On Tuesday, May 27, Senator Tommy Tuberville announced his 2026 bid for Alabama governor at Byron’s Smokehouse in Auburn, Alabama. With incumbent Governor Kay Ivey term-limited and ineligible for re-election, former Auburn football coach Tuberville is considered a likely gubernatorial candidate for the Republican Party.
After weeks of speculation, Tuberville officially announced his gubernatorial candidacy in Auburn, Alabama on The Will Cain Show, aired by conservative-leaning news station Fox News.
Surrounded by supporters, Tuberville announced his campaign at Byron’s Smokehouse, the local Auburn restaurant. Tuberville also announced his 2020 U.S. Senate campaign at the restaurant in 2019, almost seven years ago.
Byron’s Smokehouse published a statement of support for Tuberville in a May 25 Instagram post, calling it “a privilege to host this historic moment.”
In a quote for The Auburn Plainsman, Hannah Eddins, a spokeswoman for Tuberville spoke about the senator’s connection to Byron’s Smokehouse.
“When Coach Tuberville and his wife Suzanne moved to Auburn 25 years ago, they knew they had found their home. Byron’s quickly became one of Coach’s go-to spots while he was coaching at Auburn,” Eddins said. “It was also where he launched his U.S. Senate campaign in 2019. It was only natural to return to Byron’s for Coach’s announcement of his campaign to be the next Governor of Alabama.”
Tuberville’s connection to Auburn began after becoming the head football coach in 1998, leading the Tigers to an undefeated season and multiple consecutive bowl appearances. Now, Tuberville says he hopes to give back to the community and state.
“I’m doing this to help this country and the great state of Alabama,” Tuberville said on The Will Cain Show. “I’m a football coach. I’m a leader. I’m a builder. I’m a recruiter, and we’re going to grow Alabama.”
Attendees at the event donned campaign merchandise, including hats labeled “COACH” in Alabama’s crimson and white or Auburn’s orange and blue, an apparent nod to the football history of both Tuberville and the state of Alabama.
Tommy Tuberville celebrates after an Auburn Football game. Courtesy of Sports Illustrated.
Tuberville maintains a strong connection to Auburn, seen through a recent appearance in Jordan-Hare Stadium to be honored with the 2004 football team that he helped lead to an undefeated season.
Shortly before his May 27 interview, Tuberville launched his official campaign website, CoachForGovernor.com, which highlights his priorities, offers merchandise, and requests donations to “support Coach Tuberville’s Alabama First team.”
President Donald Trump has yet to officially endorse Tuberville’s gubernatorial run, but Tuberville says Trump is supportive of the decision.
“You can’t keep a secret in Washington, D.C. I think he [Trump] knew before I did,” Tuberville joked in an interview with The Hill.
Trump backed Tuberville for his Senate bid in 2020, and according to Tuberville, the two have remained close throughout his Senate term.
According to AL.com, the Alabama Democratic Party is planning to legally challenge Tuberville’s gubernatorial eligibility based on the residency requirement in the state constitution. Section 117 of the Alabama Constitution mandates that the governor must be a state resident for “at least seven years next before the date of their election.”
Tuberville has homes in both Auburn, Alabama and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Online public tax records show a homestead exemption for the Auburn residence from 2018, an identification used to verify primary residence for tax purposes.
Tuberville addressed the concerns at a March 2025 press conference, citing his service as a U.S. Senator for Alabama and stating, “There is nothing to that.”
As of Wednesday, June 4, the Tuberville campaign has not released an official comment on the residency challenge.
No other Republican figures have announced bids for Alabama governor, as of Wednesday, June 4, and according to the Alabama Gazette, Dothan businessman Chad Martin has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination.
More entrants are expected before the primary election on May 25, 2026, when Alabama voters will nominate the Democratic and Republican candidates for the November election.
For the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Tuberville, several candidates have officially announced their plans to run in 2026. As of Friday, May 30, five candidates–three Democrats and two Republicans–have formally announced campaigns.
Democratic candidates:
- Dakarai Larriett, Birmingham native and business owner
- Kylie Sweetser, Mobile native and businessman
- Mark Wheeler II, Herflin native and Jackson State University alumnus
Republican candidates:
- Jared Hudson, former Navy SEAL and non-profit founder
- Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General
For a specialized analysis of the election, Dr. Spencer Goidel, assistant professor of political science at Auburn University, says the gubernatorial election will not be competitive, but the U.S. Senate seat is “now the one to watch.”
“I expect the Republican primary will be full of candidates that were considering a run for governor before Tuberville’s announcement,” said Goidel, who specializes in American politics. “Tuberville’s ascent to senator, and now his presumed-nominee status in the gubernatorial election, highlight the power of name recognition in politics. [...] Any challenger would be fighting an incredibly steep uphill battle.”
Goidel’s prediction about Tuberville’s “household name in Alabama with high favorability” seems to ring true, as candidates prepare for statewide elections and on-campus partisan organizations also prepare to support their respective candidates in Auburn’s own backyard.
Both the Auburn College Republicans and Auburn College Democrats provided quotes to The Auburn Plainsman on Tuberville’s gubernatorial announcement and the U.S. Senate seat open in 2026.
"We are honored that a Republican candidate and true Auburn man with close ties to our University is in position to hold the office in 2026," said Luke Troutman, executive director of the College Republicans. "During his time in the Senate, Coach Tuberville was a strong advocate for the real people of Alabama. [...] This announcement has opened the campaign for his Senate seat in 2026, and we are excited to offer our support to the Republican candidate after the Republican primary."
"Senator Tuberville's recent announcement that he will run for the governorship in 2026 marks an important moment in Alabama politics," said Ian Gunn, president of the College Democrats. "While opinions about his Senate record vary, it is clear that his time in Washington has often been defined more by ideological stands than policymaking. [...] An open Senate seat invites a real conversation about Alabama's future direction - one that could bring new voices to the table."
State politics has a busy year ahead, with both the Alabama governor’s seat and a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026. However, as candidates step up and campaigns launch, one fact is for certain: Alabama residents–regardless of partisanship–will be following along.
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