This year’s presidential election was very close. Since I only started attending the convention in 2013, I was interested to look back and see how close previous SBC presidential elections have been. Combing through old SBC annuals is tedious, but there are a lot of interesting nuggets to be discovered. I love that Wiley Drake nominated himself for SBC President in 2011. Thus, Bryant Wright is the only SBC president since 2000 who had an opponent when he ran for re-election.
As you can see below, the 2016 election between Steve Gaines and J.D. Greear was the closest over the last two decades. Only 104 votes separated them on the second ballot. There were 108 disallowed ballots in that vote. Gaines needed only 3 of those disallowed ballots to go in his favor to be elected by a razor thin margin. In the end, Greear withdrew and Gaines was elected by acclamation.
What do you find interesting about this information?
Ed Litton
- Elected in 2021. Nominated by Fred Luter Jr. H.B. Charles Jr. nominated R. Albert Mohler Jr. Dean Haun nominated Mike Stone. Mary Habila nominated Randy Adams. 15,678 messengers were registered at the time of the first ballot. 14,300 votes were cast. Litton received 4,630 votes (32.38%). Stone received 5,216 votes (37.48%). Mohler received 3,764 votes (26.32%). Adams received 673 votes (4.71%). 17 ballots were disallowed (0.12%). The vote then went to a second ballot. 13,131 votes were cast on the second ballot. Litton received 6,834 votes (52.04%). Stone received 6,278 votes (47.81%). 19 ballots were disallowed (0.14%).
JD Greear
- Elected in 2018. Nominated by Ken Whitten. Brad Jurkovich nominated Ken Hemphill. 9,467 messengers were registered at the time of the vote. 7,884 votes were cast. Greear received 5,410 votes (68.62%). Hemphill received 2,459 votes (31.19%). 15 ballots were disallowed (0.19%).
- Re-elected in 2019. Nominated by K. Marshall Williams and re-elected by acclamation.
- Served until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the 2020 annual meeting.
Steve Gaines
- Elected in 2016. Nominated by Johnny Hunt. Fred Luter nominated David Crosby. Jimmy Scroggins nominated J.D. Greear. 7,223 messengers were registered at the time of the first ballot. 5,784 votes were cast. Gaines received 2,551 votes (44.1%). Crosby received 583 votes (10.08%). Greear received 2,601 votes (44.97%). 49 ballots were disallowed (0.85%). The vote then went to a second ballot. 7,237 messengers were registered at the time of the second ballot. 4,824 votes were cast on the second ballot. Gaines received 2,410 votes (49.96%). Greear received 2,306 votes (47.80%). 108 ballots were disallowed (2.24%). Since neither candidate reached 50% plus one, a third ballot was announced. When it came time for the third ballot, Greear withdrew and Gaines was elected by acclamation.
- Re-elected in 2017. Nominated by Grant Gaines and re-elected by acclamation.
Ronnie Floyd
- Elected in 2014. Nominated by Al Mohler. Dwight McKissic nominated Dennis Kim. Dennis Smith nominated Jared Moore. 5,001 messengers were registered at the time of the vote. 3,553 votes were cast. Floyd received 1,834 votes (51.62%). Kim received 1,446 votes (40.70%). Moore received 210 votes (5.91%). 63 ballots were disallowed (1.77%).
- Re-elected in 2015. Nominated by J.D. Greear and re-elected by acclamation.
Fred Luter Jr.
- Elected in 2012. Nominated by David Crosby and elected by acclamation.
- Re-elected in 2013. Nominated by Mark Croston and elected by acclamation.
Bryant Wright
- Elected in 2010. Nominated by David Uth. Ernest Easley nominated Jimmy Jackson. Wes Jones nominated Leo Endel. Ed Litton nominated Ted Traylor. 10,873 messengers were registered at the time of the first ballot. 9,318 votes were cast on the first ballot. Wright received 3,433 votes (36.84%). Jackson received 2,482 votes (26.64%). Endel received 589 votes (6.32%). Traylor received 2,719 votes (29.18%). 95 ballots were disallowed (1.02%). The vote then went to a second ballot. 10,994 messengers were registered at the time of the second ballot. 7,667 votes were cast on the second ballot. Wright received 4,225 (55.11%). Traylor received 3,371 votes (43.97%). 71 ballots were disallowed (0.93%).
- Re-elected in 2011. Nominated by David Platt. Wiley Drake nominated Wiley Drake. 4,780 messengers were registered at the time of the vote. 2,384 votes were cast. Wright received 2,274 votes (95.39%). Drake received 102 votes (4.28%).
Johnny Hunt
- Elected in 2008. Nominated by Ted Traylor. Frank Cox nominated by Junior Hill. John Marshall nominated Avery Willis. Wade Burleson nominated Bill Wagner. Allan Stoddard nominated Les Puryear. Don Roberts nominated Wiley Drake. 7,196 messengers were registered at the time of the vote. 5,856 votes were cast. Hunt received 3,100 votes (52.94%). Cox received 1,286 votes (21.96%). Willis received 962 votes (16.43%). Wagner received 255 votes (4.35%). Puryear received 188 votes (3.21%). Drake received 45 votes (0.77%).
- Re-elected in 2009. Nominated by Ken Whitten and re-elected by acclamation.
Frank Page
- Elected in 2006. Nominated by Forrest Pollock. Ronnie Floyd was nominated by Johnny Hunt. Jerry Sutton was nominated by Calvin Wittman. 11,346 messengers were registered at the time of the vote. 9,005 votes were cast. Page received 4,546 votes (50.48%). Floyd received 2,247 votes (24.95%). Sutton received 2,168 votes (24.08%).
- Re-elected in 2007. Nominated by Dale Morell and re-elected by acclamation.
Bobby Welch
- Elected in 2004. Nominated by Johnny Hunt. Al Jerrell was nominated by Dennis Connor. 8,307 messengers were registered at the time of the vote. 5,038 votes were cast. Welch received 3,997 votes (79.6%). Jerrell received 1,020 votes (20.4%).
- Re-elected in 2005. Nominated by Junior Hill and re-elected by acclamation.
Jack Graham
- Elected in 2002. Nominated by Johnny Hunt and elected by acclamation.
- Re-elected in 2003. Nominated by Bobby Welch and re-elected by acclamation.
James Merritt
- Elected in 2000. Nominated by Jack Graham and elected by acclamation.
- Re-elected in 2001. Nominated by R. Albert Mohler Jr. and re-elected by acclamation.
