2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
'As your next governor, I'll fight for President Donald Trump's America first agenda, stop illegal immigration dead in its tracks, and protect our conservative values.'
Fighting what he calls woke ideology.
Lowering taxes and reducing government spending.
Bringing manufacturing jobs to Alabama.
Expanding school choice and increasing parental control over curriculum.
Securing the border.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Senator from Alabama since January 2021; defeated incumbent Doug Jones 60%-40% in 2020.
College football head coach, including at Auburn University from 1999 to 2008.
Endorsed by President Donald Trump for governor.
In 2023 and 2024 held up hundreds of military promotions in the Senate over the Defense Department's abortion travel policy.
A ballot challenge arguing he did not meet Alabama's seven-year residency requirement was rejected in June 2026 by the state Republican Party's candidate committee, which said he had provided state tax records, property and home ownership records, driver's licences, voter registration and other material establishing residency.
Has supported the tariffs enacted under the Trump administration.
Arguments in favor
He would run Alabama on the president's agenda — immigration enforcement, tax cuts and school choice — with a direct line to the administration.
— Tommy Tuberville for Governor campaign, and President Donald Trump's endorsement
He is running on bringing manufacturing to Alabama and expanding parental control in schools.
— Tommy Tuberville for Governor campaign
The residency challenge against him failed: the party committee found he 'provided the evidence necessary to establish beyond any doubt that he fully meets the residency requirements.'
— Alabama Republican Party candidate committee
Arguments against
'Everybody knows he really spends all his time in Florida. Whether or not that legally fits the bill for residency, I think will remain potentially available for a court.'
— Doug Jones, Democratic nominee
Alabama farmers have 'been hurting because of the very tariffs that Tommy Tuberville has been supporting. The increases in their diesel and the fertilizer that Tommy Tuberville had been supporting.'
— Doug Jones, Democratic nominee
'He wants to call names. He wants to divide people. He wants to use what has been so typical in Alabama in the past... fear, hate, division.'
— Doug Jones, Democratic nominee
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
His position on Medicaid expansion in Alabama could not be established from a source read directly.
Whether the residency question will be raised again in court, as his opponent has suggested.
Affordability: eliminating the state grocery tax and state taxes on tips and overtime, and lowering housing costs.
Expanding Medicaid in Alabama.
A one-year moratorium on new data centre construction in West Alabama, and regulation of AI data centres.
A statewide vote on a lottery.
Citizen ballot initiatives, more power for local governments, and government transparency — 'to open up government, to be more transparent with government, and to try to do everything that the governor can to get prices down.'
Investment in housing and childcare, and protections for IVF and contraception.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Senator from Alabama 2018-2021, after winning the December 2017 special election; lost to Tommy Tuberville in 2020.
As U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, prosecuted and convicted two Ku Klux Klan members for the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
'I got more votes than any Democrat in the history of this state — 920,000 people voted for Doug Jones.'
Was among the more bipartisan members of the Senate during his term.
Launched his campaign in December 2025 and set out a detailed policy agenda in a July 2026 speech.
Arguments in favor
His affordability plan names specific taxes to cut — the grocery tax and state taxes on tips and overtime — alongside housing and childcare investment.
— Doug Jones for Governor campaign
He would expand Medicaid, which Alabama has refused, and give voters a say on a lottery and on citizen ballot initiatives.
— Doug Jones for Governor campaign
He has already won statewide with more votes than any Democrat in Alabama history, and served as one of the Senate's more bipartisan members.
— Doug Jones, in a June 2026 WBHM interview
Arguments against
He is a 'liberal Democrat' whose agenda is out of step with Alabama, and defeating him is the state party's central objective.
— Alabama Republican Party
He lost this state to the same opponent by twenty points in 2020, and Alabama has not elected a Democratic governor since 1998.
— Tommy Tuberville for Governor campaign
Medicaid expansion, a data centre moratorium and new housing and childcare spending would all require money and legislative agreement he has not shown how to get.
— Alabama Republican Party
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
How Medicaid expansion would pass Alabama's Republican supermajority legislature.
How eliminating the grocery, tips and overtime taxes would be paid for.
Little direct criticism of him by name from the Tuberville campaign was located, so two of the three arguments against are drawn from general party framing rather than from quoted statements; a reviewer should treat that as thin.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Open seat: Republican Kay Ivey is term-limited. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, Ballotpedia, Alabama Reflector, WBHM, WBRC, NBC News and Alabama Political Reporter, cross-checked. Alabama held its primary on May 19 2026 with a runoff on June 16: U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville won the Republican nomination with President Trump's endorsement, and former U.S. Senator Doug Jones won the Democratic nomination. Exact primary and runoff percentages could not be retrieved from a source read directly. This is a rematch of the 2020 U.S. Senate race, which Tuberville won 60%-40%. A ballot challenge by primary opponent Ken McFeeters, arguing Tuberville did not meet Alabama's seven-year residency requirement for governor, was rejected by the Alabama Republican Party's candidate committee in June 2026. No Libertarian or independent candidate for governor was found on the general election ballot, though this could not be confirmed against a certified list.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Alabama ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.