In 1984, Heflin won a second Senate term, handily defeating Republican former U.S. Representative Albert L. Smith Jr. of Birmingham, who had hoped to win by running on the reelection coattails of U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan. Heflin was reelected to a third term in 1990, defeating State Senator William J. Cabaniss, who later served as United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic under George W. Bush. Heflin did not run for reelection in 1996, and was succeeded by Republican Jeff Sessions.