By BallotWire
2025
On May 27, 2025, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville officially announced his candidacy for governor of Alabama in the 2026 election, ending weeks of speculation about his political future. The former Auburn University football coach and first-term senator made the announcement on Fox News' "The Will Cain Show," declaring, "I will be the future governor of the great state of Alabama."
Tuberville launched his campaign at Byron's Smokehouse in Auburn, the same location where he began his 2020 Senate run. His campaign website, "Coach for Governor," emphasizes his alignment with President Donald Trump and highlights his conservative platform, which includes boosting manufacturing, improving education, and curbing illegal immigration.
The announcement comes as incumbent Republican Governor Kay Ivey is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Tuberville's decision to run for governor leaves his Senate seat open in the 2026 midterm elections. Despite this, political analysts believe the seat will remain securely Republican, citing the state's conservative leanings.
Alabama stands as one of the most reliably Republican states in the United States, with a pronounced conservative tilt in both federal and state elections. Since 1980, the state has consistently voted for Republican presidential candidates, with the GOP securing over 60% of the vote in each election since 2004. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump won Alabama with 64.8% of the vote, defeating Kamala Harris by more than 30 points—the state's largest Republican margin since 1972.
This Republican dominance extends beyond presidential races. The GOP holds supermajorities in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature, and controls all statewide executive offices, and occupies every seat on the Alabama Supreme Court.