Editing Tuscaloosa County, Alabama (section)

==Government and politics==
{{PresHead|place=Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|source=<ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|50,724|33,399|1,133|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|51,117|37,765|1,290|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|47,723|31,762|3,215|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|45,748|32,048|976|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|45,405|32,796|711|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|42,877|26,447|506|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|34,003|24,614|1,497|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|27,939|23,067|3,376|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|27,454|23,495|7,124|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|27,396|18,166|196|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|28,075|16,066|598|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|19,750|19,103|1,867|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|16,021|20,275|710|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|21,172|8,272|735|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|3,822|5,556|18,993|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|13,227|0|6,036|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|5,598|8,254|140|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|4,994|8,186|618|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,872|7,677|171|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|658|0|4,797|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|584|4,939|50|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|426|6,284|22|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|332|6,029|32|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|302|5,322|32|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,210|2,769|2|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|247|2,363|144|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|491|3,438|27|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|218|2,437|53|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|87|1,695|207|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|162|1,729|142|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|132|1,405|56|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|650|1,173|68|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|965|2,151|130|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|708|2,212|1,346|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,057|2,214|29|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|807|1,776|17|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|807|1,855|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|988|2,184|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|1,363|1,651|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|1,167|1,383|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|0|23|2,242|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1856|Know Nothing|0|680|973|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1852|Whig|527|475|3|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1848|Whig|976|694|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1844|Democratic|902|964|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1840|Whig|1,276|938|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1836|Democratic|730|841|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1832|Democratic|0|428|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1828|Democratic|154|637|0|Alabama}}
{{PresFoot|1824|Democratic|186|382|118|Alabama}}

Tuscaloosa County is somewhat conservative for a county dominated by a college town. While most such counties have swung toward the Democrats since the 1990s, Tuscaloosa County has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1976, the only time it has gone Democratic since 1960. For example, Tuscaloosa County voted for [[John McCain]] over [[Barack Obama]] in the 2008 [[2008 United States presidential election in Alabama|Election]] by a margin of 58-42%. However, Obama attracted high turnout and many votes from young people and others, in addition to the African-American minority. The latter make up 28.9% of the population of the county and have supported Democrats in national elections since the civil rights era and restoration of their constitutional right to vote.<ref>[http://philhardwickblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/2008_election_map-counties.jpg "Election Map: Counties"], Phil Hardwick blog, November 2008</ref>

In [[2018 Alabama gubernatorial election]]. Democratic candidate [[Walt Maddox]], the mayor of the city of Tuscaloosa, won the county by a mere one vote over incumbent Republican [[Kay Ivey]], who won the election.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2018 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Tuscaloosa County, AL|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2018&fips=1125&f=0&off=5&elect=0}}</ref>

Tuscaloosa County is one of seven in the state with limited [[home rule]]. It must still gain state legislative approval on many issues, including for financial measures. The four-member County Commission is elected from [[single-member district]]s.<ref name="map">[http://www.tuscco.com/95/county_commissioners "County Commission"], Tuscaloosa County Commission website</ref>

Judges are also elected. The current District Court Judges are:
* Judge Joanne Jannik
* Judge Jim Gentry

The current Circuit Court Judges in no particular order are:
* Judge Allen W. May, Jr., Presiding Judge
* Judge M. Bradley Almond
* Judge Daniel F. Pruet
* Judge James H. Roberts, Jr.
* Judge Elizabeth C. Hamner

The current Clerk of the Circuit Court is Magaria H. Bobo.

The current County Sheriff is Ron Abernathy. The chief law enforcement officer of Tuscaloosa County, which comprises the Sixth Judicial Circuit, is Hays Webb, District Attorney, also an elected position.

On the federal level, Tuscaloosa County is divided between the [[Alabama's 4th Congressional District|fourth]] and [[Alabama's 7th Congressional District|seventh]] congressional districts of Alabama, represented by [[Robert Aderholt]] ([[Republican Party of Alabama|R]]) and [[Terri Sewell]] ([[Alabama Democratic Party|D]]), respectively. The 7th district includes much of the [[Black Belt (region of Alabama)|Black Belt]] and is a majority-minority district, with a predominantly African-American majority.

Tuscaloosa County is within the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama|northern]] federal court district of Alabama.