2026 Alabama gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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The 2026 Alabama gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Republican governor Kay Ivey is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election to a third term. Primary elections will take place on May 19, and in races where no candidate receives over 50% in a primary, runoff elections will take place on June 16.[1]
This election will take place alongside races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state senate, state house, and numerous other state and local offices. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in Alabama since 1998.
Candidates
Declared
- Ken McFeeters, insurance agent and candidate for Alabama's 6th congressional district in 2024[2]
- Will Santivasci, event center operations manager[3]
- Tommy Tuberville, U.S. senator (2021–present)[4]
Declined
- Will Ainsworth, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama (2019–present)[5] (endorsed Tuberville)[6]
- Lynda Blanchard, former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia (2019–2021) and candidate for governor in 2022[7] (nominated for Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization)[8]
- Mo Brooks, former U.S. Representative from Alabama's 5th congressional district (2011–2023)[9]
- Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General (2017–present)[10] (running for U.S Senate)[11]
- Rick Pate, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (2019–present) (running for Lieutenant Governor)[12][13]
Endorsements
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[15]
- U.S. senators
- Katie Britt, Alabama (2023–present)[16]
- Rick Scott, Florida (2019–present)[17]
- State officials
- Will Ainsworth, lieutenant governor of Alabama (2019–present)[6]
- Jere Beasley, lieutenant governor of Alabama (1971–1979) and acting governor of Alabama (1972) (Democratic)[18]
- Mike Braun, governor of Indiana (2025–present)[19]
- State legislators
- Garlan Gudger, president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate (2025–present) from the 4th district (2018–present)[20]
- Nathaniel Ledbetter, speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives (2023–present) from the 24th district (2014–present) (previously endorsed Ainsworth)[21]
- Scott Stadthagen, majority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives (2023–present) from the 9th district (2019–present)[22]
- Individuals
- Taylor Hicks, singer[23]
- A. J. McCarron, former professional football player and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2026[24]
- Organizations
- Republicans for National Renewal[25]
- Alabama Farmers Federation[26]
- Alabama Forestry Association[27]
- Alabama Realtors PAC[28]
- Associated Builders and Contractors Alabama[29]
- Associated Builders and Contractors North Alabama[29]
- Business Council of Alabama[30]
- Club for Growth[31]
- Electric Cooperatives of Alabama[32]
- Manufacture Alabama[33]
- National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund[34]
- State legislators
- Nathaniel Ledbetter, speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives (2023–present) from the 24th district (2014–present) (later endorsed Tuberville)[35]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2026 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Other receipts | Spent | Cash on hand | |
| Ken McFeeters (R) | $353 | $20,000 | $10,675 | $9,677 | |
| Tommy Tuberville (R) | $12,387,128 | $76,989 | $3,423,035 | $9,041,082 | |
| Source: Alabama FCPA[36] | |||||
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Ken McFeeters |
Tommy Tuberville |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantus Insights (R)[37] | October 13–14, 2025 | 1,050 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 4% | 63% | 11% | 22% |
Campaign
The Constitution of Alabama requires that a candidate for governor have been a resident citizen of the state for at least seven years immediately preceding the date of the election, as provided in Article V, Section 117.[39]
On January 27, 2026, after the filing deadline for the Republican primary had passed, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters submitted a formal challenge to the Alabama Republican Party alleging that U.S. Senator and fellow gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville does not satisfy the state's residency requirement. McFeeters claimed in his petition that, despite Tuberville owning a home in Auburn, Alabama, he primarily resides at his multimillion-dollar beach house in Walton County, Florida.[40]
A spokesperson for Tuberville described the challenge as "a ridiculous PR stunt from a desperate candidate."[41] Tuberville himself dismissed the allegation, stating, "What a joke. I guess they think, you know, I hadn't done my homework."[42]
The Alabama Republican Party's 21-member steering committee reviewed the challenge on February 2, 2026 and rejected it, clearing the path for Tuberville to be on the primary ballot.[43]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ken McFeeters | |||
| Republican | "Alabama" Will Santivasci | |||
| Republican | Tommy Tuberville | |||
| Total votes | 100.00 | |||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Will Boyd, former Greenville, Illinois city councilor and perennial candidate[44]
- Ja'Mel Brown, online pastor[45]
- Yolanda Flowers, educator and nominee for governor in 2022[46]
- Doug Jones, former U.S. senator (2018–2021)[47]
- Chad Chig Martin, hemp business owner and candidate for governor in 2022[48]
- Nathan Mathis, former state representative from the 87th district (1983–1995) and perennial candidate[49]
Endorsements
- Party officials
- Jaime Harrison, former chair of the Democratic National Committee (2021–2025)[50]
- Organizations
- U.S. representatives
- Terri Sewell, AL-07 (2011–present)[52]
- Statewide officials
- Ron Sparks, former commissioner of agriculture and industries (2003–2011) and nominee for the position in 2026[53]
- State legislators
- Bobby Singleton, minority leader of the Alabama Senate (2019–present) from the 24th district (2005–present)[54]
- Anthony Daniels, minority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives (2017–present) from the 53rd district (2014–present)[52]
- Phillip Ensler, state representative from the 74th district (2022–present) and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2026[54]
- Individuals
- Jason Isbell, singer-songwriter[55]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2026 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Other receipts | Spent | Cash on hand | |
| Will Boyd (D) | $66,170 | $220 | $57,349 | $9,040 | |
| Ja'Mel Brown (D) | $2,310 | $1,600 | $0 | $3,910 | |
| Yolanda Flowers (D) | $1,315 | $4,425 | $5,726 | $13 | |
| Doug Jones (D) | $1,870,678 | $0 | $778,652 | $1,092,026 | |
| Chad Chig Martin (D) | $28,437 | $0 | $26,552 | $4,387 | |
| Nate Mathis (D) | $11,000 | $0 | $4,000 | $7,000 | |
| Source: Alabama FCPA[36] | |||||
Campaign
Will Boyd was the first candidate to enter the race, in June 2025.[44] Doug Jones did not rule out a bid in the same month, while campaigning for a Democrat in a state legislative special election.[56] He officially launched his campaign in November 2025.[57] Following reporters that Jones would announce a campaign, Boyd's campaign responded by stating that he would not be dropping out of the race.[58]
Jones focused on Tommy Tuberville's residency issue in his campaign. He also expressed his support for a state lottery in Alabama.[59] If elected, he also pledged to remove members of the Alabama Public Library Service, and replace them with nonpartisan members.[60]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Will Boyd | |||
| Democratic | Jamel J. Brown | |||
| Democratic | Yolanda Rochelle Flowers | |||
| Democratic | Doug Jones | |||
| Democratic | Chad "Chig" Martin | |||
| Democratic | Nathan "Nate" Mathis | |||
| Total votes | 100.00 | |||
Independent and third-party candidates
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[63] | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[64] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[65] | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[66] | Likely R | December 3, 2025 |
Polling
- Tommy Tuberville vs. Doug Jones
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Tommy Tuberville (R) |
Doug Jones (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cygnal (R)[67] | November 12–13, 2025 | 605 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 53% | 34% | 13% |
