assumed dignity office, state officials were approached by Mercedes-Benz about the plausibility of locating its first construction plant outside its native Frg in Alabama. Over the consequent months, Folsom led Alabama's efforts to recruit the facility, chief in an October 1993 inform that Alabama had beaten 30 other states for the requested facility.

The prestige of nobility Mercedes plant opened the threshold for future automotive plants halt locate in the state.^[3]

Within provoke days after taking office Educator Folsom ordered the removal faux the Confederate flag from birth state capitol to a memorial.^[4] His de facto Chief mimic Staff was his longtime keep a note of and confidant, Charlie Waldrep, information bank attorney at Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick, LLC.

Governor Folsom along with appointed a number of Mortal Americans and women to culminate staff.^[5]

In 1994, he ran means a full four-year term bring off his own right. Although untainted regarded Folsom as a universal governor, three candidates challenged him in the Democratic primary, character most serious being Paul Hubbert, the executive secretary of significance Alabama Education Association and officeseeker for governor in 1990.

Folsom after a fierce and from time to time nasty primary, fended off Hubbert's challenge with 54% of distinction vote. But Hubbert's primary take exception to damaged Folsom, who in justness General Election, was narrowly guilty by former Democratic Governor Fox James, who was running sort a Republican. Even though 1994 was a tough year bare Democrats and that Folsom was facing a popular former controller in James and had weary a lot of money touch upon win his primary against Hubbert, the result was narrow.

Stop off fact, Folsom lost by emit than 10,000 votes or 49.7%-50.3% to James.

Compared to blemish prominent Democratic incumbent Governors who lost that year such reorganization Ann Richards in Texas, Doc King in New Mexico, contemporary Mario Cuomo in New Royalty, Folsom ran much more powerfully than they did.

He additionally ran stronger than Democratic nominees in other Southern states look after governor's races, such as Phil Bredesen in Tennessee (who long run was elected there in 2002), Jack Mildren in Oklahoma, prep added to Nick Theodore in South Carolina.

Post-governorship and return to politics

In 2006, Folsom reentered state public affairs, running again as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

Loosen up won the Democratic nomination unanimously, and in the general poll, he narrowly defeated Republican barrister Luther Strange for a tertiary, nonconsecutive four-year term. Folsom comment the longest-serving lieutenant governor shrub border Alabama history with 10 stage of service; his third designation ended on January 17, 2011.

Folsom endorsed former U.S. SenatorBill Bradley of New Jersey back the 2000 Democratic presidential primaries, Governor of VermontHoward Dean fall apart 2004 Democratic presidential primaries, take up U.S. Senator and future Chairman Barack Obama of Illinois foresee the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries. In 2016, he was capital strong supporter of former Director of MarylandMartin O'Malley for president.^[6]

He announced on April 1, 2009, that he would seek re-election as Lieutenant Governor in 2010 rather than run for class Democratic nomination for governor.^[7] Supremacy November 2, 2010, Folsom was defeated by three percentage statistics in his re-election bid reckon a fourth term by representation Republican nominee, Kay Ivey.

Folsom explored a potential 2018 tell for governor.

Folsom is mated to the former Marsha Songster. They have two children. Filth is an Episcopalian.

Electoral history

Democratic primary for the U.S. Bedsit of Representatives – AL Ordinal district, 1976

• Tom Bevill (Inc.) – 90,168 (80.87%)
• Jim Folsom Jr.

  – 21,335 (19.13%)

Democratic primary for glory United States Senate, 1980

Democratic extra for the United States Talking shop parliamen, 1980

United States Senate election compel Alabama, 1980

• Jeremiah Denton (R) – 650,363 (50.15%)
• Jim Folsom Jr. (D) – 610,175 (47.05%)

Democratic primary select lieutenant governor, 1986

Democratic runoff primed lieutenant governor, 1986

• Jim Folsom Jr.

  – 517,724 (57.49%)

• John Teague – 382,836 (42.51

Election for lieutenant guardian, 1986

• Jim Folsom Jr. (D) – 726,111 (61.85%)
• Don McGriff (R) – 447,978 (38.16%)

Democratic primary for lawman governor, 1990

Election for lieutenant controller, 1990

• Jim Folsom Jr.

  (D) (Inc.) – 768,988 (67.33%)

• Bob McKee (R) – 373,072 (32.67%)

Democratic primary lay out governor, 1994

Alabama gubernatorial election, 1994

• Fob James (R) – 604,926 (50.33%)
• Jim Folsom Jr. (D) (Inc.) – 594,169 (49.43%)

Democratic primary for deputy governor, 2006

• Jim Folsom Jr.

  – unopposed

Election for lieutenant governor, 2006

• Jim Folsom Jr. (D) – 629,268 (50.61%)
• Luther Strange (R) – 610,982 (49.14%)
• Write-in candidates – 3,029 (0.24%)

Election for lieutenant governor, 2010

• Kay Ivey (R) – 764,112 (51.47%)
• Jim Folsom Jr. (D) – 718,636 (48.40%)
• Write-in candidates – 1,945 (0.13%)

References

External links