Tuberville expected to announce run for Governor within hours or days

May 27, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – All eyes in the Alabama political world are fixed on U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama). The popular former football coach is one of the most liked political figures in state history and would cruise to re-election if he decided to run for a second term in the Senate.

Speculation is widespread in Montgomery however that Coach Tuberville will be announcing his decision to run for governor of the state of Alabama as early as today with an announcement expected by June 6.

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R) seemed to confirm those rumors of a Tuberville gubernatorial campaign last week when he announced that he would not be running for Governor in 2026. Ainsworth's departure from the field appears to leave Tuberville as the only Republican in the field,

Chad "Chig" Martin has announced that he is running again as a Democrat and there are four or five Democratic candidates that appear to be on the verge of announcing; but in this very Republican state – where the GOP nominee for Governor has won nine of the last ten governor's races – the Republican primary on May 19, 2026 appears to be where the next governor's race will be decided.

Here is the candidate field as it currently appears.

Governor Kay Ivey (R-Alabama) – who has already served more than eight years as governor - is term limited from seeking a third consecutive term.

Lt. Gov. Ainsworth has bowed out.

Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) has announced that he is running for Lieutenant Governor.

Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) is expected to announce that he is running for U.S. Senate.

Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell (R) has resigned his position on the state's highest court. Mitchell is expected to announce his candidacy for Attorney General.

Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate (R) is term limited from seeking a third consecutive term. He has told the Alabama Gazette that he will not run for Governor against Tuberville. Speculation is that Pate will most likely enter the race for Lt. Gov.

Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (R) would be a formidable opponent in any race that she enters; but there is widespread speculation that she may be accepting an appointment to work for the Trump administration – perhaps heading USDA's Rural Development Office in Alabama. PSC President is not a position that is subject to term limits; and she may elect to stay where she is. Either way, the political speculation at this moment is that she will not be challenging Tuberville for Governor.

State Auditor Andrew Sorrell (R) has announced that he is running for Secretary of State.

Attorney Derek Chen has announced his candidacy for State Auditor. Former top Kay Ivey aide Josh Pendergrass is rumored to be on the verge of announcing for a run for Auditor. Dadeville businessman Robert McCollum is currently an announced candidate for Auditor, perhaps setting up for a Republican battle royale for the open Auditor's position.

Former Ambassador Lindy Blanchard made waves four years ago challenging Ivey for Governor; but President Trump has tapped her to be the U.S. Ambassador for the U.N. Commission on global agriculture. With the appointment of Robert Francis Prevost as the first American Pope and the prospects that Pope Leo XIV could host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican; that assignment in Rome has an even greater role on the world stage.

Former Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Admiral (ret.) Kent Davis (R) has shown preliminary interest in running for Governor; but he told the Alabama Gazette that he won't run against Tuberville. If Davis is out, he could run for U.S. Senate, Attorney General, Congress, or just not run in 2026.

Economic developer Dr. Nicole Wadsworth and 2022 candidate for Governor Pastor Dean Odle are both running against Allen for Lt. Gov. Former Secretary of State John H. Merrill and Pate are being discussed as possible Lt. Gov. candidates.

All of that appears to leave Senator Tuberville with a clear path to the GOP nomination for Governor.

Tuberville is an Arkansas native – the son of a career Army soldier who served with General George Patton in World War II. Tuberville is a former teacher, coach, and sports broadcaster. In the Senate, he is closely aligned with President Trump. Tuberville is a former Auburn University head football coach – where he maintains a home to this day. Tuberville and his wife Suzanne – like many rich people, including former Governor Bob Riley – also maintains a home in Florida. The residency issue has been used against Coach Tuberville by his political opponents. Tuberville had initially considered a run for Governor in 2018; but chose not to enter the field against Gov. Ivey – who was elevated to the position in 2017 by Governor Robert Bentley's (R) resignation. He ran for Senate instead – unseating incumbent Senator Doug Jones (D-Alabama) in 2020. There is speculation that Jones may be contemplating a political comeback as a Democratic candidate for Governor – though it appears like the Democratic primary for Governor will be a very crowded field.

Stay tuned to the Alabama Gazette for the latest political happenings across the state.

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