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U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville formally entered the 2026 campaign for governor of Alabama Tuesday, launching a campaign website shortly before announcing his candidacy on Fox News Tuesday afternoon.
“I will be the future governor of the great state of Alabama,” Tuberville said from Byron’s Smokehouse in Auburn. “I’ve still got 18 months to go with President Trump to make America great again. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
The campaign website says Tuberville is running on “fighting back against woke ideology,” growing Alabama jobs, improving education and securing the border, among other platforms.
“We’re going to make education better again, and we’re going to do everything possible to make sure our kids, when they graduate in this great state, the yellow hammer state, that they stay in this state and work,” he said.
Tuberville, a first-term U.S. senator who owns a beach home in Walton County, Florida, has faced questions throughout the years about his residency in Alabama. Alabama Daily News reported in April that his Auburn home has had a homestead exemption since 2018. Until recently, the property was under his wife and son’s name, according to ADN.
“My wife and I, Suzanne, moved here over 25 years ago. As you know, I coached, and it was a great time. We made some great friends,” he said. “So a few years ago, I decided to give back to this great country.”
Tuberville announced his campaign after weeks of dodging the question from multiple outlets. He changed his social media to “Coach for Governor” prior to the appearance on Fox News.
The first-term senator and former Auburn University football coach was endorsed by President Donald Trump in his 2020 campaign for U.S. senator. Tuberville defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, after a general election campaign where he limited most interviews and appearances to friendly conservative media outlets.
His campaign for governor leaves that seat open for the 2026 midterm elections.
Tuberville is the first declared Republican candidate in the contest. Current Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth was expected to run after Gov. Kay Ivey’s term ends, but he announced last week that he would not campaign for the state’s highest office to spend time with his family. Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate told al.com that he abandoned thoughts of running for governor after the rumors of Tuberville’s candidacy began.
Gov. Kay Ivey, who has served in the office since 2017, is term-limited. A message seeking comment from Ivey was sent Tuesday afternoon.
The primary is set for May 19, 2026, and the general election is set for Nov. 3, 2026.
by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.
