As our Inside Alabama Politics subscribers read Tuesday, there is big news on the gubernatorial race front. Attorney General Steve Marshall recently told Alabama Daily News he will not be a candidate for governor in 2026.
Marshall has the highest name ID and favorables for any official not named Kay Ivey, Tommy Tuberville or Katie Britt, and has built a sturdy relationship with the very conservative Republican voters who turn out in primaries. But, running for governor is a slog and, given that Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is all but already running, challenging him would be a bloodbath no matter who wins.
Marshall made the decision over the last several weeks after prayer and discussions with family and close friends. While there are some state issues he’d like to see addressed in the next administration, Marshall said the governor’s office isn’t a job he really aspires to.
“Definitely not running for governor. Tammy and I talked a lot over the year and then made the decision over Thanksgiving that it just didn’t seem to be a good next step for us,” Marshall said.
What does that mean for Marshall’s future? It may or may not be in political office. Tuberville has said publicly he’ll run for reelection to the Senate in 2026, but he’s been known to change his mind. If that happens and Alabama has an open Senate seat, Marshall should be considered a contender. While Marshall could be in the running for a federal judgeship, but he tells ADN such an appointment is not of interest to him. And ADN confirmed that Marshall was offered a position in the Trump administration. While it was a tempting offer, Marshall ultimately declined because he said it would require resigning as AG and not finishing out some of his office’s priorities over the next two years.
“It’s just I am definitely not going to seek the role of governor and then we’ll see what plays out,” he said.
He said he has had conversations with the incoming Trump administration but does not plan to leave his current role as attorney general.
“They’ve been gracious to talk about what may be next there, but I made the commitment to the folks in Alabama to be here for this term. I’m very lucky and love being attorney general. And so, my intentions are to stay in this role and continue to do what we’ve done for the last eight years,” Marshall said.
While no one has officially announced a 2026 run for governor, current Republican Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is considered a frontrunner. Other names in the mix include former GOP candidate Lindy Blanchard and current Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate.