Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has made no secret of his plans to run for governor of Alabama, and now it’s official. After months of hinting at a gubernatorial bid and gaining a rare pre-announcement endorsement from the Club for Growth’s PAC, Tuberville confirmed during a Fox News appearance that he will not seek re-election to the Senate and is instead launching a campaign for governor.
The announcement came alongside the debut of his campaign website, which highlights his alignment with Donald Trump.
Tuberville’s prospects are strong—Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, once considered the frontrunner to succeed term-limited Governor Kay Ivey, dropped out, leaving Tuberville a likely uncontested candidate in the Republican primary in deeply red Alabama.
Still, Tuberville’s political record offers little to run on. Elected to the Senate in 2020 after avoiding debates and maintaining a low profile, his tenure has been marked more by controversy than achievement. He is best known for single-handedly blocking military promotions for 10 months over abortion policy, a move widely criticized—even by fellow Republicans—for damaging U.S. military readiness and credibility.
Beyond that, Tuberville has sparked backlash for comments that include conspiracy theories, misstatements about basic civics, and racially charged rhetoric. He has also faced scrutiny over residency issues and heavy stock trading activity while in office.
Despite these issues, Tuberville now moves into the gubernatorial race with strong political momentum—an example, critics say, of political failure being rewarded rather than penalized.
