1996Final results
1996 election for Alabama's 6th District
U.S. House · Alabama
Spencer Bachus (R) won with 70.9% of the vote, defeating Mary Lynn Bates (D) by 43.6 points.
Spencer BachusRepublican · winner
70.9%180,781
Mary Lynn BatesDemocrat
27.3%69,592
T. Franklin HarrisLibertarian
0.9%2,293
Diane Susan VogelNatural Law
0.8%2,113
254,859 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Mary Lynn BatesSpencer Bachus
$38K
Raised by the campaign
$467K
$36.5K
Spent by the campaign
$511.2K
$1.5K
Cash on hand
$101.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Spencer Bachus (R)Mary Lynn Bates (D)
Also on the ballot: T. Franklin Harris (Libertarian), 0.9%; Diane Susan Vogel (Natural Law), 0.8%