Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announced his campaign for Alabama governor in Birmingham, calling for unity and practical solutions to pressing issues such as health care, education and the economy. He proposed creating a state lottery and expanding Medicaid to protect rural hospitals and expand coverage. Jones’ entry sets up a possible rematch with Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who beat him in 2020 and is also running for governor. Observers say Jones faces an uphill fight in deeply red Alabama, but his supporters responded enthusiastically to the launch.
Doug Jones Launches 2026 Alabama Governor Bid, Vows Medicaid Expansion and State Lottery
Gubernatorial candidate former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., speaks during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, the most recent Democrat to hold statewide office in Alabama, formally launched his campaign for governor Friday in Birmingham, urging voters to choose leaders who put practical solutions ahead of partisan division.
Former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., and gubernatorial candidate speaks during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Speaking to a packed rally that included musician Jason Isbell, Jones framed his candidacy as a call for unity and action on pressing state challenges, including health care, education and the economy. The kickoff fell on the eighth anniversary of his surprise 2017 victory over Roy Moore — a milestone he invoked to argue that Alabama voters can reject simple "red" and "blue" labels.
Former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., and gubernatorial candidate speaks during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“With your help we can finish what we began. We can build the Alabama we’ve always deserved,” Jones told supporters, adding: “People are struggling. They are hurting.”
Policy Agenda
Jones laid out a compact agenda if elected governor: create a state lottery and expand Medicaid to cover more Alabamians. He argued that Medicaid expansion would help keep rural hospitals open and provide health coverage to working families and others who fall into coverage gaps.
Former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., and gubernatorial candidate waits to speak during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Jones also criticized Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville — who defeated him by about 20 percentage points in the 2020 Senate race and is also running for governor — for opposing extensions of Affordable Care Act subsidies. He accused Tuberville of having "no record except as a football coach" before entering the Senate and questioned the senator's residency, noting Tuberville owns property in Florida while saying Auburn is his home.
Political Context And Reaction
Both parties will hold primary contests in May ahead of the November general election, setting up the possibility of a high-profile rematch between Jones and Tuberville. Tuberville has previously said Auburn is his residence and spent part of the day in Huntsville marking the official relocation of U.S. Space Command to Alabama; his campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Jones' launch.
Jones, a lawyer and former U.S. attorney who won national attention for prosecuting two Ku Klux Klansmen responsible for the 1963 Birmingham church bombing, acknowledged he is the underdog in a deeply Republican state. Political observers cautioned that Democrats face structural challenges in Alabama — Jones himself won statewide in 2017 but was held to roughly 40% of the vote in 2020 — though he cited recent Democratic gains in nearby states as grounds for cautious optimism.
Supporters at the rally greeted his announcement enthusiastically. “I’m just glad that there’s somebody sensible getting in the race,” attendee Angela Hornbuckle said. “He proved that he could do it as a senator.”
