SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
After weeks of speculation and quiet signals, it is now official: former U.S. Senator Doug Jones will enter the 2026 Alabama governor’s race, setting up a major political showdown with current U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville. The confirmation marks one of the most significant developments yet in a race already drawing national attention.
The news first broke on “The Voice of Alabama Politics,” the online political analysis show hosted by Bill Britt of the Alabama Political Reporter. “I got a call from those very, very close to former U.S. Senator Doug Jones,” Britt announced. “And we can now report with certainty that Doug Jones will file his paperwork with the Secretary a of State this coming week to run for governor of Alabama.”
AL.com later independently confirmed Jones’ intentions.
Jones, who served Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 2018 to 2021, had hinted earlier this month that he was preparing for a statewide run. During a forum in Birmingham hosted by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, Jones gave the strongest signal yet when he responded to a question about his political future with, “Stay tuned.”
If elected, Jones would become the first Democratic governor in Alabama in more than two decades. But he faces a steep climb. Tuberville, who defeated Jones in 2020 to win his Senate seat, enters the race with substantial fundraising momentum and widespread name recognition. A recent Cygnal poll of 605 likely voters showed Tuberville holding a significant early lead.
Campaign finance reports also show Tuberville has raised more than $7 million, surpassing the pace set by former Gov. Kay Ivey at the same point in her last election cycle. Analysts say those early numbers signal strong support among Republican donors and a potentially difficult environment for Democrats in 2026.
The field also includes Republican Ken McFeeters and Democrats Will Boyd and Chad “Chig” Martin. Alabama’s primary elections are scheduled for May 19.
With Jones now officially stepping into the race, Alabama voters are set for a contentious and closely watched gubernatorial contest—one that will likely define the state’s political direction for years to come.