by Andi Shae Napier
Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced he is running for governor of Alabama in 2026, leaving yet another open Senate seat to be filled in next year’s midterms.
The senator launched his campaign website Tuesday afternoon, Politico first reported, but the news has been expected since the Alabama Republican reportedly told donors his gubernatorial plans during Easter recess.
“I will be the future governor of the great state of Alabama,” Tuberville confirmed on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show” Tuesday afternoon. “I still got 18 months to go with President Trump to Make America Great Again.”
“We’re going to grow Alabama, we’re going to bring manufacturing back to the state,” he told host Will Cain. “We’re going to stop illegal immigration.”
Also on Cain’s show, Tuberville reiterated his support for President Donald Trump and his sweeping tax and spending package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is currently under consideration by the Senate.
“It will be a fist fight next week, starting Monday, with all Republicans looking at this bill, combining it with the House,” he said. “But we’ve got to get it done. We’ve got to get this jobs and tax cut done. We got to help President Trump.”
The decision has reportedly been a long time coming as Tuberville was considering running for governor of Alabama prior to the launch of his Senate bid in 2019. Alabama’s Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth was seen as a potential opponent to Tuberville, but recently said he doesn’t have any interest running for neither in the Senate, nor the governor’s mansion. The new suspected power player to run for Tuberville’s seat in Congress is Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, but he has said “decisions will be made” after Tuberville announces his intentions for 2026.
Tuberville is the latest Senator to announce a gubernatorial bid following Democratic Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet’s announcement in April as well as rumors swirling around a possible gubernatorial run from Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
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Andi Shae Napier is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Nicole Silverio contributed to this report.
Photo “Senator Tommy Tuberville” by Senator Tommy Tuberville.
