Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville filed paperwork to run for Alabama governor in 2026, positioning himself as the state's "chief recruiter" to bring jobs and opportunity. He emphasized business recruitment, education, infrastructure and fraud prevention but provided few detailed policy proposals. His candidacy could deter other Republican hopefuls and sets up a potential rematch with Democrat Doug Jones. Democrats have questioned whether he meets Alabama's seven-year residency requirement due to properties in Auburn and Florida.
Tommy Tuberville Files Paperwork To Run For Alabama Governor In 2026
FILE - U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., speaks about plans to run for the governor of Alabama in 2026, May 27, 2025 at Byron's Smokehouse in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ John David Mercer, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
HOOVER, Ala. — Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville filed official campaign paperwork Monday to enter the 2026 race for Alabama governor, saying he intends to serve as the state’s "chief recruiter" to bring jobs and opportunity to Alabama residents.
Tuberville, who parlayed his fame as an Auburn University football coach into a successful 2020 U.S. Senate bid, formally submitted his candidacy at the Alabama Republican Party headquarters. He announced last year that he would seek the governorship rather than run for another Senate term.
Campaign Focus
After filing, Tuberville said he plans to prioritize business recruitment to create better-paying jobs. "We have 500,000 people in this state who make less than $30,000 a year. That should be against the law," he said, arguing for incentives to boost employment and wages. He also listed education, infrastructure and cracking down on fraud among his campaign priorities, though he offered few specific policy proposals.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., signs paperwork to run for governor Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at the Alabama Republican Party headquarters in Hoover, Ala., as Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl looks on. (AP Photo/Kimberly Chandler)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Tuberville said he does not oppose creating a state lottery but cautioned that lottery revenue would not be sufficient to solve the state's long-term funding needs.
Political Implications
Tuberville’s entry is likely to discourage other Republicans from mounting competitive primary challenges to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Kay Ivey. On the Democratic side, former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones — who lost to Tuberville in the 2020 Senate race — has also launched a campaign for governor, raising the prospect of a high-profile rematch in November 2026.
Residency Questions And Background
Democrats have raised questions about whether Tuberville meets Alabama’s seven-year residency requirement for governors. Property tax records show Tuberville owns a $270,000 home in Auburn, where he claims a homestead exemption, and a $4 million beach property in Walton County, Florida. Tuberville responded, "I have been a resident. It’s not an issue," and said he spends most of his non-Washington time in Auburn.
Tuberville first won his Senate seat in 2020 by running as an outsider aligned with former President Donald Trump. In 2023, he drew national attention by placing a monthslong hold on military promotions to protest a Pentagon policy that provided travel funds and support for service members and dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where the procedure is restricted or banned.
Bottom line: Tuberville’s formal entry makes the 2026 Alabama governor’s race an early test of his statewide appeal beyond the Senate and sets up a potential rematch with Doug Jones while raising questions about residency and specific policy plans.
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