BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has privately confirmed he will run for governor of Alabama in 2026, telling donors and colleagues his decision is final, though a formal public announcement is expected in the coming weeks. Tuberville, a Republican and former Auburn football coach, will forgo a re-election bid for the U.S. Senate, leaving his seat open as he pivots to state politics.
Tuberville’s tenure in Washington has been marked by controversy and a penchant for headline-grabbing tactics. Most notably, he staged a nearly year-long blockade of military promotions in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy, a move that delayed hundreds of nominations and drew bipartisan criticism for disrupting military readiness and affecting service members’ families. While the blockade ultimately ended without policy concessions, some supporters in Alabama have pointed to the episode as evidence of Tuberville’s willingness to stand his ground and challenge the status quo, even when it meant bucking his own party.
On the policy front, Tuberville has championed conservative causes, including efforts to ensure food purity standards—such as his push for pure honey labeling, a small but tangible win for Alabama’s agricultural producers. Critics, however, argue that his stances on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and voting access reflect a broader pattern of regressive social policies, echoing Alabama’s long history of trailing the nation on civil rights.
Tuberville’s popularity among Republican voters remains strong, as evidenced by his landslide victory over Democrat Doug Jones in 2020. Yet his record is likely to face renewed scrutiny as he seeks to lead a state often criticized for lagging on social progress.
With the 2026 Republican primary still a year away, Tuberville’s candidacy is set to reshape Alabama’s political landscape, promising a campaign that will spotlight both his combative approach in Washington and the enduring divides over the direction of the state.