Lt. Governor Ainsworth not entering 2026 governor's race
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth announced he will not enter the race for governor Wednesday.
In a statement released exclusively to CBS 42 News, Ainsworth said he will instead focus on his children for their last years in high school and move into the private sector once his term as lieutenant governor comes to a close.
Ainsworth's full statement can be read below:
After much prayer and many discussions with my family, friends and supporters, I will not be a candidate for governor during the 2026 election cycle.
Kendall and I have decided that focusing on our children during their last years in high school and transitioning to the private sector makes the most sense for all of us at this time in our lives.
Serving as Alabama's Lieutenant Governor has been the honor of my lifetime, and in the year-and-a-half remaining in my term, I will continue working night and day to meet the needs, improve the lives, and protect the conservative values of the Alabama citizens I took an oath to serve.
When first elected, I promised to the most active, engaged, and hardest working Lieutenant Governor in the history of our state, and I will leave the office secure in the knowledge that I kept my promise.
We led the effort to remove the state sales tax on groceries and enacted the largest tax cut in Alabama's history.
We championed school choice because we believe parents know what is best for their children.
We made our state the nation's friendliest and most welcoming for active service members, veterans, and their dependents.
We created a new high school diploma to ensure students are prepared for high-paying, long-lasting 21st Century jobs when they graduate.
And we pushed to quickly reopen Alabama and get back to business in the days following the pandemic.
My heart is deeply rooted in Alabama, my passion is in helping people, and neither of those truths will ever change. Even when I leave elected office, I will still get up every day with a drive to help Alabama grow.
While my name will not be on the ballot for governor in 2026, I will be on the campaign trail working alongside President Trump to help elect a strong, conservative governor and other Republican elected officials who will keep Alabama moving in the right direction.
I am grateful for your support and prayers over the years, and I will always remember the trust the people of Alabama put in me.
We will continue giving back to this wonderful state that has given us so much.
As I have said many times – 'You are given only one life to make a difference, so you better make a difference while you are here.'
Lt. Gov. Ainsworth
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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