Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama Will Run for Governor

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/politics/tommy-tuberville-alabama-governor.html

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Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, a Republican and former Auburn University football coach, will run for governor of the state in the 2026 election, he announced on Tuesday.

Mr. Tuberville, a staunch ally of President Trump, parlayed the name recognition he built during his football career into a victory over Senator Doug Jones, a Democrat, in 2020.

“I’m doing this to help this country and the great state of Alabama,” Mr. Tuberville, 70, said in an interview on Fox News, where he announced his campaign after weeks of speculation.

Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama, also a Republican, has been in office since 2017 and is barred by term limits from running again. Given the conservative dominance in the state, it is likely that the governor’s mansion will remain in Republican control. It is unclear whether and when other Republicans may enter the race, or if any Democrat will mount a significant challenge.

Mr. Tuberville’s decision to leave the Senate after a single term makes him the latest lawmaker hoping to trade Washington for a governorship. The governor’s mansion can offer more power and opportunity, compared with being one of many in an increasingly polarized and acrimonious Congress.

Senator Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado, announced in April that he would run for governor there; two Democratic members of the House are running for governor in New Jersey, and one former member in Virginia.