22-05-2025
Who will be Alabama's next governor? The latest look at who's in and out of the race
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – 2026 is shaping up to be a big election year for the state. Many local offices will be on the ballot, as well as our next governor. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth announced Wednesday morning he will not be entering the race for governor.
With Ainsworth's announcement, many eyes are now on Senator Tommy Tuberville. He's previously said he'll announce his decision by the end of May. With less than two weeks left in the month, some political experts believe Tuberville will be officially entering the race for governor early next week.
'Qualifying is not until next February. It's Alabama politics, anything can happen between now and next February, but I don't see a strong challenger in the Republican Primary,' said former state representative Paul DeMarco.
DeMarco says Senator Tuberville's name recognition and party popularity makes him a strong candidate for governor. He says these factors will also help him get any funding needed to run a statewide campaign.
'I think at this point, he clears the field for the Republican Primary for governor, and so then all eyes are on what happens in the U.S. Senate race to replace him, what happens in some of the other down ballot races, lieutenant governor, attorney general, some of the congressional seats,' he said. 'So, I think the dominoes will fall when he officially announces, which could be any day now.'
While some are wondering which Republicans could stand up against Tuberville, others look right to the Democratic side of the ticket and who could put up a solid fight on the other side of the aisle.
'We have two folks on the Democratic side who have announced for governor, but this is very, very early. We believe there will be a whole lot more activity on our side,' Wayne Rodgers, chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, said. 'Dr. Will Boyd has announced he's running. A guy named Chad Martin from south Alabama has announced that he's running. There's a possibility that our good friend Doug Jones may be running for governor. It would be a rematch with Tommy Tuberville from 2020.'
'Alabama's a red state, Senator Tuberville's very popular, I don't think any Democrat can beat him,' DeMarco said. 'I know Senator Doug Jones is out there talking about potentially running for him, but I mean, in the past, Republicans have won 60-40 in statewide races. Governor Ivey did that several years ago, I don't see that changing.'
Some voters around Birmingham weighed in on who they want to see in the position next.
'Just that, you know, care for the community, they care about the state and just pushing forward. Just a genuine, good person,' Birmingham resident Jimmy Carter Jr. said. 'You want somebody that thinks like you, in a positive way though.'
'Doug Jones, please run against Tuberville. He needs to go,' Center Point resident Roderick Johnson said. 'Mayor Woodfin, if he would run, he's been a great mayor of Birmingham. I see the improvement. Crime is improving with the new police chief, so definitely Mayor Woodfin. That's a long shot, him being a Democrat and a black man in Alabama, but it can happen.'
Candidates are able to begin fundraising and campaigning now. The primary election will be on May 19 next year.
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