Doug Jones Eyes Return to Alabama Politics with Potential 2026 Gubernatorial Bid

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - November 20, 2025 - Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones is reportedly weighing a run for governor of Alabama in 2026, setting the stage for a potential rematch with Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville and a high-stakes test of Democratic viability in one of the nation's most conservative states.

A Familiar Face in a New Fight

Jones, a Democrat from Mountain Brook, made national headlines in 2017 when he won a special election to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Democrat to represent Alabama in the chamber in over two decades. He lost his seat in 2020 to Tuberville in a landslide, but recent reports suggest he may be preparing for a political comeback.

While Jones has not officially declared his candidacy, political observers and polling firms are treating his entry into the race as increasingly likely. His name has surfaced in multiple speculative matchups, and Democratic strategists are reportedly encouraging him to run.

Polling Paints a Steep Climb

A recent poll by GOP-aligned firm Cygnal shows Jones trailing Tuberville by a wide margin in a hypothetical 2026 gubernatorial contest. The survey of likely voters found:

• Tuberville: 53%

• Jones: 34%

• Undecided: 13%ununced

The 19-point gap underscores the uphill battle any Democrat would face in Alabama, where Republicans have dominated statewide offices for decades.

A Rematch with National Implications

If Jones enters the race and Tuberville follows through on his own rumored candidacy, the 2026 election could become a rematch of their 2020 Senate contest. That race was one of the most lopsided defeats for a sitting U.S. Senator in recent history, but a gubernatorial campaign would present a different political landscape-one shaped by state issues, economic development, and education policy.

Jones, a former U.S. Attorney best known for prosecuting two Ku Klux Klan members in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing case, has long positioned himself as a moderate Democrat focused on justice and bipartisanship.

What's Next?

Governor Kay Ivey is term-limited and cannot seek re-election, leaving the field open for both parties. Senator Tuberville appears to be the Republican frontrunner. Insurance agent Ken McFeeters is the only other announced Republican. If Jones qualifies he faces a much-changed Democratic party. Chad "Chig" Martin, Yolanda Flowers, and Dr. Will Boyd have all already announced their candidacies for governor. Jones could be heavily battered in a primary against a new generation of Democrats. And then he faces the GOP nominee. No Democrat has won the governorship of Alabama in this century. The last time a Democrat won ANY statewide office in Alabama was Jones in 2017 in a special election. No Democrat has won a statewide race in a regular general election since the late Lucy Baxley barely defeated Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh in 2008 for PSC President (Baxley was the incumbent).

An official announcement from Jones could come in early 2026, as the primary season heats up.

(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)