Republicans unanimously reject McFeeters challenge: Tuberville will be GOP nominee

June 14, 2026 - HOOVER, Ala. – The Alabama Republican Party State Steering Committee voted unanimously to reject the challenge by Ken McFeeters of Senator Tommy Tuverville's Alabama residency.

McFeeters was the second place finisher in the May 19 Republican primary. He claimed that Tuberville did not meet the standard for Alabama set by the Alabama Constitution to hold a constitutional office. McFeeters argued that Tuberville – who owns a $6 million beach home in Santa Rosa, Florida – has not resided continuously in Alabama for the last seven years.

As expected, the Steering Committee ruled against McFeeters' challenge.

Republican Party Chairman state Representative Scott Stadthagen (Hartselle) announced on Sunday that the ALGOP Candidate Committee has rejected the challenge.

Stadthagen said that the committee's decision followed a thorough and impartial review of evidence and sworn testimony presented by opposing sides during an hours-long hearing in Birmingham.

"We instructed the committee members to set aside politics and partisanship and base their decision solely upon clarity and common sense," said Stadthagen. "Coach Tuberville provided the evidence necessary to establish beyond any doubt that he fully meets the residency requirements to serve as governor, and the challenge failed to present any evidence that proved otherwise."

"It is time for the ALGOP to firmly close and lock this chapter and turn our full attention toward defeating liberal Democrat Doug Jones, increasing our supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, reclaiming the congressional seat that federal judges wrongly denied us, and keeping Alabama the brightest red Republican state in the nation," said Stadthagen. "The Democrats' willing accomplices and allies in the liberal media will no doubt continue pursuing a false narrative in order to sow doubt, generate clicks, and prop up the flailing Doug Jones candidacy, but we are confident that Alabamians will see through their fake news bias and award Republicans a landslide win in November."

Tuberville was on the stand for about 45 minutes. He produced his driver's license, his voter registration, and documentation that he owns the three-bedroom, one bath $290,000 home in Auburn that he claims is his residence.

"We looked at it with the facts. The contest was unsuccessful. And Coach Tuberville will be our nominee for governor," said Stadthagen.

The media and the public were barred from the hearings and no recording has been released to the public.

"I'm thankful for the committee holding a hearing today to finally put this ridiculous residency hoax to bed," Tuberville told reporters. "For the past six years, I've proudly represented Alabama in the United States Senate. When I'm not in D.C., Suzanne and I are at home in Auburn and yes, sometimes, at our beach house on the coast."

McFeeters said that the Steering Committee did deliberate longer than he though they would, but he still believes that they reached the wrong conclusion.

McFeeters said that there has been no animosity between him and Tuberville.

McFeeters noted that Stadthagen asked few questions in the hearing and that most of the questions came from ALGOP's Balch & Bingham attorneys.

"Does Balch & Bingham work for the ALGOP or does the ALGOP work for Balch & Bingham?" McFeeters told the Alabama Gazette afterwards.

"He has been a perfect gentleman," McFeeters said. He and his legal team were eating at the same restaurant in Uptown as Tuberville and his team.

There are repots that two veterans – not formally connected to the Doug Jones campaign – are preparing to file their own lawsuit.

McFeeters is still considering his options and acknowledged that some supporters have urged him to file a lawsuit, but has not made a decision yet.

"I know I am done politically after this," McFeeters said.

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