U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce his 2026 candidacy for governor as early as today.
The first-term senator told Alabama Daily News last week he was planning an in-person announcement event. That event may not come until Wednesday or Thursday after a Fox News exclusive interview with Tuberville today.
Even before an official announcement, the former Auburn football coach turned politician has essentially cleared the field of potential GOP competitors. The assumed largest, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, announced last week he won’t run in 2026. Term limited, Ainsworth will instead focus on his family and private business, for now.
Tuberville’s name recognition, expected war chest and relationship with President Donald Trump will make him an automatic frontrunner.
There are no other well-known Republicans in the potential primary mix, though candidates will have until late 2025 to file. The exact date hasn’t been set. Gov. Kay Ivey is term limited.
The primary is May 19, 2026 and candidates could begin fundraising last week.
Tuberville’s run for governor would mean a vacant U.S. Senate seat in 2026. Among the potential candidates there include current Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is also term limited in his current office.
With Tuberville’s expected announcement, questions linger over his ability to meet the state’s seven-year residency requirements for governor. Tuberville remains confident he meets the requirements laid out in the Alabama Constitution. Records obtained by Alabama Daily News show he has had a homestead exemption on his Auburn home since 2018, which could be a key factor used to determine residency in the race.