McFeeters Files Residency Challenge Against Tuberville With Alabama GOP

January 30, 2026 - HOOVER, Ala. - Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters submitted a formal challenge to the Alabama Republican Party this week, arguing that U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville does not meet the Alabama Constitution's requirement that candidates for governor must have been "resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election."

In his filing, McFeeters asserts that publicly available records, travel logs, and financial disclosures raise "serious and unresolved questions" about whether Tuberville has continuously lived in Alabama during the seven‑year period immediately preceding the 2026 election. He points specifically to Senate expense reports and political action committee filings that show frequent travel between Washington, D.C. and Florida, with what he describes as "minimal evidence" of regular travel to Tuberville's claimed residence in Auburn.

McFeeters argues that Tuberville's residency claim-based on a home owned by his son in Auburn-is not supported by the senator's travel patterns or property history. Tuberville sold his last personally owned Auburn property in 2023 and later added his name to the deed of his son's home, a move McFeeters characterizes as a "residence of convenience."

McFeeters' Position

In his letter to the party, McFeeters writes:

"The Alabama Constitution is a covenant between the people of this state and their government. It not only empowers government but, critically, limits it. Compliance with its requirements is not optional, nor is it subject to political convenience."

He further argues that courts have consistently interpreted the seven‑year requirement to mean seven consecutive years immediately preceding the election, not an accumulated total over time.

McFeeters also raises the possibility that if Tuberville is found not to have been a resident during that period, it could call into question the legality of his voting history in Alabama elections. "The Party cannot credibly maintain both that he was not a resident for constitutional purposes and that his voting history was lawful," he writes.

Tuberville Campaign Responds

The Tuberville campaign dismissed the challenge outright. Campaign spokesperson Mallory Jaspers called the filing:

"A ridiculous PR stunt from a desperate candidate. Senator Tuberville has proudly represented Alabama in the United States Senate for the past six years. This made‑up narrative didn't work when he was running for Senate in 2019, and it certainly isn't going to work now."

Tuberville has long faced questions about his residency, particularly after reports that he and his wife last voted in Florida in 2018. He maintains that his time coaching at Auburn beginning in 1999 and his more recent residence in Auburn satisfy the requirement.

What Happens Next

Under Alabama Republican Party rules, the challenge window remains open for one week. Once it closes, a candidate challenge committee will review all filings and determine whether a formal hearing is necessary. Both McFeeters and Tuberville could be called to present evidence.

If the committee rules against Tuberville, he could be removed from the GOP primary ballot. If he remains in the race and wins the nomination, additional challenges-potentially from Democrats-are likely before the November general election.